Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse: Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources - National Research Council of Italy

Who we are

The Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IGG), is an institute of National Research Council of Italy (CNR), and it is devoted to the interdisciplinary study of the Geosciences, including application-oriented approaches.

From the Jurassic ocean the strategic metals of the Tuscan hills

In the copper mine in Montecatini Val di Cecina (Tuscany), researchers from the Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources have discovered the presence of selenium, tellurium and precious metals, with concentrations well above the earth's average.

New study on triple junctions of lithospheric plates published in Geology

An international research team, coordinated by researchers of CNR-IGG and the University of Florence, has published a new study in Geology on extensional triple junctions, areas in which three lithospheric plates diverge from each other and interact giving rise to complex deformation patterns.

New study on the effects of global warming in high mountain areas published in Nature Communications

An international team, including researchers from the University of Milan and CNR-IGG, has published a new study on the effects of global warming in high mountain areas in the well-known journal Nature Communications.

Mediterranean Sea among the world's areas at high risk of plastic debris ingestion for seabirds

The Mediterranean Sea is one of the areas of the world where seabirds are at risk of ingesting plastic.

Influence of water and ice on eruptive style of the Mount Melbourne Volcanic Field

Volcanoes erupt in various environmental settings, including subaerial, subaqueous and subglacial.

New procedure to standardize CO2 flux measurements from soil by the accumulation chamber

A new study for a procedure to standardize CO2 flux measurements from soil by the accumulation chamber in Frontiers in Environmental Science has been published.

The use of the Ware Radar Mobile System in the study of the Arno River mouth

This research was focused on the role of the Wave Radar Mobile System in the study of sea state and seabed depth changes in coastal areas during storm surges.

The eruptive history of the long-lived Mason Spur volcanic complex (southern Victoria Land, Antarctica)

A working group led by volcanologist J. Smellie (University of Leicester, UK), including researchers from the New Zealand Geological Survey (GNS Science, New Zealand), the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (USA), US Geological Survey (USGS, USA) and Istituto di Geoscienze Georisorse (CNR), have reconstructed in great detail the eruptive history of one of the longest-lived and largest eruptive centers of the West Antarctic Rift System (Antarctica).

Published in Communication Earth & Environment the results of in-situ loading experiments in the Venice Lagoon

Published in Communication Earth & Environment the results of in-situ loading experiments in the Venice Lagoon revealing that autocompaction of coastal marshes is strongly influenced by soil characteristics and heterogeneity.

A new study on millennial‑scale climate fuctuations in the last 800 kyr

A recent study published in Scientific Reports shows that the approch based on the generalized Fluctuation–Dissipation Relation, complemented by the analysis of the Transfer Entropy, allows the causal links to be identifed between temperature, CO2 concentration and astronomical forcing during glacial cycles over the past 800,000 years based on Antarctic ice core records.

Lithium in Italy: from deep fluids a resource for the energy transition

A recent study published by a team of IGG researchers defines the potential of lithium deposits in Italian territory.

High precision multi-collector 40Ar-39Ar dating of moldavites (central Eurepean tekties)

Moldavites (Central European tektites) are genetically related to the meteorite impact event that produced the 24-km diameter Ries crater (Germany) during the Langhian, and representing one of the youngest large impact structures on Earth.

Multi-collector 40Ar-39Ar dating of deformation in the Alpi Apuane (northern Apennines)

The Alpi Apuane (northern Apennines) represent a key area for understanding the processes related to the Apennines building and geodynamic evolution of the central Mediterranean, but the timing of tectono-metamorphic events is still debated.

New study on the expected drought occurrences in northern Italy in future decades

Researchers from IGG published a new study on the expected drought occurrences in northern Italy in future decades. To this end, they analyzed the climatic projections from the EURO-CORDEX and MED-CORDEX numerical simulation ensembles. The results indicate an intensification of droughts in northern Italy for the period 2071–2100, with the Alpine chain being especially affected by an increase of drought severity.

New 40Ar-39Ar geochronological data constrain the Timescale of the Mio‐Pliocene Campiglia Marittima magmatic‐hydrothermal system (Tuscany, Italy)

Petrology and timing of magmatic‐hydrothermal systems and the linkage between plutonic and volcanic domains are key topics in Earth sciences, because of broad implications for natural hazards (volcanic eruptions, gas emissions, earthquakes) and exploitation of natural resources (ore deposits and geothermal resources).

New study on tritium: the most effective tracer of leachate contamination

The paper describes the geochemical and isotopic data processing combined with statistical analysis aimed to fine-tune the tritium background threshold limits to identify groundwater contamination due to leachate dispersion at a very high level of sensitivity.

