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The Italian initiative WATZON (WATer mixing in the critical ZONe) is a network of instrumented sites, bringing together six pre-existing long-term research observatories monitoring different compartments of the Critical Zone - the Earth's permeable near-surface layer from the tops of the trees to the bottom of the groundwater. These observatories cover different climatic and physiographic characteristics over the country, providing information over a climate and eco-hydrologic transect connecting the Mediterranean to the Alps. With specific initial scientific questions, monitoring strategies, databases, and modeling activities, the WATZON observatories and sites is well representative of the heterogeneity of the critical zone and of the scientific communities studying it. Despite this diversity, all WATZON sites share a common eco-hydrologic monitoring and modelling program with three main objectives:
1) assessing the description of water mixing process across the critical zone by using integrated high-resolution isotopic, geophysical and hydrometeorological measurements from point to catchment scale, under different physiographic conditions and climate forcing;
2) testing water exchange mechanisms between subsurface reservoirs and vegetation, and assessing ecohydrological dynamics in different environments by coupling the high-resolution data set from different critical zone study sites of the initiative with advanced ecohydrological models at multiple spatial scales;
3) developing a process-based conceptual framework of ecohydrological processes in the critical zone to translate scientific knowledge into evidence to support policy and management decisions concerning water and land use in forested and agricultural ecosystems.
This work provides an overview of the WATZON network, its objectives, scientific questions, and data management, with a specific focus on existing initiatives for linking data and models based on WATZON data.
Marco Borga; Daniele Penna; Nasta Paolo; Comiti Francesco; Stefano Ferraris; Riccardo Rigon; Carolina Allocca; Anam Amin; Giacomo Bertoldi; Stefano Brighenti; Davide Canone; Giorgio Cassiani; Matteo Censini; Concetta D'Amato; Ginevra Fabiani; Alessio Gentile; Chiara Marchina; Nunzio Romano; Stellato Luisa; Zuecco Giulia. WATZON: the Italian network of ecohydrology and critical zone observatories . 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleMarco Borga, Daniele Penna, Nasta Paolo, Comiti Francesco, Stefano Ferraris, Riccardo Rigon, Carolina Allocca, Anam Amin, Giacomo Bertoldi, Stefano Brighenti, Davide Canone, Giorgio Cassiani, Matteo Censini, Concetta D'Amato, Ginevra Fabiani, Alessio Gentile, Chiara Marchina, Nunzio Romano, Stellato Luisa, Zuecco Giulia. WATZON: the Italian network of ecohydrology and critical zone observatories . . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Borga; Daniele Penna; Nasta Paolo; Comiti Francesco; Stefano Ferraris; Riccardo Rigon; Carolina Allocca; Anam Amin; Giacomo Bertoldi; Stefano Brighenti; Davide Canone; Giorgio Cassiani; Matteo Censini; Concetta D'Amato; Ginevra Fabiani; Alessio Gentile; Chiara Marchina; Nunzio Romano; Stellato Luisa; Zuecco Giulia. 2021. "WATZON: the Italian network of ecohydrology and critical zone observatories ." , no. : 1.
Alpine ecosystems are vulnerable to climate and land use changes. Measurement sites at different altitude and aspect can provide precious information on them. Also, vadose rootzone plays a major role in partitioning fluxes. In this work field data of soil water content, matric potential and soil temperature in some mountain grassland sites are compared with simulations results of the CLM model (The Community Land Model, NCAR, US). These are key state variables regulating the physical processes that determine the flows of two main greenhouse gases, water vapour and carbon dioxide, to the atmosphere in the presence of vegetation.
Some transients show significant differences between data and CLM simulation results and further analyses are performed using the HYDRUS model from the US Salinity Laboratory, in order to better explore the soil, grass, and atmosphere roles in the dynamics of those state variables. Some insight is finally provided about the effects on water vapour and carbon dioxide fluxes.
Stefano Ferraris; Mesmer N'Sassila; Alessio Gentile; Marta Galvagno; Herve Stevenin; Davide Canone; Maurizio Previati; Ivan Bevilacqua; Davide Gisolo; Kevin Painter. Grassland dynamics of soil moisture and temperature. 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleStefano Ferraris, Mesmer N'Sassila, Alessio Gentile, Marta Galvagno, Herve Stevenin, Davide Canone, Maurizio Previati, Ivan Bevilacqua, Davide Gisolo, Kevin Painter. Grassland dynamics of soil moisture and temperature. . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Ferraris; Mesmer N'Sassila; Alessio Gentile; Marta Galvagno; Herve Stevenin; Davide Canone; Maurizio Previati; Ivan Bevilacqua; Davide Gisolo; Kevin Painter. 2021. "Grassland dynamics of soil moisture and temperature." , no. : 1.
