Distribution and ecology of the Globigerinoides ruber — Globigerinoides elongatus morphotypes in the Azores region during the late Pleistocene-Holocene

Abstract Globigerinoides ruber is the dominant taxon in the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre, nowadays limited to the north by the Azores Current. It is highly sensitive to recent and late Pleistocene Azores Front Current System variability. In this study, we analyse the distribution of five individual morphotypes of the G. ruber – G. elongatus plexus (G. ruber s.s., G. ruber cyclostoma type, G. elongatus, G. elongatus cf.1, G. elongatus pyramidical type) and G. ruber kummerform gr. in a core (ATA13-OF-KT1) collected southwest of the Azores islands and located in a strategical position near the present-day boundary of the Subtropical Gyre/Azores Front Current System (STG/AFCS). Micropaleonto…

Ricostruzione paleoclimatica degli ultimi 11.200 anni tramite lo studio di una carota di sedimento prelevata nell’offshore del Golfo di Palermo (Tirreno Meridionale)

Il presente lavoro riguarda lo studio di una carota di sedimento della lunghezza di 196 cm, prelevata nell’offshore del Golfo di Palermo (Tirreno Meridionale) ad una profondità di 990 m durante la campagna oceanografica PUMA 09 (MaGIC 2009). La carota è stata campionata ogni 2 cm e su ciascun campione sono state effettuate analisi sedimentologiche, micropaleontologiche (foraminiferi planctonici) e geochimiche (δ13C e δ18O). Le analisi degli isotopi stabili sono state effettuate sui gusci di Globigerinoides ruber. Le analisi granulometriche hanno evidenziato che i sedimenti sono costituiti da argille e argille siltose di colore grigio-bruno, con percentuali di fango superiori al 90%, mentre …

Georadar Investigations in the Church of San Paolo (San Giacomo Dei Militari, Palermo).

Summary As part of a research project aimed at drawing up a restoration project for the church of San Paolo, the monument was investigated with georadar surveys. The investigations were followed in a targeted manner by archaeological excavations, under the supervision of the Superintendence of Cultural and Environmental Heritage of Palermo. The San Paolo church is located in the oldest part of the city. The geophysical investigations will be useful to identify any pre-existing structures on which the church could be founded. The georadar investigations focused on the central nave and one of the side aisles to identify buried structures and crypts. The data showed several anomalies. One of t…

Paleoclimatic and Paleoceanographic reconstruction of the Pleistocene – Holocene through the study of planktonic foraminifera of two sediment cores, collected in the Atlantic Ocean, southwestward of the Azores Islands (OCEANOGRAFLU Geological survey, June 2013).

The study of climate and oceanographic setting in the recent past plays and important role to prevent what we can expect for the future. This research project is based on the study of two sedimentary cores (ATA13-OF-KT1 and ATA13-OF-KT18), collected during OCEANOGRAFLU 2013 oceanographic survey in Atlantic Ocean, southwestward of the Azores Islands, near the Mid-Atlantic ridge. In agreement with members of Paleobiodiversity and Paleoenvironmental Research Center belonging to the Department of Earth History (MNHN) of Paris, I’ll have to study these two cores, under the supervision of Prof. Annachiara Bartolini, member of this research unit, and Prof. Antonio Caruso (DiSTeM, University of Pal…

Geophysical contribution to the reconstruction of the hydrological model of "Barcellona-Milazzo plain" groundwater body, northen Sicily

The “Barcellona-Milazzo plain” groundwater body in the northen Sicily, was analysed in detail, through numerous geophysical measurements that were integrated with stratigraphic data in order to reconstruct the hydrological model. The “Barcellona-Milazzo plain” (BMP) groundwater body has been identified within the coastal sector between the village of Oliveri, to the west, and Capo Rasocolmo, to the east. It also includes several rivers that rise further south in correspondence with the Peloritani ridge and flow into the wide Barcellona-Milazzo alluvial plain. On the basis of several geophysical and geological data analysis and interpretation have been used to reconstruct the composition and…

Natural Laboratories for Field Observation About Genesis and Landscape Effects of Palaeo-Earthquakes: a Proposal for the Rocca Busambra and Monte Barracù Geosites (West Sicily)

Earthquakes are phenomena that are still being learned by the scientific community, and poorly known, especially as regards the prevention, by the population. Having a more complete knowledge is a basic step in understanding the vastness and intensity of the destructive phenomenon that involves a great amount of people. The recent earthquakes occurred in Central Italy (L’Aquila and Amatrice earthquakes) are examples that demonstrate the importance of having knowledge about these phenomena to contrast their destructive effects. We present a geological field trip to recognise causes and landscape effects of palaeo-earthquakes recorded in the Mesozoic rock successions outcropping in Sicily. Th…

Paleoclimatic and Paleoceanographic reconstruction of the Pleistocene-Holocene through the study of planktonic foraminifera of two sedimentary cores collected in North Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Azores Islands.