New study on the importance of isotopic geothermometers published in Scientific Reports

A team composed of researchers from several Greek universities and research centres, from the University of Paris and from IGG-CNR, published on Scientific Report a paper highlighting the importance of chemical and isotopic characterization to establish the origin of deep fluids from 4 different geothermal fields located in Northern Greece.

A study quantifying the influence of climatic and ecological drivers on carbon dioxide fluxes in the high Arctic tundra published in Scientific Reports

In a paper published in Scientific Reports, a research group of IGG-CNR has shown how ecological and climatic factors influence carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes in the high Arctic tundra.

Continuous and near real-time measurements of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV): a new approach to investigate the 3d distribution of gem in the lower atmosphere

A new paper, focused on the very first real attempt to directly and continuously measure gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) by means of a Lumex RA-915M mounted on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV, a heavy-lift octocopter), has been published in Chemosphere.

Award for the best master thesis in mathematics and publication in the journal "Applications in Engineering Science"

Antonio Giovinetto, a student at the University of Florence, has been awarded the Prize in memory of Prof. Tristano Manacorda for the best thesis of Master Thesis in Mathematics 2021.

Published a new study about the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of trace elements in elasmobranchs and trophic transfer

A new study has been published on Marine Pollution Bulletin about trace elements. This study aims to provide the first concurrent assessment from 12 elasmobranch species from Djibouti (Gulf of Aden).

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Funded Projects

STORECO2

The STORECO2 (Advancing the STORagE of Anthropogenic CO2 Emissions by Understanding Natural Carbonation Systems) project explores the natural mechanisms through which CO₂ is converted into carbonate minerals, with a particular focus on the genesis of magnesite deposits. This research aims to establish a solid scientific foundation for the upscaling of CO₂ mineral sequestration, considered essential to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Supported by the European Union as part of the Next Generation EU initiative and by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (PNRR program), the project lays the groundwork in research for the decarbonization of society towards a more sustainable future.

IRGIE

The IRGIE project (Inventory of the Geothermal Resources of the Aeolian Islands) is the result of a synergy between the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) and the Sicilian Region. Its objective is to facilitate the sustainable energy autonomy of the islands of the Aeolian archipelago, with particular regard to geothermal energy. The purpose of the research is to investigate in detail the geothermal potential of the Aeolian Islands for the utilisation of the resource in the low, medium and high temperature range.

STONE

The STONE project (A new generation Spectroscopy Tool to monitor rheology and phase transformation prOcesses in volcaNology and cEramic production) is a PRIN Project 2022, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.

RESTORE

The RESTORE project (REconstruct subsurface heterogeneities and quantify Sediment needs TO improve the REsilience of Venice saltmarshes) is a PRIN 2022 PNRR Project, Funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.

EUREECA

The EUREECA project (PRIN2022Y4J7AN) is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU and by the Italian Ministry of University and Research.

WINTER CZ

The WINTER CZ project (Winter Critical Zone dynamics in the High Arctic: measuring carbon fluxes and geo-biological processes at the Bayelva Critical Zone Observatory during winter) is a project funded by the Arctic Research Program (PRA) INFRA 2021.

Bilateral Italy – Argentina

The Bilateral Project Italy – Argentina is a bilateral agreement between Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET). The objective of the project is to analyze the influence of marine and continental water exchanges on the shallow marine habitats of the Valdés Peninsula and the Venetian coastal system (Adriatic Sea).

InGEO

The InGEO project is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU and by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, PNRR programme. This research project responds to the needs of increasing the share of energy produced from renewable sources, improving knowledge of geothermal resources and the energy they contain for various uses.

NatResPoNΔ

The NatResPoNΔ project is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU and by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, PNRR programme. This research project aims to test the feasibility of nature-based solutions to increase the resilience of the Po River Delta - the main deltaic system in Italy and one of the most important worldwide - to relative sea-level rise, ultimately mitigating long-term flood and storm-surge risks and ensuring the sustainability of communities on the delta.

MIGRATE

The MIGRATE project is a project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). The goal of MIGRATE is to streamline passive seismic exploration procedures by developing new analysis methods that remove human bias, have significantly increased reproducibility and reliability, while addressing relevant scientific questions.

GEOTHERM-FORA

The GEOTHERM-FORA project is a European Project funded by the Horizon Europe Programme (G.A. 101075400), which aims at supporting and strengthening the fora on geothermal systems dealing with research and innovation. The Deep Geothermal Implementation Working Group (DG-IWG) and the Platform on Deep Geothermal (ETIP-DG) are working together and interlinked.

