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Meteorological events characterized by extreme rainfall intensity have recently struck the hilly and mountainous territory of the northern Apennines (Italy) as well as many other geographic areas of the world. These extreme rainfall events trigger fast flows of debris along the slopes, stream channels, landslides, and floods, which damage many man-made structures such as roads, houses, water-pipes, etc. There is thus a strong practical interest in predicting the frequency and intensity of these effects for emergency management and to reduce the vulnerability of the territory.
In 2015 an intense rainfall event hit the Valleys of the Trebbia, Nure, and Aveto watercourses in the emilian-ligurian Apennines. In about 6 h a mesoscale convective system deployed a stunning amount of precipitation of 340 mm, with an extreme hourly rainfall intensity of >100 mm/h. During this event, several types of widespread effects on the ground developed i.e., fast flows of debris along the slopes and stream channels (a total number of 305 occurrences), shallow landslides (342) and overbank flooding occurred. Instrumental as well as geological and historical data clearly suggest that extreme rainfall events are increasing in the northern Apennines, in good agreement with the international literature. Through the optimal combination of rainfall data and radar volumes, in this work we present a detailed rainfall analysis, which will serve as a basis to create a quantitative correlation with debris flows over elementary hydrological units. The meteorological analysis of the storm led us to consider the 3 h accumulation rain field as the most relevant for flood triggering. This time interval is short enough to describe the intensity peak of macro precipitating structures, and at the same time it is long enough to allow the development of the debris and stream-flow processes described. The very good match between the 3 h peak intensity and the distribution of high-discharge and hillslope-debris flow support the hypothesis. The 3 h interval further emphasizes the meteorological event with respect to its overall duration of 6 h.
We aim at providing an objective basis for future predictions, starting from the recognition of the forcing meteorological events, allowed us to clearly identify high-intensity-precipitation thresholds triggering flood in small mountain catchments.
Keywords: floods; catchment; threshold; extreme rainfall events; northern Apennines
Stefano Segadelli; Federico Grazzini. Predicting extreme precipitation effects on the geomorphology of small mountain catchments, northern Apennines (Italy). 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleStefano Segadelli, Federico Grazzini. Predicting extreme precipitation effects on the geomorphology of small mountain catchments, northern Apennines (Italy). . 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Segadelli; Federico Grazzini. 2021. "Predicting extreme precipitation effects on the geomorphology of small mountain catchments, northern Apennines (Italy)." , no. : 1.
The connection between weather extremes and Rossby wave packets (RWP) has been increasingly documented in recent years. RWP propagation and characteristics can modulate the mid‐latitude weather, setting the scene for temperature and precipitation extremes and controlling the geographical area affected. Several studies on extreme precipitation events (EPEs) in the alpine area reported, as the main triggering factor, a meridionally elongated upper‐level trough as part of an incoming Rossby wave packet. In this work, we investigate a wide number of EPEs occurring between 1979 and 2015 in northern‐central Italy. The EPEs are subdivided into three categories (Cat1, Cat2, Cat3) according to thermodynamic conditions over the affected region. It is found that the three categories differ not only in terms of the local meteorological conditions, but also in terms of the evolution and properties of precursor RWPs. These differences cannot be solely explained by the apparent seasonality of the flow; therefore, the relevant physical processes in the RWP propagation of each case are further investigated. In particular, we show that RWPs associated with the strongest EPEs, namely the ones falling in Cat2, undergo a substantial amplification over the western N. Atlantic due to anomalous ridge‐building two days before the event; arguably due to diabatic heating sources. This type of development induces a downstream trough which is highly effective in focusing water vapour transport towards the main orographic barriers of northern‐central Italy and favoring the occurrence of EPEs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Federico Grazzini; Georgios Fragkoulidis; Franziska Teubler; Volkmar Wirth; George C. Craig. Extreme precipitation events over northern Italy. Part II : Dynamical precursors. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society 2020, 147, 1237 -1257.
AMA StyleFederico Grazzini, Georgios Fragkoulidis, Franziska Teubler, Volkmar Wirth, George C. Craig. Extreme precipitation events over northern Italy. Part II : Dynamical precursors. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society. 2020; 147 (735):1237-1257.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFederico Grazzini; Georgios Fragkoulidis; Franziska Teubler; Volkmar Wirth; George C. Craig. 2020. "Extreme precipitation events over northern Italy. Part II : Dynamical precursors." Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society 147, no. 735: 1237-1257.