The spatial and temporal variability of temperature, precipitation, actual evapotranspiration and of the related water balance components, as well as their responses to anthropogenic climate change, provide fundamental information for an effective management of water resources. In this study we evaluated the past, present and future quantity of groundwater resources available for drinking supply in the water catchments feeding the about 2.3 million inhabitants of the Greater Turin metropolitan area (North-Western Italy), considering climatologies at the quarterly and yearly timescales. Observed temperature and precipitation data from 1959 to 2017 were analyzed to assess historical trends, their significance and the possible cross-correlations between the water balance components. Regional climate model (RCM) simulations from a small ensemble were analysed to provide mid-century projections of aquifer recharge for the area of interest under two emission scenarios. The analysis over the historical period indicated that the driest areas of the study region displayed negative annual (and spring quarter) trends of the difference between precipitation and actual evapotranspiration. Even close-by watersheds exhibit different behaviors, given the large spatial variability of this area at the edge between the Alps and the Mediterranean region. The analysis of future projections suggested almost stationary conditions for annual recharge, with a slight decrease in the second half of the year. The future trends of drainage are very different across the considered RCM ensemble. The large interannual variability of precipitation was identified as the most relevant risk factor for water management, expected to play a major role also in future decades.
Elisa Brussolo; Elisa Palazzi; Jost von Hardenberg; Giulio Masetti; Gianna Vivaldo; Maurizio Previati; Davide Canone; Davide Gisolo; Ivan Bevilacqua; Antonello Provenzale; Stefano Ferraris. Aquifer recharge in the Piedmont Alpine zone: Historical trends and future scenarios. 2021, 2021, 1 -33.
AMA StyleElisa Brussolo, Elisa Palazzi, Jost von Hardenberg, Giulio Masetti, Gianna Vivaldo, Maurizio Previati, Davide Canone, Davide Gisolo, Ivan Bevilacqua, Antonello Provenzale, Stefano Ferraris. Aquifer recharge in the Piedmont Alpine zone: Historical trends and future scenarios. . 2021; 2021 ():1-33.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElisa Brussolo; Elisa Palazzi; Jost von Hardenberg; Giulio Masetti; Gianna Vivaldo; Maurizio Previati; Davide Canone; Davide Gisolo; Ivan Bevilacqua; Antonello Provenzale; Stefano Ferraris. 2021. "Aquifer recharge in the Piedmont Alpine zone: Historical trends and future scenarios." 2021, no. : 1-33.
A peat deposit close to Venice was monitored both in the field and in the lab (1) to investigate the hydrological response of peat soil to changing meteorological conditions in the frame of land subsidence assessment. The whole area is about 3 meters lower than the sea level and therefore subsidence is a major issue. Predictions highlighted the risk of an almost complete disappearance of the peat layer in this area during the next 50 years, due to the increased frequency of warmer periods. Unfortunately, despite the considerable impacts that are expected to affect peatland worldwide, only a few measured datasets are currently available to assess the response of a peat deposit to enhanced drying due to global warming.
The lab measurements were performed both at the pedon and at the core scale. An undisturbed peat monolith of approximately 0.7 m3 was collected, transferred to the lab, and instrumented to monitor matric potential, water content, and total weight. This undisturbed peat lysimeter allows to monitor water content variations (both through the weight monitoring and time domain reflectometry sensors), and matric potential, with drier conditions with respect to the field campaign. A complete cycle of wetting and drainage was performed, raising the water table from the bottom to the top of the sample and down again. Additional measurements of matric potential and water content were collected by testing peat cores on a suction table.
A set of water retention curves was experimentally determined. They were derived for a range of matric potential much broader than that experienced in situ . Variations were found, with respect to the field natural conditions, in the relations between the matric potential and the volumetric water content of different horizons as a result of the initial prolonged drying. Also, the hysteresis behaviours in the lab and in the field were different, with much wider loops in the lab conditions because of extended range of potential. Hydraulic non-equilibrium between the water content and water potential could also be a possible cause, but further modelling work is necessary to assess it. The van Genuchten parameters were obtained for both wetting and drying, for modelling purposes.
(1) Previati et al. (2019), Hydrological Processes.
Stefano Ferraris; Davide Canone; Davide Gisolo; Mario Putti; Pietro Teatini; Maurizio Previati. Peatland hydrological behavior with global warming. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleStefano Ferraris, Davide Canone, Davide Gisolo, Mario Putti, Pietro Teatini, Maurizio Previati. Peatland hydrological behavior with global warming. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Ferraris; Davide Canone; Davide Gisolo; Mario Putti; Pietro Teatini; Maurizio Previati. 2020. "Peatland hydrological behavior with global warming." , no. : 1.
