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Changes in the main weather features are becoming perceivable in Italy. In the last years, the average temperature and the intensity of rainstorms are increasing. Such phenomena could lead to changes in the earth-atmosphere interaction. Accounting for the high vulnerability of the Italian territory, an obvious consequence would concern the effects on the hydro-geological hazards, including landslides and floods. As a matter of fact, the higher frequency of high magnitude flood and landslide events represent an alarm bell. It is necessary to explore with all available instruments the consequences of the potential climate changes. Since quantitative predictions are not possible, the only way to run is depicting rational scenarios for the most vulnerable contexts adopting a multidisciplinary approach. Based on projections of potential climate changes in the 21st century, the report examines their potential impact in the context of the Italian peninsula. After a general overview about typical slope responses to weather changes, some quantitative scenarios have been depicted for representative geomorphological contexts. The last part of the paper examines changes in the expected risk, based on the characteristics of the Italian territory and its vulnerability, looking at the initiatives to undertake for its mitigation.

A mathematical model has been developed to predict fragmentation of particles under a wide range of pyrolysis and combustion conditions. The model is an upgrade of a previous one that took into account only fragmentation during the heat up and devolatilization stage. The model calculates the temperature and oxygen profiles within the particle, the evolution of internal porosity as a consequence of both devolatilization and carbon combustion, the mechanical stress caused by temperature gradients, and by volatiles-generated overpressure inside the particles. Eventually the model calculates the probability of rupture of the particle based on the Weibull (1939) theory. The model has been used to simulate heating of coal particles under inert conditions at different heating rates and temperatures showing good agreement with previous work. The model has been further used to simulate heating under oxidative conditions in order to highlight the role of combustion on fragmentation phenomena.

With an approach combining crop modelling and biotechnology to assess the performance of three durum wheat cultivars (Creso, Duilio, Simeto) in a climate change context, weather and agronomic datasets over the period 1973–2004 from two sites, Benatzu and Ussana (Southern Sardinia, Itay), were used and the model responses were interpreted considering the role of DREB genes in the genotype performance with a focus on drought conditions. The CERES-Wheat crop model was calibrated and validated for grain yield, earliness and kernel weight. Forty-eight synthetic scenarios were used: 6 scenarios with increasing maximum air temperature; 6 scenarios with decreasing rainfall; 36 scenarios combining increasing temperature and decreasing rainfall. The simulated effects on yields, anthesis and kernel weights resulted in yield reduction, increasing kernel weight, and shortened growth duration in both sites. Creso (late cultivar) was the most sensitive to simulated climate conditions. Simeto and Duilio (early cultivars) showed lower simulated yield reductions and a larger anticipation of anthesis date. Observed data showed the same responses for the three cultivars in both sites. The CERES-Wheat model proved to be effective in representing reality and can be used in crop breeding programs with a molecular approach aiming at developing molecular markers for the resistance to drought stress.

AbstractBACKGROUND: Inappropriate utilisation of biosolids may adversely impact agrosystem productivity. Here, we address the response of wheat (Triticum durum) to different doses (0, 40, 100, 200 and 300 t ha−1) of either municipal solid waste (MSW) compost or sewage sludge in a greenhouse pot experiment. Plant growth, heavy metal uptake, and antioxidant activity were considered.RESULTS: Biomass production of treated plants was significantly enhanced at 40 t ha−1 and 100 t ha−1 of MSW compost (+48% and +78% relative to the control, respectively). At the same doses of sewage sludge, the increase was only 18%. Higher doses of both biosolids restricted significantly the plant growth, in concomitance with the significant accumulation of heavy metals (Ni2+, Pb2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+), especially in leaves. Leaf activities of antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase and superoxide dismutase) were unchanged at 40 t ha−1 MSW compost or sewage sludge, but were significantly stimulated at higher doses (200–300 t ha−1), together with higher leaf concentration of reduced glutathione.CONCLUSION: This preliminary study suggests that a MSW supply at moderate doses (100 t ha−1) could be highly beneficial for wheat productivity. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry

Abstract Provided that LED street lighting is guided by quality principles, outdoor illumination using light-emitting diodes will have a significant global impact helping to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, save relevant amounts of electricity and enhance the quality of life in cities as well as in remote areas. This study summarizes recent findings providing guidelines for further progress in this crucially important technology on the common pathway to sustainable development.