Extreme precipitation events (EPEs) are meteorological phenomena of major concern for the densely populated regions of northern and central Italy. Although statistically rare, they tend to be recurrent in autumn and share common characteristics in the large-scale dynamical evolution responsible for their generation. Past studies on EPEs have reported, as the main triggering factor, a meridionally elongated upper-level trough embedded in an incoming Rossby wave packet. In this respect, we show how the meteorological conditions leading to the devastating 1994 Piedmont flood represent a typical flow evolution for this type of extreme events. Exploiting the systematic classification of EPEs recently published by the authors and taking advantage of a new observational dataset, this article revisits the role of the large-scale flow on this and similar cases of past EPEs.
F. Grazzini; Georgios Fragkoulidis; V. Pavan; G. Antolini. The 1994 Piedmont flood: an archetype of extreme precipitation events in Northern Italy. Bulletin of Atmospheric Science and Technology 2020, 1, 283 -295.
AMA StyleF. Grazzini, Georgios Fragkoulidis, V. Pavan, G. Antolini. The 1994 Piedmont flood: an archetype of extreme precipitation events in Northern Italy. Bulletin of Atmospheric Science and Technology. 2020; 1 (3-4):283-295.
Chicago/Turabian StyleF. Grazzini; Georgios Fragkoulidis; V. Pavan; G. Antolini. 2020. "The 1994 Piedmont flood: an archetype of extreme precipitation events in Northern Italy." Bulletin of Atmospheric Science and Technology 1, no. 3-4: 283-295.
Several record-breaking precipitation events have struck the mountainous area of the Emilia–Romagna region (northern Apennines, Italy) over the last 10 years. As a consequence, severe geomorphological processes such as debris avalanches and debris flows, shallow landslides, and overbank flooding have affected the territory, causing severe damage to human-made structures. The unusual intensity of these phenomena prompted an investigation into their frequency in the past, beyond instrumental time. In the quest for an understanding of whether these phenomena are unprecedented in the region, peat bog and lake deposits were analyzed to infer the frequency of extreme precipitation events that may have occurred in the past. We present the results of a dedicated field campaign performed in summer 2017 at Lake Moo in the northern Apennines, a 0.15 km2 peat bog located at an altitude of 1130 m a.s.l. During the extreme precipitation event of 13–14 September 2015, several debris flows generated by small streams affected the Lake Moo plain. In such a small drainage basin (
Stefano Segadelli; Federico Grazzini; Veronica Rossi; Margherita Aguzzi; Silvia Marvelli; Marco Marchesini; Alessandro Chelli; Roberto Francese; Maria Teresa De Nardo; Sandro Nanni. Changes in high-intensity precipitation on the northern Apennines (Italy) as revealed by multidisciplinary data over the last 9000 years. Climate of the Past 2020, 16, 1547 -1564.
AMA StyleStefano Segadelli, Federico Grazzini, Veronica Rossi, Margherita Aguzzi, Silvia Marvelli, Marco Marchesini, Alessandro Chelli, Roberto Francese, Maria Teresa De Nardo, Sandro Nanni. Changes in high-intensity precipitation on the northern Apennines (Italy) as revealed by multidisciplinary data over the last 9000 years. Climate of the Past. 2020; 16 (4):1547-1564.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Segadelli; Federico Grazzini; Veronica Rossi; Margherita Aguzzi; Silvia Marvelli; Marco Marchesini; Alessandro Chelli; Roberto Francese; Maria Teresa De Nardo; Sandro Nanni. 2020. "Changes in high-intensity precipitation on the northern Apennines (Italy) as revealed by multidisciplinary data over the last 9000 years." Climate of the Past 16, no. 4: 1547-1564.
The Lake Moo plain has a surface area about 0.15Km2. It is located near the boundary between Emilia-Romagna and Liguria regions, at an altitude of 1130m a.s.l. (northern Apennines, Italy). This site is strategic to the dominant atmospheric currents, very prone to high intensity precipitation events (HIP) and related high-density flood. Indeed, Lake Moo area has been partially covered by a flood deposit released by a record-breaking rainfall intensity in September 2015. The intensity and wide spatial scale of those phenomena has leads us to investigate their frequency in the past, beyond the instrumental time. The lacustrine succession (ca. 13 m-thick) was studied through the extraction of one core and framed within sedimentary facies analysis approach. The paleoenvironmental interpretation of the succession was achieved combining sedimentological, pollen and pedological data and radiocarbon dating. Thirteen different facies types have been identified and the core succession is was subdivided into five informal units. The different coarse-grained layers interbedded with organic-rich silty clays and peaty layers have been interpreted as the extreme flood deposits triggered by high-intensity convective rainfall events in the catchment area that flow into the Lake Moo plain.