Soil erosion is affected by rainfall temporal patterns and intensity variability. In vineyards, machine traffic is implemented with particular intensity from late spring to harvest, and it is responsible for soil compaction, which likely affects soil hydraulic properties, runoff, and soil erosion. Additionally, the hydraulic and physical properties of soil are highly influenced by vineyards’ inter-rows soil management. The effects on soil compaction and both hydrological and erosional processes of machine traffic were investigated on a sloping vineyard with different inter-row soil managements (tillage and permanent grass cover) in the Alto Monferrato area (Piedmont, NW Italy). During the investigation (November 2016–October 2018), soil water content, rainfall, runoff, and soil erosion were continuously monitored. Field-saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil penetration resistance, and bulk density were recorded periodically in portions of inter-rows affected and not affected by the machine traffic. Very different yearly precipitation characterized the observed period, leading to higher bulk density and lower infiltration rates in the wetter year, especially in the tilled vineyard, whereas soil penetration resistance was generally higher in the grassed plot and in drier conditions. In the wet year, management with grass cover considerably reduced runoff (−76%) and soil loss (−83%) compared to tillage and in the dry season. Those results highlight the need to limit the tractor traffic, in order to reduce negative effects due to soil compaction, especially in tilled inter-rows.
Giorgio Capello; Marcella Biddoccu; Stefano Ferraris; Eugenio Cavallo. Effects of Tractor Passes on Hydrological and Soil Erosion Processes in Tilled and Grassed Vineyards. Water 2019, 11, 2118 .
AMA StyleGiorgio Capello, Marcella Biddoccu, Stefano Ferraris, Eugenio Cavallo. Effects of Tractor Passes on Hydrological and Soil Erosion Processes in Tilled and Grassed Vineyards. Water. 2019; 11 (10):2118.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiorgio Capello; Marcella Biddoccu; Stefano Ferraris; Eugenio Cavallo. 2019. "Effects of Tractor Passes on Hydrological and Soil Erosion Processes in Tilled and Grassed Vineyards." Water 11, no. 10: 2118.
Soil moisture measurement is essential to validate hydrological models and satellite data. In this work we provide an overview of different local and plot scale soil moisture measurement techniques applied in three different conditions in terms of altitude, land use, and soil type, namely a plain, a mountain meadow and a hilly vineyard. The main goal is to provide a synoptic view of techniques supported by practical case studies to show that in such different conditions it is possible to estimate a time and spatially resolved soil moisture by the same combination of instruments: contact-based methods (i.e., Time Domain Reflectometry—TDR, and two low frequency probes) for the time resolved, and hydro-geophysical minimally-invasive methods (i.e., Electromagnetic Induction—EMI, Ground Penetrating Radar—GPR, and the Electrical Resistivity Tomography—ERT) for the spatially resolved. Both long-term soil moisture measurements and spatially resolved measurement campaigns are discussed. Technical and operational measures are detailed to allow critical factors to be identified.
Giulia Raffelli; Maurizio Previati; Davide Canone; Davide Gisolo; Ivan Bevilacqua; Giorgio Capello; Marcella Biddoccu; Eugenio Cavallo; Rita Deiana; Giorgio Cassiani; Stefano Ferraris. Local- and Plot-Scale Measurements of Soil Moisture: Time and Spatially Resolved Field Techniques in Plain, Hill and Mountain Sites. Water 2017, 9, 706 .
AMA StyleGiulia Raffelli, Maurizio Previati, Davide Canone, Davide Gisolo, Ivan Bevilacqua, Giorgio Capello, Marcella Biddoccu, Eugenio Cavallo, Rita Deiana, Giorgio Cassiani, Stefano Ferraris. Local- and Plot-Scale Measurements of Soil Moisture: Time and Spatially Resolved Field Techniques in Plain, Hill and Mountain Sites. Water. 2017; 9 (9):706.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiulia Raffelli; Maurizio Previati; Davide Canone; Davide Gisolo; Ivan Bevilacqua; Giorgio Capello; Marcella Biddoccu; Eugenio Cavallo; Rita Deiana; Giorgio Cassiani; Stefano Ferraris. 2017. "Local- and Plot-Scale Measurements of Soil Moisture: Time and Spatially Resolved Field Techniques in Plain, Hill and Mountain Sites." Water 9, no. 9: 706.
Elisabetta Ceaglio; Christoph Mitterer; Margherita Maggioni; Stefano Ferraris; Valerio Segor; Michele Freppaz. The role of soil volumetric liquid water content during snow gliding processes. Cold Regions Science and Technology 2017, 136, 17 -29.
