The Earthquake Department of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology is responsible for promoting research, technological development and innovation in the fields of geosciences involving earthquake and tsunami phenomena through a multidisciplinary approach.
It includes research activities aimed at understanding pre-seismic, co-seismic and post-seismic processes on topics ranging from the characterization of the seismic source, to the effects produced on the environment and on buildings, from the geodynamic and geological characterization of the context in which occur at the study of precursors.
These studies integrate with those on a global scale which aim at the observation, understanding and modeling of the phenomena that govern the Solid Earth, from its interior to its surface.
The Earthquakes Department aims at the development of basic and applied research, integrated with each other and which draw mutual benefit through the osmosis of knowledge between one area and another in the following main topics:
- Structure of the Earth
- Active Crustal Deformation
- Seismic source
- Seismicity of Italy
- Seismology, Geophysics and geology for seismic engineering
- Seismic and Tsunami Hazard Studies
- Variations of crustal characteristics and precursors
- Real Time Seismology
The Earthquakes Department carries out many service activities which involve direct interaction with society intended as the transfer of information and knowledge, promoting virtuous behavior during the occurrence of earthquakes or tsunamis. These activities benefit from the results of research to develop applications and products of interest to society. In particular, the service activities include seismic and tsunami monitoring and surveillance, carried out within the Framework Agreement with the Civil Protection Department, as well as all INGV institutional services (cartography, bulletins, databases, hazard maps, etc.) and consultancy services with local authorities (municipalities, regions, etc.) and state institutions (Carabinieri, armed forces, etc.).
Research and service activities are carried out in the Sections, technical-scientific organizational units and in the Centers dedicated to specific activities. The INGV sections involved are: National Earthquake Observatory Section, Rome1 Section, Naples Section (Vesuvian Observatory), Catania Section (Etna Observatory), Milan Section, Palermo Section, Rome2 Section, Bologna Section, Pisa Section .
The main service activities are briefly described below, referring further details to the dedicated pages.
Seismic Surveillance and Tsunami Warning: INGV's institutional tasks include seismic, volcanic and tsunami surveillance. INGV is also a fundamental component of the National Civil Protection System and performs the functions of Competence Center of the Civil Protection Department (DPC) for the monitoring of earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes.
Surveillance and warning activities for tsunamis of seismic origin in the entire Mediterranean are carried out by Tsunami Warning Center (CAT). After a few years of experimentation, the CAT became fully operational in 2016, at the level of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and connected seas (ICG/NEAMTWS), and from beginning of 2017 in the Italian system.
Seismic hazard: The Seismic Hazard Center (CPS) of the INGV is responsible for producing models for the estimation of seismic hazard on different time scales. Among its main objectives, the CPS has that of updating the Seismic Hazard Model for Italy (MPS04) created in 2004, published in 2006 in the Official Gazette and implemented in 2009 in the Technical Standards of Constructions for the definition of the seismic action .
Subsoil monitoring: The Subsoil Monitoring Center (CMS) is the structure that deals with the systematic detection of seismicity and soil deformation connected to anthropic activities of use of the subsoil for energy purposes (cultivation of hydrocarbons, reinjection of waste water, storage of natural gas , geothermal energy, mining, artificial reservoirs), their analysis and related research topics. The CMS, born in 2017 to respond to requests from the Ministry of Economic Development (MiSE), operates, pending the establishment of a specific ministerial fund, within the framework of agreements and conventions with MiSE-UNMIG and with local authorities to apply to some pilot sites – currently on an experimental basis – addresses and ministerial guidelines for monitoring. The CMS continuously acquires and processes the data of local seismic and geodetic networks operating in the domain of each concession to observe possible ground shaking or deformations possibly attributable to industrial activities.
Seismic microzonation: INGV also participates in the activities of the Center for Seismic Microzonation and its applications (CentroMS), established on the basis of an agreement between the CNR and other national scientific institutions, subsequently extended to INGV, ENEA and ISPRA. CentroMS has as its objectives the development of methodologies and updates on seismic microzonation studies and its applications, the promotion of theoretical and operational training, the supply of scientific technical support for the realization and coordination of studies, even in the first emergency phase .
The Earthquake Department uses the WEB and SOCIAL channels of the INGVterremoti platform for information on earthquakes and seismicity in Italy and for communication activities in the event of a seismic and tsunami emergency.