These coarse-grained deposits were grouped according to the genetic approach and therefore based on facies tract concept. The goal of this study is how the facies tract approach may represent a novel method that can be used to improve our understanding of flood reconstruction dynamics and may be applied to other similar deposits. We interpret the local lacustrine succession is like to the infill of a structural depression produced by gravitational block sliding that was induced by post-glacial fluvial incision.
Finally, the observed depositional cycles were put in relation with other specific paleoclimatic proxies available in literature for the area.
Stefano Segadelli; Federico Grazzini; Margherita Aguzzi; Alessandro Chelli; Veronica Rossi; Maria Teresa De Nardo; Roberto Francese; Silvia Marvelli; Marco Marchesini; Sandro Nanni. Multidisciplinary analysis at Lake Moo: Changes in high intensity precipitation on the Northern Apennines (Italy) over the last 9000 years. 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleStefano Segadelli, Federico Grazzini, Margherita Aguzzi, Alessandro Chelli, Veronica Rossi, Maria Teresa De Nardo, Roberto Francese, Silvia Marvelli, Marco Marchesini, Sandro Nanni. Multidisciplinary analysis at Lake Moo: Changes in high intensity precipitation on the Northern Apennines (Italy) over the last 9000 years. . 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Segadelli; Federico Grazzini; Margherita Aguzzi; Alessandro Chelli; Veronica Rossi; Maria Teresa De Nardo; Roberto Francese; Silvia Marvelli; Marco Marchesini; Sandro Nanni. 2020. "Multidisciplinary analysis at Lake Moo: Changes in high intensity precipitation on the Northern Apennines (Italy) over the last 9000 years." , no. : 1.
In 2015 an intense rainfall event hit the Valleys of the Trebbia, Nure, and Aveto watercourses in the Northern Apennines. In about 6 h a mesoscale convective system deployed a stunning amount of precipitation of 340 mm, with an extreme hourly rainfall intensity of >100 mm/h. It triggered debris flows along slopes and stream channels, landslides and floods, which caused serious damages. Through the optimal combination of rainfall data and radar volumes, in this work we present a detailed rainfall analysis, which will serve as a basis to create a quantitative correlation with debris flows over elementary hydrological units. We aim at providing an objective basis for future predictions, starting from the recognition of the forcing meteorological events, and then arriving at the prediction of triggering phenomena and to the debris-flow type. We further provide seven observations/case studies on the effects of extreme-precipitation events on freshwater environments in small mountain catchments. Extreme-precipitation events are becoming more frequent and widespread globally but their ecological effects are still insufficiently understood. In general, the effects of extreme events on inland-waters’ ecosystems are highly context-dependent, ranging from deleterious to beneficial. We therefore highlight the necessity of further studies to characterize these effects in more depth to be able to include appropriate mitigation measures in environmental planning and stewardship.
Stefano Segadelli; Federico Grazzini; Michele Adorni; Maria Teresa De Nardo; Anna Fornasiero; Alessandro Chelli; Marco Cantonati. Predicting Extreme-Precipitation Effects on the Geomorphology of Small Mountain Catchments: Towards an Improved Understanding of the Consequences for Freshwater Biodiversity and Ecosystems. Water 2019, 12, 79 .
AMA StyleStefano Segadelli, Federico Grazzini, Michele Adorni, Maria Teresa De Nardo, Anna Fornasiero, Alessandro Chelli, Marco Cantonati. Predicting Extreme-Precipitation Effects on the Geomorphology of Small Mountain Catchments: Towards an Improved Understanding of the Consequences for Freshwater Biodiversity and Ecosystems. Water. 2019; 12 (1):79.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Segadelli; Federico Grazzini; Michele Adorni; Maria Teresa De Nardo; Anna Fornasiero; Alessandro Chelli; Marco Cantonati. 2019. "Predicting Extreme-Precipitation Effects on the Geomorphology of Small Mountain Catchments: Towards an Improved Understanding of the Consequences for Freshwater Biodiversity and Ecosystems." Water 12, no. 1: 79.