AMA StyleElisabetta Ceaglio, Christoph Mitterer, Margherita Maggioni, Stefano Ferraris, Valerio Segor, Michele Freppaz. The role of soil volumetric liquid water content during snow gliding processes. Cold Regions Science and Technology. 2017; 136 ():17-29.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElisabetta Ceaglio; Christoph Mitterer; Margherita Maggioni; Stefano Ferraris; Valerio Segor; Michele Freppaz. 2017. "The role of soil volumetric liquid water content during snow gliding processes." Cold Regions Science and Technology 136, no. : 17-29.
The partitioning of crop canopy water may affect soil water distribution and this may in turn affect sprinkler irrigation application efficiency. The aim of this work was to develop a methodology to evaluate spatial and temporal soil water content distribution in the case of sprinkler irrigation application efficiency considering stemflow. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) soil moisture monitoring was carried out on eight soil water sensor locations for both center pivot and traveling big gun irrigation in different phenological and tillage cases. The two case studies were chosen because they show the two opposite limits of the methodology’s application. Two water distribution estimation methods were employed: raw measured soil moisture and model simulation of the infiltration process. The infiltration process was modeled by means of the two-dimensional (2D) Richard’s equation. The simulations were calibrated on the data measured at eight soil water sensor locations. The stemflow and surface runoff conveyed in the interrow by hilling were obtained as additional model-fitting parameters. During center pivot irrigation, 34% of the water delivered in the interrow was conveyed in the row. During traveling big gun irrigation, 88% of the water delivered in the row was conveyed in the interrow. Soil water distributions calculated from measured data overestimated irrigation application efficiency by approximately 15%. The spatial and temporal soil water content distribution obtained from simulation of the water infiltration process allowed mass balance closure in both case studies. The proposed simulation method evaluated stemflow effects on the water distribution profile, leading to accurate application efficiency calculations.
Davide Canone; Maurizio Previati; Stefano Ferraris. Evaluation of Stemflow Effects on the Spatial Distribution of Soil Moisture Using TDR Monitoring and an Infiltration Model. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering 2017, 143, 04016075 .
AMA StyleDavide Canone, Maurizio Previati, Stefano Ferraris. Evaluation of Stemflow Effects on the Spatial Distribution of Soil Moisture Using TDR Monitoring and an Infiltration Model. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering. 2017; 143 (1):04016075.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDavide Canone; Maurizio Previati; Stefano Ferraris. 2017. "Evaluation of Stemflow Effects on the Spatial Distribution of Soil Moisture Using TDR Monitoring and an Infiltration Model." Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering 143, no. 1: 04016075.
Soil management in vineyard inter-rows has a great influence on soil hydraulic conductivity and bulk density, and, consequently, on runoff and soil erosion processes at the field scale. The maintenance of bare soil in vineyard inter-rows with tillage, as well as the tractor traffic, are known to expose the soil to\ud compaction, reduction of soil water holding capacity and increase of runoff and erosion. The use of grass cover is one of the most common and effective practices in order to reduce such threats. It is therefore important to relate rainfall characteristics, soil properties and response in terms of runoff and soil\ud erosion, from yearly to seasonal and to single event temporal scales. The objective of this work is to quantify the temporal variability of the effects of two different kind of inter-row management on soil hydrological properties, runoff and erosion in vineyards. For this reason two vineyard field-scale plots in\ud the Alto Monferrato vine-growing area (Piedmont, NW Italy) were monitored in two years. The inter-rows were managed with conventional tillage (CT) and grass cover (GC), respectively. Fifteen series of infiltration tests were carried out during a 2-year period of observation (October 2012 to November\ud 2014). In order to take into account the effect of tractors traffic, the tests were done on the track, and outside the track. Furthermore, a dataset of 29 rainfall-runoff events covering a wide range of topsoil characteristics was collected in the two plots, along with soil water content and runoff discharge monitoring, and determination of sediment yield in case of erosive events. An optical disdrometer installed in the plots provided also 1-min rainfall intensity data. In summer, just one month after tillage,\ud CT soil showed very low hydraulic conductivity, so storms were able to cause Hortonian runoff and soil losses up to 5.7 Mg ha1. In autumn and winter very high saturation-excess runoff was observed in CT, that reached 83% of the precipitation. Runoff in the grass cover plot was mainly due to saturation of the\ud topsoil, and the annual reduction of runoff in the GC plot was about 63%. Soil erosion up to 1.2 Mg ha1 in a single event was observed in the GC vineyard in winter. In each year of observation, most of the erosion occurred during a single event, while the total annual erosion was up to 9 times higher in the CT\ud treatment than in the GC
Marcella Biddoccu; Stefano Ferraris; Andrea Pitacco; Eugenio Cavallo. Temporal variability of soil management effects on soil hydrological properties, runoff and erosion at the field scale in a hillslope vineyard, North-West Italy. Soil and Tillage Research 2017, 165, 46 -58.