DEEPU

DeepU project (Deep U-tube heat exchanger breakthrough: combining laser and cryogenics gas for geothermal energy exploitation) has been funded under the EIC Pathfinder programme (G.A. 101046937) by the European Commission as part of Horizon Europe, which supports early-stage projects developing revolutionary, high-risk/high-gain technologies with the potential to create new markets and address global changes.

SECURE

SeCure (Saltwater intrusion and climate change: monitoring, countermeasures and informed governance), which is allocated in the Cluster Adaptation to climate changes "governance and capacity building", is aimed to (i) maximize the main outcomes and the experiences developed in MAC IT-HR projects and the synergies between the projects to enhance visibility and transferability, and (ii) fully exploit and consolidate the results achieved so far to further increase the knowledge base on the saltwater contamination of the northern Adriatic coastlands in preparation for the next programming period, in particular Specific objective 2.4.

HYDRO-ISLAND

HYDRO-ISLAND (Pianosa Island: hydrological processes and water resources sustainability in a climate-changing Mediterranean) is carried out by through a cooperation among IGG, scientific leader, Tuscan Archipelago National Park, promoter of the project as responsible of Tuscan Islands Biosphere Reserve - MAB UNESCO, Earth Science Departments of the Siena and Pisa University (DSFTA-UniSi and DST-UniPi, respectively), GASP Museum and Turismo Sostenibile s.r.l. Furthermore, the Autorità Idrica Toscana (AIT) will represent a key stakeholder.

ABRESO

ABRESO (ABandonment and REbound: SOcietal views on landscape- and land-use change and their impacts on water and soils) is a Belmont Forum project funded by the Department of Earth Sciences and Technologies for the Environment (DSTTA). The project aims to create a transdisciplinary platform to understand the natural and socio-economic factors that lead to land abandonment and subsequent land use change and alteration of ecosystem processes in the Critical Zone. The results of the activities carried out over the 3 years of the project (2021-2023) will enable stakeholders to apply solutions for sustainable management of the air-soil-vegetation-water system.

ICEtoFLUX

ICEtoFLUX (HydrologIcal changes in ArctiC Environments and water-driven biogeochemical) focus on hydrological processes occurring in arctic environment, as well as on their effects of physical, chemical and biological type. It is developed over the Bayelva River catchment (Ny- Ålesund, Svalbard), starting from its glaciers (Austre- e Vestre-broggerbreen) and moving down to proglacial tundra area and the Kongsfjorden, in which water quality and current are affected by the river input of meltwater containing suspended solids.

LEAP-RE

LEAP-RE (Long-Term Joint EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership on Renewable Energy) is Horizon 2020 EU-funded project, in response to the LC-SC3-JA-5-2020 H2020 call for proposal. The duration of the action will be 63 months as of 1 October 2020 (‘starting date of the action’).

LEAP-RE seeks to create a long-term partnership of African and European stakeholders in the field of renewable energy.

PON-GRINT

Il progetto PON “Infrastruttura di Ricerca Italiana per le Geoscienze” (Geoscience Research INfracstructure of ITaly; GRINT) ha come obiettivo generale quello di potenziare le strutture, le risorse e i servizi collegati al piano di implementazione dell’Infrastruttura di Ricerca (IR) Europea European Plate Observing System (EPOS) e di definire possibili ampliamenti dell’offerta di dati, prodotti e servizi, con particolare riferimento alle regioni meno sviluppate (Campania, Calabria, Puglia e Sicilia) o in transizione (Abruzzo, Molise e Sardegna).

AL.C.h.E.Mi.S.T.

The Project regards the integrated study of Albanian speleothem, with the general aims to explore and develop the potential of Albanian caves as archives of past climatic and environmental variations, and with the perspective of properly valorise their scientific, didactic and historical value.

Bilateral Project Italy - Morocco

The bilateral project aims to study the main fault systems of the High Atlas in Morocco, whose long history of activation in different geodynamic contexts characterized the overall evolution of the mountain belt. The Atlas orogen resulted from a long history of reactivations in alternating transtensional–transpressional tectonic regimes of lithospheric faults (Tizi n'Test fault system in the western High Atlas, South Meseta and South Atlas fault systems in the central High Atlas).

HIETE Project

The purpose of the "Scientific Research of Excellence", funded by the CARIPARO Foundation, is to support innovative research projects that help generate positive economic and social effects, promoting the advancement of scientific knowledge in the most diverse fields.

One of the most debated scientific aspects in relation to the impacts of global changes is whether, how and for how long transitional coastal environments such as lagoons, estuaries and deltas will be able to survive the expected Sea Level Rise (SLR).

