A Damage Scenario for the 2012 Northern Italy Earthquakes and Estimation of the Economic Losses to Residential Buildings

In May 2012 a seismic sequence occurred in Northern Italy that was characterized by two main shocks with a magnitude range between 5.5 and 6. These shocks represent a good case study by which to quantify the monetary losses caused by a moderate earthquake in a densely populated and economically well-developed area.The loss estimation accounts for damage to residential buildings, and considers the full effect of all the seismic aftershock events that lasted for nearly a month. The building damage estimation is based on the European Macroseismic Scale(EMS-98) definitions, which depict the effects of an earthquake on built-up areas in terms of observed intensities. Input data sources are the residential building census provided by Istituto Nazionale di Statistica—the Italian National Institute of Statistics(ISTAT)—and the official market value of real estate assets, obtained from the Osservatorio del Mercato Immobiliare—the Real Estate Market Observatory(OMI). These data make it possible to quantify the economic losses due to earthquakes, an economic indicator updated yearly. The proposed multidisciplinary method takes advantage of seismic,engineering, and economic data sets, and is able to provide a reasonable after the event losses scenario. Data are not gathered for each single building and the intensity values are not a simple hazard indicator, but, notwithstanding its coarseness, this method ensures both robust and reproducible results. As the local property value is availablethroughout the Italian territory, the present loss assessment can be effortlessly repeated for any area, and may be quickly reproduced in case of future events, or used for predictive economic estimations.

AN AMS RADIOCARBON DATE FROM GRAVE BSII OF THE COPPER AGE CEMETERY OF REMEDELLO SOTTO (Brescia, Northern Italy)

A small sample of human bone from Tomb BSII of the Chalcolithic cemetery of RemedelloSotto (Brescia, Northern Italy) was processed with the AMS technique. It gave a date of 4070 ± 70BP (Beta-35224; ETH-6196) corresponding to 2711 (2609) 2512 cal BC yrs (1 sigma). Una datazione radiometrica per la Tomba BSII del cimitero Calcolitico di RemedelloSotto (Brescia). Viene presentata la datazione radiometrica eseguita con il metodo dell’acceleratore sudi un frammento di osso di calcagno del piede destro dello scheletro di inumato della Tomba BSII delsepolcreto di Remedello Sotto. L’analisi ha fornito il risultato di 4070 ± 70 BP (Beta-35224; ETH-6196)corrispondente a 2711 (2609) 2512 cal BC (1 sigma).

Life cycle and nymphal feeding of Besdolus ravizzarum （Plecoptera： Perlodidae）, a threatened stonefly

We have studied some aspects of Besdolus ravizzarum biology in the Apen- nines. This stonefly has a very localized distribution in southeastern France and northern Italy. This species is considered threatened. For this reason it is especially relevant to improve knowledge about its natural history, previously unknown. Despite the large size of nymphs, this species shows a univoltine life cycle. The growth is slow but uniform from October to April or May when the short flight period occurs. The analysis of the gut con- tents indicates this species is a predator, feeding mainly on Baetidae and Chironomidae. It is notable that the development of this carnivorous species through cold periods coincides with the season with higher richness and density of potential prey in Apennine streams. Further studies are needed to improve knowledge of the distribution of the species and to start planning effective conservation efforts.