WHAT is INGV?
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, known in acronym as INGV, is the Italian research institution responsible for the study of geophysical and volcanological phenomena and for the management of the respective national networks of monitoring for seismic phenomena e volcanic.
HOW WAS INGV BORN?
The origins of INGV coincide with the origins of geophysical and volcanological research in Italy and in the world.
An important step towards the foundation of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology took place in 1969, when in Catania, with Alfred Rittmann, the International Institute of Volcanology was born, a prestigious volcanological research center mainly oriented towards studies on the activity of Etna and the Aeolian Islands.
Subsequently, between the seventies and eighties, two other prestigious geophysical and volcanological research institutes came to light: theInstitute of Geochemistry of Fluids (IGF) of Palermo and the Seismic Risk Research Institute (IRRRS) from Milan.
In the late nineties, the geophysics , volcanology in Italy they had become mature scientific disciplines and, especially in the field of seismology e volcanology, Italy, thanks to the intense scientific activity of these Institutes and of many other prestigious universities, had conquered a position of undoubted international scientific prestige and credibility.
Finally, in the 1999, with the DL 29/9/1999 no. 381 decreed the birth of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), from the confluence of the main Italian geophysical and volcanological research institutes: theVesuvius Observatory of Naples, theING of Rome, theIV of Catania, theIGF of Palermo and theIRRS of Milan.
WHAT DOES INGV DO?
The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology has become one of the largest European research institutions in the field of Earth sciences. It carries out scientific research in the fields of geophysics and geochemistry, seismology, volcanology and space meteorology.
In addition to its normal research activities, INGV has the task, in agreement with the Civil Protection, of surveillance seismic e volcanic of the Italian areas. In particular, the section of Rome CNT (National Earthquake Center) deals with seismic surveillance of the entire national territory, excluding volcanic areas.
The Naples section of the Vesuvius Observatory deals with the surveillance of the Neapolitan volcanoes (Campi Flegrei, Vesuvius, Ischia), and the Catania section with the surveillance of the Sicilian volcanoes (Etna, Aeolian Islands). The data coming from Stromboli are transmitted both to the Vesuvius Observatory of Naples and to the INGV of Catania. The Palermo section carries out geochemical monitoring in the tectonic and volcanic areas of the Peninsula, thus supporting the seismic and volcanic surveillance of the whole national territory.
Furthermore, INGV leads the European consortia for monitoring on land (EPOS) and at sea (EMSO), and the National Technology Platform for geothermal energy, of the Ministry of University and Research (MIUR).
Finally, INGV has launched a national program of public education, social information e risk communication, relative to seismic and volcanic risks, Called EduRisk.