Several record-breaking precipitation events have stricken the mountainous area of Emilia-Romagna Region (northern Apennines, Italy) over the last years. As consequence, several geomorphological processes, like widespread debris flows along the slopes and hyperconcentrated flood in the stream channels, shallow landslides and overbank flooding affected the territory, causing serious damages to man-made structures. The intensity and wide spatial scale of these phenomena leads us to investigate their frequency in the past, beyond the instrumental time. A detailed study of these recent deposits compared with fossil peat bog and lake paleodeposits can provide useful insight to support a strong match between precipitation intensity and warm climatic phases in antecedent climatic periods, as expected by the increase air water vapour holding capacity at higher temperatures. Here we present the results of the field campaign performed in summer 2017 at Lake Moo a 0.15 km2 peat bog located at an altitude of 1130 m a.s.l. The chosen area has been affected, during the flooding of the upper Trebbia and Nure valleys 13–14 September 2015, by several high-density flows generated by the stream that flow into the plain. Our main assumption is that, in such a small drainage basin (area
Stefano Segadelli; Federico Grazzini; Margherita Aguzzi; Alessandro Chelli; Veronica Rossi; Maria T. De Nardo; Roberto Francese; Silvia Marvelli; Marco Marchesini; Sandro Nanni. Changes in high intensity precipitation on the Northern Apennines (Italy) as revealed by multidisciplinary data over the last 9000 years. 2019, 2019, 1 -28.
AMA StyleStefano Segadelli, Federico Grazzini, Margherita Aguzzi, Alessandro Chelli, Veronica Rossi, Maria T. De Nardo, Roberto Francese, Silvia Marvelli, Marco Marchesini, Sandro Nanni. Changes in high intensity precipitation on the Northern Apennines (Italy) as revealed by multidisciplinary data over the last 9000 years. . 2019; 2019 ():1-28.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Segadelli; Federico Grazzini; Margherita Aguzzi; Alessandro Chelli; Veronica Rossi; Maria T. De Nardo; Roberto Francese; Silvia Marvelli; Marco Marchesini; Sandro Nanni. 2019. "Changes in high intensity precipitation on the Northern Apennines (Italy) as revealed by multidisciplinary data over the last 9000 years." 2019, no. : 1-28.
Stefano Segadelli; Federico Grazzini; Margherita Aguzzi; Alessandro Chelli; Veronica Rossi; Maria T. De Nardo; Roberto Francese; Silvia Marvelli; Marco Marchesini; Sandro Nanni. Supplementary material to "Changes in high intensity precipitation on the Northern Apennines (Italy) as revealed by multidisciplinary data over the last 9000 years". 2019, 1 .
AMA StyleStefano Segadelli, Federico Grazzini, Margherita Aguzzi, Alessandro Chelli, Veronica Rossi, Maria T. De Nardo, Roberto Francese, Silvia Marvelli, Marco Marchesini, Sandro Nanni. Supplementary material to "Changes in high intensity precipitation on the Northern Apennines (Italy) as revealed by multidisciplinary data over the last 9000 years". . 2019; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStefano Segadelli; Federico Grazzini; Margherita Aguzzi; Alessandro Chelli; Veronica Rossi; Maria T. De Nardo; Roberto Francese; Silvia Marvelli; Marco Marchesini; Sandro Nanni. 2019. "Supplementary material to "Changes in high intensity precipitation on the Northern Apennines (Italy) as revealed by multidisciplinary data over the last 9000 years"." , no. : 1.
Federico Grazzini; George C. Craig; Christian Keil; Gabriele Antolini; Valentina Pavan. Extreme precipitation events over northern Italy. Part I: A systematic classification with machine‐learning techniques. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society 2019, 146, 69 -85.
AMA StyleFederico Grazzini, George C. Craig, Christian Keil, Gabriele Antolini, Valentina Pavan. Extreme precipitation events over northern Italy. Part I: A systematic classification with machine‐learning techniques. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society. 2019; 146 (726):69-85.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFederico Grazzini; George C. Craig; Christian Keil; Gabriele Antolini; Valentina Pavan. 2019. "Extreme precipitation events over northern Italy. Part I: A systematic classification with machine‐learning techniques." Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society 146, no. 726: 69-85.
Federico Grazzini; Frédéric Vitart. Atmospheric predictability and Rossby wave packets. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society 2015, 141, 2793 -2802.
AMA StyleFederico Grazzini, Frédéric Vitart. Atmospheric predictability and Rossby wave packets. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society. 2015; 141 (692):2793-2802.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFederico Grazzini; Frédéric Vitart. 2015. "Atmospheric predictability and Rossby wave packets." Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society 141, no. 692: 2793-2802.