BRIC-INAIL Asbestos Call

The project “Crystallochemical characterization and study of surface reactivity of mineral fibres of environmental and health interest, for an accurate hazard analysis”, was financed in the frame of the “Bric” research funding program of INAIL - the Italian National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work.

ORMA

The ORMA Project, funded by the Region of Tuscany with Executive Decree no. 7426 of 14/05/2020 and started on December 1, 2020, aims to train experts to support innovation, technology transfer, promotion of the relationship between research and business and europlanning and to strengthen the skills of the territory in the field of research/enterprise integration, internationalization, technology transfer, culture of innovation, monitoring and forecasting of technologies and europlanning.

Bilateral project Italy - China

Deltas, estuaries, lagoons form complex and highly fragile transition zones between river dominated lowlands and coastal marine systems. Such systems have proven to react sensitively to climate change and anthropogenic forces: the present morpho- hydro- geological setting and ecosystem of coastal systems result from human-induced processes superposed to the natural coastal zone evolution.

TRETAMARA

In the northern Adriatic Sea there are marine and coastal habitats that favor and support a significant animal and plant biodiversity, represented by the geo-biogenic outcrops of Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto, by the Cladocora caespitosa dead corallites on the Slovenian side, by the numerous coastal-littoral ZSC-ZPS.

MoST

Project coordinator: Prof. Paolo Salandin University of Padova, Department ICEA (paolo.salandin(at)unipd(dot)it);CNR Scientific Responsible: Dr. Luigi Tosi, CNR-IGG (luigi.tosi(at)igg.cnr.it)

ASTERIS

Project coordinator: Prof. Simone Galeotti, Università degli studi di Urbino “Carlo Bo”; CNR Scientific Responsible: Dr.ssa Barbara Nisi, CNR-IGG (barbara.nisi(at)igg.cnr.it)

GECO

The project aims to study and develop, at industrial level, the production of geothermal energy with zero emissions. Geothermal fluids can naturally contain small variable amounts of CO₂ and H₂S that, if released into the atmosphere, can contribute negatively to the climate change.

Venezia 2021

The loss of land elevation with respect to the mean sea level (relative sea level rise – RSLR) is one of the processes potentially more impacting flat low-lying coastlands. Today, a continuous updating of the knowledge on land subsidence is becoming even more necessary. This holds in particular for the Venice area where land subsidence is characterized by a significant variability because of the hydro-geo-morphological complexity typical of this transitional environment. Although land subsidence in the Venice coast does not peak to values recorded in other coastal areas worldwide, the process is here severely threatening the territory because of its very low elevation, which is generally below the mean sea level, and the peculiarity of the lagoon environment.

IGCP 663 - IM2LSC

Land subsidence severely threatens most of the coastal plains around the world where high productive industrial and agricultural activities and urban centers are concentrated. Coastal subsidence damages infrastructures and exacerbates the effect of the sea‐level rise at regional scale. Although it is a well‐known process,

VIOLA

The VIOLA project is one of the activities funded under POR Puglia. The IGG is involved in the project for activities concerning the isotopic applications of O, H, B, and Sr in the study of the interactions between the waters selected and the carbonate aquifers of the Apula platform.

GEOENVI

CNR Scientific Responsible: Dr. Adele Manzella, CNR-IGG (adele.manzella(at)igg.cnr.it). Link to project web site: https://www.geoenvi.eu/.

OT4CLIMA

The general objective of the OT4CLIMA project is to develop advanced Earth Observation (EO) technologies and methodologies for improving our knowledge of the effects of Climate Change (CC) and our capability to mitigate them at the regional and sub-regional scale.

EUROVOLC

The H2020 EUROVOLC Project aimed at creating a European network of observatories and research infrastructures for volcanology. CNR Scientific Responsible: Dr. Maddalena Pennisi, CNR-IGG (maddalena.pennisi(at)igg.cnr.it). Link to project web site: https://eurovolc.eu/.

DG-ETIP

Deep Geothermal ETIP (Support to the activities of the European Technology and Innovation Platform on Deep Geothermal) is a geothermal project, funded by the European Commission within the Framework Programme Horizon 2020.

GEMex

GEMEx is a project of international cooperation in the geothermal field between Europe and Mexico, funded by Horizon 2020 EU framework programme for research and innovation.
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Bilateral Project Italy-Taiwan

Geochemical tracers and indicators for the evaluation of geothermal resources is a Joint Research Project between National Council of Research of Italy and Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan, funded for 2 years.
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ERA4CS

The ERA-NET Consortium “European Research Area for Climate Services”, so-called ERA4CS, has been designed to boost the development of efficient Climate Services in Europe.
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Geodinamica del Pianeta Vivente