Geophysics for Natural Risks in the Atmosphere and Hydrosphere
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
To provide the students with knowledge about natural risks in a probabilistic framework, above all for risks related to the dynamics of geophysical fluids (atmosphere, continental and marine hydrosphere) and in particular to extreme events and diffusion of contaminants in the environment (water, air, soil). For this goal, the course unit aims at providing the students with basic knowledge on geophysical fluid dynamics and on geophysical techniques for the characterization and monitoring of contaminated sites.
Expected learning outcomes
(1) Ability to manage natural risks in a probabilistic framework, taking into account interactions between different hazard types, different contests of risk-analysis application, communication issues. (2) Ability to study scientific papers and technical reports on geophysical fluid dynamics (atmosphere, marine and continental hydrosphere) and on transport phenomena, with particular emphasis on the study of extreme events and contamination of water, air and soil. (3) Ability to analyze the results of monitoring surveys, data processing and physico-mathematical modeling, for applications about risk analysis about extreme events and pollution.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
(1) Natural risks:
a. Natural (and non-natural) risks and their interaction.
b. Probabilistic risk assessment: hazard, vulnerability, and damage costs.
c. Contamination risk: conceptual model (source, transport, receptor).
d. Risk assessment applications: environmental impact assessment (VIA); strategic environmental assessment (VAS); civil protection; contaminated sites.
e. An introduction to monitoring and experiments.
f. Development and application of mathematical models for risk assessment.
(2) Measurements in the atmosphere and hydrosphere: error theory, A/D conversion, overview of the main measuring instruments and their use.
(3) An introduction to descriptive statistics, probability theory and stochastic processes, with a focus on the statistical description of extreme events and applications to transport phenomena.
(4) Natural hazards in the atmosphere:
a. Structure and composition of the atmosphere.
b. Basics of atmospheric thermodynamics, humidity, static stability; thermodynamic diagrams, interpretation and use for assessing deep convection development; convective systems: from single thunderstorm to organized systems, and associated hazards. Introduction to alpine meteorology.
c. Radiation: emission, absorption, transmission, and reflection of solar and terrestrial radiation.
d. Basics of geophysical fluid dynamics: divergence, gradient, and curl; Eulerian and Lagrangian approaches to fluid motion; mass conservation and continuity equation; equation of motion for a rotating viscous fluid: geostrophic approximation.
e. Mid-latitude weather systems, their effects and associated hazards: cyclones, anticyclones, fronts, tropical and extratropical cyclones, Mediterranean cyclones, and medicanes.
(5) Natural hazards in the hydrosphere:
a. Groundwater flow: physics of porous media (continuum approach), Darcy's law, hydraulic head; fluid flow equations for a porous medium.
b. Boundary conditions.
c. Two-dimensional approximations for confined and unconfined aquifers.
(6) Transport phenomena:
a. Advection, diffusion, turbulent dispersion.
b. Advective, diffusive, and dispersive equations with reactions.
c. Contamination plumes in air, as a function of stability conditions; contamination plumes in free waters.
d. Transport in groundwater and soils: advection, diffusion, hydrodynamic dispersion and reactions.
e. Radionuclides transport and the national repository for radioactive waste.
(7) Contamination risk assessment:
a. Characterization and monitoring of contaminated sites.
b. Geophysical methods for the investigation of contaminated sites: electrical methods (SEV, ERGI, IP), electromagnetic methods (FDEM, GPR).
(8) Examples:
a. Monitoring, analysis and (probabilistic) prediction of extreme weather phenomena.
b. Groundwater contamination.
c. Transport modelling using probabilistic methods.
d. Field data acquisition demonstration.
a. Natural (and non-natural) risks and their interaction.
b. Probabilistic risk assessment: hazard, vulnerability, and damage costs.
c. Contamination risk: conceptual model (source, transport, receptor).
d. Risk assessment applications: environmental impact assessment (VIA); strategic environmental assessment (VAS); civil protection; contaminated sites.
e. An introduction to monitoring and experiments.
f. Development and application of mathematical models for risk assessment.
(2) Measurements in the atmosphere and hydrosphere: error theory, A/D conversion, overview of the main measuring instruments and their use.
(3) An introduction to descriptive statistics, probability theory and stochastic processes, with a focus on the statistical description of extreme events and applications to transport phenomena.
(4) Natural hazards in the atmosphere:
a. Structure and composition of the atmosphere.
b. Basics of atmospheric thermodynamics, humidity, static stability; thermodynamic diagrams, interpretation and use for assessing deep convection development; convective systems: from single thunderstorm to organized systems, and associated hazards. Introduction to alpine meteorology.
c. Radiation: emission, absorption, transmission, and reflection of solar and terrestrial radiation.
d. Basics of geophysical fluid dynamics: divergence, gradient, and curl; Eulerian and Lagrangian approaches to fluid motion; mass conservation and continuity equation; equation of motion for a rotating viscous fluid: geostrophic approximation.
e. Mid-latitude weather systems, their effects and associated hazards: cyclones, anticyclones, fronts, tropical and extratropical cyclones, Mediterranean cyclones, and medicanes.
(5) Natural hazards in the hydrosphere:
a. Groundwater flow: physics of porous media (continuum approach), Darcy's law, hydraulic head; fluid flow equations for a porous medium.
b. Boundary conditions.
c. Two-dimensional approximations for confined and unconfined aquifers.