AMA StyleMarcella Biddoccu, Stefano Ferraris, Andrea Pitacco, Eugenio Cavallo. Temporal variability of soil management effects on soil hydrological properties, runoff and erosion at the field scale in a hillslope vineyard, North-West Italy. Soil and Tillage Research. 2017; 165 ():46-58.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarcella Biddoccu; Stefano Ferraris; Andrea Pitacco; Eugenio Cavallo. 2017. "Temporal variability of soil management effects on soil hydrological properties, runoff and erosion at the field scale in a hillslope vineyard, North-West Italy." Soil and Tillage Research 165, no. : 46-58.
Marcella Biddoccu; Stefano Ferraris; Francesca Opsi; Eugenio Cavallo. Long-term monitoring of soil management effects on runoff and soil erosion in sloping vineyards in Alto Monferrato (North–West Italy). Soil and Tillage Research 2016, 155, 176 -189.
AMA StyleMarcella Biddoccu, Stefano Ferraris, Francesca Opsi, Eugenio Cavallo. Long-term monitoring of soil management effects on runoff and soil erosion in sloping vineyards in Alto Monferrato (North–West Italy). Soil and Tillage Research. 2016; 155 ():176-189.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarcella Biddoccu; Stefano Ferraris; Francesca Opsi; Eugenio Cavallo. 2016. "Long-term monitoring of soil management effects on runoff and soil erosion in sloping vineyards in Alto Monferrato (North–West Italy)." Soil and Tillage Research 155, no. : 176-189.
We adopted electromagnetic induction (EMI) and self-potential measurements along irrigation canal bank in order to detect groundwater seepage. The EMI methods is sensitive to the electrical conductivity of the subsoil, that is affected by the salt and clay content and water content. The depth of investigation depends on the soil electrical conductivity, the geometry of the instrument and the frequency of the electromagnetic field. The experimental data refers to anintegrated survey along a transect on an irrigation canals (400 m) .We acquired broadband electromagnetic data using a Profiler EMP400 (GSSI), with coil separation of 1.22 m and a bandwidth ranging from 1 to 15 kHz. The self-potential measurements were performed with a fixed electrode and a moving electrode along the same transect of EMI measurements. The interval spacing among self-potential measurements was 2 m. Visual inspection of the canal permitted to compare the evidence of seepage losses with the geophysical anomalies. The results of self-potential measurements show peaks of electrical potential at the same position of electrical conductivity anomalies. Integration of the EMI survey and SP measurements is useful to detect seepage losses from canals: a more detailed analysis of self potential anomalies is required to reduce “false” alarms.
D. Canone; Alberto Godio; S. Ferraris. Electromagnetic and Self-potential Investigation to Detect Seepage of Irrigation Canals. First Conference on Proximal Sensing Supporting Precision Agriculture 2015, 1 .
AMA StyleD. Canone, Alberto Godio, S. Ferraris. Electromagnetic and Self-potential Investigation to Detect Seepage of Irrigation Canals. First Conference on Proximal Sensing Supporting Precision Agriculture. 2015; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleD. Canone; Alberto Godio; S. Ferraris. 2015. "Electromagnetic and Self-potential Investigation to Detect Seepage of Irrigation Canals." First Conference on Proximal Sensing Supporting Precision Agriculture , no. : 1.
Matteo Rossi; Gabriele Manoli; Damiano Pasetto; Rita Deiana; Stefano Ferraris; Claudio Strobbia; Mario Putti; Giorgio Cassiani. Coupled inverse modeling of a controlled irrigation experiment using multiple hydro-geophysical data. Advances in Water Resources 2015, 82, 150 -165.
AMA StyleMatteo Rossi, Gabriele Manoli, Damiano Pasetto, Rita Deiana, Stefano Ferraris, Claudio Strobbia, Mario Putti, Giorgio Cassiani. Coupled inverse modeling of a controlled irrigation experiment using multiple hydro-geophysical data. Advances in Water Resources. 2015; 82 ():150-165.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMatteo Rossi; Gabriele Manoli; Damiano Pasetto; Rita Deiana; Stefano Ferraris; Claudio Strobbia; Mario Putti; Giorgio Cassiani. 2015. "Coupled inverse modeling of a controlled irrigation experiment using multiple hydro-geophysical data." Advances in Water Resources 82, no. : 150-165.