Abstract. The amount of reflected energy by snow and ice plays a fundamental role in their melting processes. Different non-ice materials (carbonaceous particles, mineral dust, microorganisms, algae etc.) can decrease the reflectance of snow and ice promoting the melt. The object of this paper is to assess the capability of field and satellite (EO-1 Hyperion) hyperspectral data to characterize the impact of light-absorbing impurities on the surface reflectance of ice and snow of the Vadret da Morteratsch, a large valley glacier in the Swiss Alps. The spatial distribution of both narrow-band and broad-band indices derived from Hyperion was analyzed in relation to ice and snow impurities. In situ and laboratory reflectance spectra were acquired to characterize the optical properties of ice and cryoconite samples. The concentrations of Elemental Carbon (EC), Organic Carbon (OC) and Levoglucosan were also determined to characterize the impurities found in cryoconite. Multi-wavelength absorbance spectra were measured to compare the optical properties of cryoconite samples and local moraine sediments. In situ reflectance spectra showed that the presence of impurities reduced ice reflectance in visible wavelengths of 80–90 %. Satellite data also showed the outcropping of dust during the melting season in the upper parts of the glacier, revealing that seasonal input of atmospheric dust can decrease the reflectance also in the accumulation zone of the glacier. The presence of EC and OC in cryoconite samples suggests a relevant role of carbonaceous and organic material in the darkening of the ablation zone. This darkening effect is added to that caused by fine debris from lateral moraines, assumed to represent a large fraction of cryoconite. Possible input of anthropogenic activity cannot be excluded and further researches are needed to assess the role of human activities in the darkening process of glaciers observed in recent years.

A novel free-standing and flexible counter electrode for dye solar cells has been developed by conveniently transferring a vertically aligned carbon nanotube forest onto an oxygen-plasma-treated flexible, free-standing and conductive nanocomposite foil. Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes were first grown onto an aluminium foil by chemical vapour deposition and then transferred to the nanocomposite surface by hot pressing. The most meaningful electrochemical parameters have been quantitatively analyzed by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry in order to elucidate how the implementation of the anisotropic carbon nanotube top layer impacts the ultimate catalytic performances of the plate. Such an engineered counter electrode is able to guarantee a fast and effective reduction of the iodide-based electrolyte as well as to provide a solar conversion efficiency that is comparable with a typical Pt/TCO-coated rigid counter electrode. A photocurrent density higher than 13.36 mA cm−2 along with a solar conversion efficiency of 7.26% have been reported for the dye solar cell mounting a counter-electrode based on vertically aligned carbon nanotubes implanted onto a conductive nanocomposite plate.

The edge of the RFX-mod (R=2m, a=0.46m) Reversed Field Pinch device is characterized by weak magnetic chaos affecting ion and electron diffusion. Edge particle transport is strongly influenced by a toroidal asymmetry caused by magnetic islands and an ambipolar radial electric field ensures local neutrality, in a way similar to the stochastic edge of tokamaks when resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) are applied. The H? emission and floating potential Vf measured in different poloidal and toroidal positions shows a helical shape of the Plasma Wall Interaction, fitting the spatial periodicity of the innermost resonant tearing mode (m/n=1/7) [1]. However, detailed measurements, along the poloidal (parallel) direction, of the electron density and temperature with the Thermal Helium Beam, and of the floating potential Vf with electrostatic probes, show that the response of the edge plasma depends on the poloidal angle, in a more complicated way than a pure 1/7 harmonic. In particular, multiple poloidal harmonics can be recognized in the measurements. The results are robust, because data analysis has been performed with different techniques: in terms of correlations between Vf signals and the corresponding local flux-surface displacement, by the conditional average technique applied at Vf signals, and finally also in terms of a travelling helical angle frame as reference of the measurements. The interpretation of the results is not obvious, but it highlights the fact that the correlation between magnetic islands and kinetic properties of the edge plasma is not a simple one-to-one causal relationship, as it is often assumed in RMP studies in tokamaks.