Debate still swirls around what killed ancient Romans during the 79 CE eruption. A study of wood charred by the event suggests a brief, but searing, flow of volcanic gas and debris.
Italy
A Turning Point for Estuaries Worldwide
As estuarine barriers are built in response to sea level rise, flooding, and salinization, more research is needed to better understand their implications for human activities and ecosystems.
Topography Along the Apennines Reflects Subduction Dynamics
Topography and exhumation vary strongly along the Apennines, reflecting the geometry of the Moho and different geodynamic mechanisms.
Scientists Decipher the Seismic Dance of the Southern Alps
Most of the Alps are considered tectonically dead, but according to new research, the southeastern region—home to prosecco wine—is very much alive.
A Probabilistic Model for Classifying Temporary Rivers
The model relies on measurable broad-scale attributes, increasing its flexibility for use in diverse environments.
Mortality of Seagrass Meadows May Not Kill Their Methane Release
New research indicates that seagrasses continue to release methane even after they die, complicating blue carbon initiatives.
Exposure to Low Levels of Air Pollution Increases COVID-19 Risk
Although causality has yet to be established, an Italian case study found that an increase in annual average exposure to PM2.5 was associated with a jump in the rate of COVID-19.
Mountains Sway to the Seismic Song of Earth
The Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps is in constant motion, gently swaying back and forth about once every 2 seconds.
Supergreen Trees Can Signal Sites of Eruptions
Tree core chemistry can explain what happened before Mount Etna’s 2002 eruption and suggests that trees could play a role in rebuilding past eruptions.
For Venice’s Floodgates to Work, Better Forecasts Are Needed
Climate change increases massive storm surges, which may be more than Venice’s flood-control system can handle.