Davide Canone; M. Previati; I. Bevilacqua; L. Salvai; S. Ferraris. Field measurements based model for surface irrigation efficiency assessment. Agricultural Water Management 2015, 156, 30 -42.
AMA StyleDavide Canone, M. Previati, I. Bevilacqua, L. Salvai, S. Ferraris. Field measurements based model for surface irrigation efficiency assessment. Agricultural Water Management. 2015; 156 ():30-42.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDavide Canone; M. Previati; I. Bevilacqua; L. Salvai; S. Ferraris. 2015. "Field measurements based model for surface irrigation efficiency assessment." Agricultural Water Management 156, no. : 30-42.
The modeling of unsaturated groundwater flow is affected by a high degree of uncertainty related to both measurement and model errors. Geophysical methods such as Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) can provide useful indirect information on the hydrological processes occurring in the vadose zone. In this paper, we propose and test an iterated particle filter method to solve the coupled hydrogeophysical inverse problem. We focus on an infiltration test monitored by time-lapse \{ERT\} and modeled using Richards equation. The goal is to identify hydrological model parameters from \{ERT\} electrical potential measurements. Traditional uncoupled inversion relies on the solution of two sequential inverse problems, the first one applied to the \{ERT\} measurements, the second one to Richards equation. This approach does not ensure an accurate quantitative description of the physical state, typically violating mass balance. To avoid one of these two inversions and incorporate in the process more physical simulation constraints, we cast the problem within the framework of a \{SIR\} (Sequential Importance Resampling) data assimilation approach that uses a Richards equation solver to model the hydrological dynamics and a forward \{ERT\} simulator combined with Archie's law to serve as measurement model. \{ERT\} observations are then used to update the state of the system as well as to estimate the model parameters and their posterior distribution. The limitations of the traditional sequential Bayesian approach are investigated and an innovative iterative approach is proposed to estimate the model parameters with high accuracy. The numerical properties of the developed algorithm are verified on both homogeneous and heterogeneous synthetic test cases based on a real-world field experiment
Gabriele Manoli; Matteo Rossi; Damiano Pasetto; Rita Deiana; Stefano Ferraris; Giorgio Cassiani; Mario Putti. An iterative particle filter approach for coupled hydro-geophysical inversion of a controlled infiltration experiment. Journal of Computational Physics 2015, 283, 37 -51.
AMA StyleGabriele Manoli, Matteo Rossi, Damiano Pasetto, Rita Deiana, Stefano Ferraris, Giorgio Cassiani, Mario Putti. An iterative particle filter approach for coupled hydro-geophysical inversion of a controlled infiltration experiment. Journal of Computational Physics. 2015; 283 ():37-51.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGabriele Manoli; Matteo Rossi; Damiano Pasetto; Rita Deiana; Stefano Ferraris; Giorgio Cassiani; Mario Putti. 2015. "An iterative particle filter approach for coupled hydro-geophysical inversion of a controlled infiltration experiment." Journal of Computational Physics 283, no. : 37-51.
Runoff and soil losses caused by natural rainfall events were monitored over a 12-year period in an experimental vineyard located in Alto Monferrato, a vine-growing area of Piedmont (NW Italy). The measurements were carried out on three plots, each of which was managed with a different inter-row soil management practice: conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT) and controlled grass cover (GC), respectively. The annual average runoff coefficients were 17.4 % in CT and 15.3 % in RT, while in the GC plot it was limited to 10.3 %. The highest soil losses were observed for the tilled plots, with average yearly erosion rates of 10.4 and 24.8 Mg ha−1year−1 in the CT and RT plots. Only 2.3 Mg ha−1year−1 were recorded for GC treatment. The protective role of grass cover will be more and more relevant, taking in account climate changes that predict increase in rainfall intensity and erosivity. The evaluation of the effect of different conservation measures on the runoff and soil erosion, in relation with future climate scenarios, would be a useful to support soil management decisions in vineyards.
Marcella Biddoccu; Stefano Ferraris; Francesca Opsi; Eugenio Cavallo. Effects of Soil Management on Long-Term Runoff and Soil Erosion Rates in Sloping Vineyards. Engineering Geology for Society and Territory - Volume 1 2014, 159 -163.
AMA StyleMarcella Biddoccu, Stefano Ferraris, Francesca Opsi, Eugenio Cavallo. Effects of Soil Management on Long-Term Runoff and Soil Erosion Rates in Sloping Vineyards. Engineering Geology for Society and Territory - Volume 1. 2014; ():159-163.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarcella Biddoccu; Stefano Ferraris; Francesca Opsi; Eugenio Cavallo. 2014. "Effects of Soil Management on Long-Term Runoff and Soil Erosion Rates in Sloping Vineyards." Engineering Geology for Society and Territory - Volume 1 , no. : 159-163.
