Monitoring of Surface Temperature on Parco delle Biancane (Italian Geothermal Area) Using Optical Satellite Data, UAV and Field Campaigns

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the surface temperature and the distribution of thermal signatures on Tuscany’s geothermal districts using data obtained through three separate surveys via satellite and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The analysis considers the highest available spatial resolution ranging from hundreds of meters per pixel of the satellite thermal images and the tenths/hundreds of centimeters per pixel of the thermal images acquired by the UAV. The surface temperature maps obtained by satellite data acquired at suitable spatial resolution and the thermal measurements obtained by the thermal camera installed on the UAV were orthorectified and geocoded. This allowed, for example, following the evolution of thermal anomalies, which may represent a modification of the current state of the geothermal field and a possible hazard for both the population and industrial assets. Here, we show the results obtained in three field campaigns during which the simultaneous acquisition of Landsat 8 satellite and UAV (FlyBit octocopter, IDS, Rome, Italy) thermal data were analyzed. By removing the atmosphere contribution from Landsat 8 data, we have produced three surface temperature maps that are compared with the ground field measurements and the surface temperature maps elaborated by FLIR VUE PRO-R on the UAV.

First assessment of entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes in hot springs in central Italy and first record of Pristionchus uniformis for the country

“…About 33% of the study area was covered with bare soil and white rocks with steam, approximately 45% with scrublands (mostly Calluna vulgaris, Rubus ulmifolius, and Erica arborea L.), and the remaining 22% with mixed deciduous woodland (mostly Quercus suber L., with Castanea sativa Mill., Quercus ilex L., and Pinus pinea L.). This area has been known for its natural volcanic activity and hot springs since ancient times, characterised by steam vent emissions, emerging from small fissures on the ground, containing H2S, CO2, boric acid, and water vapor, as well as by soil surface often reaching temperatures above 50-60°C (Bonini et al, 2005;Silvestri et al, 2020). Locally, vapor condenses on the ground to form hot water puddles, called 'Lagoni' (Duchi et al, 1991).…”

Monitoring of Heat Flux Energy in the Northernmost Part of Sumatra Volcano Using Landsat 8 and Meteorological Data

“…Remote sensing is an emerging method that can be applied to examine volcanic activities. The remotely sensed data are available for long periods and can be accessed freely (Chan et al, 2018;Yanis and Marwan, 2019), such as the geothermal potential analysis of the southwestern area of Saudi Arabia (Lashin and Al Arifi, 2014), Eastern Macedonia (Gemitzi et al, 2021), and several geothermal fields in Italy (Silvestri et al, 2020a). In addition, the use of remote sensing data was not only for the analysis of volcanic potential, but it also allows for the calculation of the energy produced, as well as the estimation of the level of energy loss every year, which is helpful for economic analyses in the development of geothermal power plants (Mia et al, 2013;Sekertekin and Arslan, 2019).…”

Tracking the Endogenous Dynamics of the Solfatara Volcano (Campi Flegrei, Italy) through the Analysis of Ground Thermal Image Temperatures

“…In the last decades, thermal remote sensing has been largely used in surveys and in the analysis of thermal behavior of active volcanic areas. Different specific devices, such as portable or ground/airborne sensors and satellites [1][2][3][4], can reveal thermal anomalies linked to volcanic activity, as well as mapping volcanic deposits [5]. Thermal remote explorations are largely used to monitor the state of volcanoes by detecting thermal surface variations likely linked to endogenous dynamics and possible eruption precursors.…”