(6) Transport phenomena:
a. Advection, diffusion, turbulent dispersion.
b. Advective, diffusive, and dispersive equations with reactions.
c. Contamination plumes in air, as a function of stability conditions; contamination plumes in free waters.
d. Transport in groundwater and soils: advection, diffusion, hydrodynamic dispersion and reactions.
e. Radionuclides transport and the national repository for radioactive waste.
(7) Contamination risk assessment:
a. Characterization and monitoring of contaminated sites.
b. Geophysical methods for the investigation of contaminated sites: electrical methods (SEV, ERGI, IP), electromagnetic methods (FDEM, GPR).
(8) Examples:
a. Monitoring, analysis and (probabilistic) prediction of extreme weather phenomena.
b. Groundwater contamination.
c. Transport modelling using probabilistic methods.
d. Field data acquisition demonstration.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of Physics and Mathematics as expected from the course of study.
Teaching methods
Frontal teaching. The practical classes will include in-class exercises, exercises at the personal computer, and possibly some data acquisitions in the field. At the end of the course, the student will prepare a risk evaluation worksheet reporting, at least qualitatively, aspects related to hazard, vulnerability and damage for a specified location, concerning the different risk categories explained during the lectures. The worksheet will be finally presented through an oral report, an audio/video podcast, or with multimedia tools.
If required, the teaching language could be switched from Italian to English.
If required, the teaching language could be switched from Italian to English.
Teaching Resources
- Slides and lecture notes uploaded on myAriel.
- J.M. Wallace & P.V. Hobbs, 2006. Atmospheric Science - An introductory survey, - 2nd Edition, Academic Press.
- J.E. Martin, 2006: Mid-latitude atmospheric dynamics, Wiley Ed.
- J.B.Halverson, 2024: An introduction to severe storms. Nad hazardous weather. Routledge ed.
- Stull R. B.: Practical Meteorology: An Algebra-based Survey of Atmospheric Science. UBC. Online: https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/books/Practical_Meteorology/
- G.De Marsily, 1986: Quantitative Hydrogeology, Academic press, PDF available at:
https://gw-project.org/books/quantitative-hydrogeology-groundwater-hydrology-for-engineers/
- C.W.Fetter, T.Boving, D.Kreamer, 2018: Contaminant Hydrogeology. Waveland Press, 3rd edition.
- J. Bear, 1979. Hydraulics of groundwater, McGraw-Hill/Dover.
- D.Camuffo, 2019: Microclimatology for cultural heritage. Elsevier, 3rd edition.
- J.M. Wallace & P.V. Hobbs, 2006. Atmospheric Science - An introductory survey, - 2nd Edition, Academic Press.
- J.E. Martin, 2006: Mid-latitude atmospheric dynamics, Wiley Ed.
- J.B.Halverson, 2024: An introduction to severe storms. Nad hazardous weather. Routledge ed.
- Stull R. B.: Practical Meteorology: An Algebra-based Survey of Atmospheric Science. UBC. Online: https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/books/Practical_Meteorology/
- G.De Marsily, 1986: Quantitative Hydrogeology, Academic press, PDF available at:
https://gw-project.org/books/quantitative-hydrogeology-groundwater-hydrology-for-engineers/
- C.W.Fetter, T.Boving, D.Kreamer, 2018: Contaminant Hydrogeology. Waveland Press, 3rd edition.
- J. Bear, 1979. Hydraulics of groundwater, McGraw-Hill/Dover.
- D.Camuffo, 2019: Microclimatology for cultural heritage. Elsevier, 3rd edition.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Students' understanding of the course topics will be assessed through an oral exam.
As part of the oral examination, students are required to prepare a risk analysis concerning an area of their choice. This report must be submitted a few days prior to the scheduled examination date. During the oral exam, students will present their risk analysis, followed by questions related to the various topics covered during the course.
For the risk analysis, completeness, scientific accuracy, appropriate use of technical-scientific language and the arguments supporting the analysis will be assessed, together with the ability to present clearly and rigorously. In addition, the oral examination will assess the knowledge of the course topics, as well as presentation and communication skills, including proficiency in the use of specialist terminology.
The final grade, expressed in thirtieths, will be determined on the basis of the outcome of the oral examination.
As part of the oral examination, students are required to prepare a risk analysis concerning an area of their choice. This report must be submitted a few days prior to the scheduled examination date. During the oral exam, students will present their risk analysis, followed by questions related to the various topics covered during the course.
For the risk analysis, completeness, scientific accuracy, appropriate use of technical-scientific language and the arguments supporting the analysis will be assessed, together with the ability to present clearly and rigorously. In addition, the oral examination will assess the knowledge of the course topics, as well as presentation and communication skills, including proficiency in the use of specialist terminology.
The final grade, expressed in thirtieths, will be determined on the basis of the outcome of the oral examination.
GEOS-04/B - Applied Geophysics - University credits: 1
GEOS-04/C - Oceanography, Meteorology and Climatology - University credits: 5
GEOS-04/C - Oceanography, Meteorology and Climatology - University credits: 5
Practical exercises with elements of theory: 24 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Lessons: 32 hours
Professors:
Comunian Alessandro, Davolio Silvio
Shifts:
Professor(s)