Knowledge of soil moisture is of upmost importance for many applications (e.g., flood and landslide prediction). In alpine areas, its estimation is difficult mainly due to complex topography and presence of snow. In this study, modeled and satellite data obtained by the Advanced SCATterometer have shown good agreement with in situ observations. Soil moisture is widely recognized as a state variable governing the mass and energy balance between the land surface and the atmosphere. For that, its knowledge is of upmost importance for many applications including flood and landslide prediction. In alpine catchments, soil moisture estimation is a very difficult task, because of complex topography, high vegetation density, and presence of snow and outcrops. In this study, the possibility to estimate soil moisture for these areas by using modeled and satellite data is investigated. Specifically, an updated version of a soil water balance model, which takes the snowmelt process into account, is employed. Moreover, satellite-derived soil moisture observations obtained by the Advanced SCATterometer (ASCAT) sensor onboard the MetOp satellite are tested by considering two products: the Surface Soil Moisture (SSM) and the Soil Water Index (SWI). The latter is obtained through the application of an exponential filter and it is aimed to reduce the differences in the layer depth of in situ measurements (10 cm) and satellite data (∼2–3 cm). Quality-checked in situ soil moisture measurements collected at four continuous monitoring sites in Valle d’Aosta (North Italy) are used to test the accuracy of modeled and satellite estimates. Notwithstanding the above issues, results indicated the potential not only of modeling approaches but also, unexpectedly, of satellite data to retrieve soil moisture in high elevation regions (>1000 m a.s.l.). Indeed, by estimating correctly the snowmelt contribution, the agreement between modeled and observed data is quite good, with correlation coefficient values, r, in the range 0.795–0.940. In addition, the ASCAT-derived SWI product provides satisfactorily results with r = 0.635–0.869. Based on these findings, in situ, modeled, and satellite soil moisture data will be used for improving flood and landslide risk prediction at the Valle d’Aosta Functional center to improve the Civil Protection Alert System. Copyright © 2013. . Copyright © by the Soil Science Society of America, Inc.
Luca Brocca; A. Tarpanelli; Tommaso Moramarco; F. Melone; S.M. Ratto; M. Cauduro; S. Ferraris; N. Berni; F. Ponziani; Wolfgang Wagner; T. Melzer. Soil Moisture Estimation in Alpine Catchments through Modeling and Satellite Observations. Vadose Zone Journal 2013, 12, 1 .
AMA StyleLuca Brocca, A. Tarpanelli, Tommaso Moramarco, F. Melone, S.M. Ratto, M. Cauduro, S. Ferraris, N. Berni, F. Ponziani, Wolfgang Wagner, T. Melzer. Soil Moisture Estimation in Alpine Catchments through Modeling and Satellite Observations. Vadose Zone Journal. 2013; 12 (3):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Brocca; A. Tarpanelli; Tommaso Moramarco; F. Melone; S.M. Ratto; M. Cauduro; S. Ferraris; N. Berni; F. Ponziani; Wolfgang Wagner; T. Melzer. 2013. "Soil Moisture Estimation in Alpine Catchments through Modeling and Satellite Observations." Vadose Zone Journal 12, no. 3: 1.
This paper describes how in a clay soil, consolidation and then shear deformation at a constant porosity affect the hydraulic conductivity of the saturated soil. We used a Bishop and Wesley triaxial cell to consolidate the soil along the normal consolidation line and then to shear-deform the soil at a constant porosity to the point where the critical state condition had been reached. The relationship between hydraulic conductivity (ksat) and soil porosity for soil consolidated on the normal consolidation line was similar to previously published data. However, shear deformation of soil when held at a constant porosity greatly reduced ksat especially at high porosity, where ksat was reduced to 5% of its original value. In dense soil the effects of shear deformation on ksat were smaller. We used previously published water release data for the variously compacted and shear deformed soil to estimate water release curves for the soil in our experiment. We showed that an empirical model to predict ksat gave a good fit to our experimental data collected in the laboratory. We tested the empirical model on a wider set of field data obtained from the HYPRES data base.
W.R. Whalley; G.P. Matthews; S. Ferraris. The effect of compaction and shear deformation of saturated soil on hydraulic conductivity. Soil and Tillage Research 2012, 125, 23 -29.
AMA StyleW.R. Whalley, G.P. Matthews, S. Ferraris. The effect of compaction and shear deformation of saturated soil on hydraulic conductivity. Soil and Tillage Research. 2012; 125 ():23-29.
Chicago/Turabian StyleW.R. Whalley; G.P. Matthews; S. Ferraris. 2012. "The effect of compaction and shear deformation of saturated soil on hydraulic conductivity." Soil and Tillage Research 125, no. : 23-29.
Wood is currently widely used in low environmental impact transverse structures for stream management and restoration. During the service life of these structures, chemical, physical, and biological processes can naturally degrade the wood fibres with a consequent increase of porosity. This typically causes wood moisture to increase with decay; however, conventional wood water content measurement instruments are calibrated for wood that has not been degraded. In this study, we analysed larch wood (Larix decidua Mill.) logs at different degradation levels by surveying their water content with the time domain reflectometry (TDR) technique. TDR has been extensively used to measure water content in soil; however, it has rarely been applied to wood materials. A laboratory analysis was first performed to calibrate the TDR measurements with those obtained with the gravimetric method. Three field campaigns were conducted in three different check dams built between 1950 and 2003 and located in the NW Italian Alps. The proposed TDR calibration curve allowed for the determination of the volumetric wood water content with satisfactory accuracy. This curve showed two distinct regression slopes: the first slope was related to volumetric water contents between 0.0 and 0.16 m3 m−3, whilst the second slope was related to water contents above 0.16 m3 m−3. The TDR in situ measurements showed water content values ranging from 0.08 to 0.54 m3 m−3 for the old timber structures and from 0.11 to 0.45 m3 m−3 for the newer structures. This agrees with the conservation state of the timber, which was influenced by the position of the logs in the structure during the life of the check dams. Finally, we found an operative way to relate the wood water content to the wood degradation level.
Maurizio Previati; Davide Canone; Ivan Bevilacqua; Guido Boetto; Davide Pognant; Stefano Ferraris. Evaluation of wood degradation for timber check dams using time domain reflectometry water content measurements. Ecological Engineering 2012, 44, 259 -268.
AMA StyleMaurizio Previati, Davide Canone, Ivan Bevilacqua, Guido Boetto, Davide Pognant, Stefano Ferraris. Evaluation of wood degradation for timber check dams using time domain reflectometry water content measurements. Ecological Engineering. 2012; 44 ():259-268.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaurizio Previati; Davide Canone; Ivan Bevilacqua; Guido Boetto; Davide Pognant; Stefano Ferraris. 2012. "Evaluation of wood degradation for timber check dams using time domain reflectometry water content measurements." Ecological Engineering 44, no. : 259-268.
We propose a finite volume method for the numerical resolution of two-dimensional steady diffusion problems with possibly discontinuous coefficients on unstructured polygonal meshes. Our numerical method is cellcentered, secondorder accurate on smooth solutions and based on a special numerical treatment of the diffusion/dispersion coefficients that makes its application possible also when such coefficients are discontinuous. Numerical experiments confirm the convergence of the numerical approximation and show a good behavior on a set of benchmark problems in two space dimensions.
Stefano Ferraris; Ivan Bevilacqua; Davide Canone; Davide Pognant; Maurizio Previati. The Finite Volume Formulation for 2D Second-Order Elliptic Problems with Discontinuous Diffusion/Dispersion Coefficients. Mathematical Problems in Engineering 2012, 2012, 1 -23.
AMA StyleStefano Ferraris, Ivan Bevilacqua, Davide Canone, Davide Pognant, Maurizio Previati. The Finite Volume Formulation for 2D Second-Order Elliptic Problems with Discontinuous Diffusion/Dispersion Coefficients. Mathematical Problems in Engineering. 2012; 2012 (1):1-23.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Ferraris; Ivan Bevilacqua; Davide Canone; Davide Pognant; Maurizio Previati. 2012. "The Finite Volume Formulation for 2D Second-Order Elliptic Problems with Discontinuous Diffusion/Dispersion Coefficients." Mathematical Problems in Engineering 2012, no. 1: 1-23.
Mara Baudena; Ivan Bevilacqua; Davide Canone; Stefano Ferraris; Maurizio Previati; Antonello Provenzale. Soil water dynamics at a midlatitude test site: Field measurements and box modeling approaches. Journal of Hydrology 2012, 414-415, 329 -340.
AMA StyleMara Baudena, Ivan Bevilacqua, Davide Canone, Stefano Ferraris, Maurizio Previati, Antonello Provenzale. Soil water dynamics at a midlatitude test site: Field measurements and box modeling approaches. Journal of Hydrology. 2012; 414-415 ():329-340.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMara Baudena; Ivan Bevilacqua; Davide Canone; Stefano Ferraris; Maurizio Previati; Antonello Provenzale. 2012. "Soil water dynamics at a midlatitude test site: Field measurements and box modeling approaches." Journal of Hydrology 414-415, no. : 329-340.