Department of
Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics

Ice cores, Isotopic and Environmental Geochemistry

The laboratory adopts a multidisciplinary approach, characteristic of environmental sciences, spanning research topics including geology, chemistry, glaciology, biology, epidemiology, and modeling. There are three main research lines.

  • The first line of research focuses on paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatological studies, with a particular focus on the climatic interpretation of stable isotope records (δ¹⁸O, δ¹⁷O, δ²H, and deuterium excess). These studies are conducted on ice, snow, and firn cores collected in polar regions, such as Antarctica and the Arctic, as well as in Alpine environments. The goal is to improve our understanding of past climate variations and reconstruct the dynamics of the Earth's climate system on different time scales. Isotopic analysis provides valuable information on atmospheric processes and the circulation of air masses in the past, allowing us to identify changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and water balances. Furthermore, the principles of isotope geochemistry are also applied in hydrological and oceanographic studies, contributing to the understanding of the interactions between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and cryosphere, as well as to the assessment of the impact of current climate change on aquatic ecosystems.
  • The second line of research focuses on atmospheric chemistry, with particular emphasis on the chemical and physical characterization of aerosols and the assessment of air pollution. The primary objective is to deepen our understanding of the processes that regulate air quality, combining advanced analytical approaches and environmental modeling. Research activities include the identification and quantification of air pollutant emission sources, the application of innovative chemometric techniques for the spatiotemporal analysis of air quality, and the study of time series to identify trends, cyclical patterns, and anomalies in pollution levels. Furthermore, particular attention is also paid to (i) analyzing the regional and transboundary transport of pollutants and (ii) assessing population exposure to air pollutants and the potential impacts on public health. This integrated approach not only improves knowledge of atmospheric processes but also provides a solid scientific basis for the development of effective mitigation strategies, supporting environmental policies aimed at reducing pollution and protecting human health.
  • The third line of research studies the ecohydrology of agro-forestry systems. Through the analysis of stable water isotopes (18O, 17O, and 2H), the aim is to trace the origin of precipitation and estimate the depth of root absorption of plants. By comparing the isotopic signatures of precipitation, soil water at different depths, and plant xylem sap, it is possible to determine which water reserves are used by vegetation. This approach allows us to understand plant water supply strategies in different climatic and ecological contexts, supporting sustainable water resource management and ecosystem conservation.

The group also studies geochemistry and pollution in various geological and environmental matrices, such as rocks, sediments, fertilizers, biomass, seagrasses, fish species, etc.

Research group

Collaborators

  • Flavia Visin (Lab Technologist)
  • Giuliano Dreossi (Lab Technologist)
  • Daniele Zannoni (Postdoc Marie Curie)
  • Claudio Stefanini (Postdoc progetto AIR-FLOC)
  • Vittoria Posocco (Research Fellow)
  • Mirco Peschiutta (Environmental Sciences PhD Student)
  • Agnese Petteni (Polar Sciences PhD Student)
  • Enrico Biscaro (Polar Sciences PhD Student)
  • Stefania Squizzato (Subject Expert)
  • Ilaria Crotti (Subject Expert; Joint Research Centre in Ispra)
  • Giancarlo Rampazzo (Senior Researcher)

Collaborations

Publications

  • Dreossi, G., Masiol, M., Stenni, B., Zannoni, D., Scarchilli, C., Ciardini, V., Casado, M., Landais, A., Werner, M., Cauquoin, A. and Casasanta, G., 2024. A decade (2008–2017) of water stable isotope composition of precipitation at Concordia Station, East Antarctica. The Cryosphere, 18(9), 3911-3931. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3911-2024
  • Landais, A., Stenni, B., Masson-Delmotte, V., Jouzel, J., Cauquoin, A., Fourré, E., Minster, B., Selmo, E., Extier, T., Werner, M. and Vimeux, F., 2021. Interglacial Antarctic–Southern Ocean climate decoupling due to moisture source area shifts. Nature Geoscience, 14(12), 918-923. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00856-4
  • Masiol, M., Zannoni, D., Stenni, B., Dreossi, G., Zini, L., Calligaris, C., Karlicek, D., Michelini, M., Flora, O., Cucchi, F. and Treu, F., 2021. Spatial distribution and interannual trends of δ18O, δ2H, and deuterium excess in precipitation across North-Eastern Italy. Journal of Hydrology, 598, 125749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125749
  • Masiol, M., Squizzato, S., Formenton, G., Khan, M.B., Hopke, P.K., Nenes, A., Pandis, S.N., Tositti, L., Benetello, F., Visin, F. and Pavoni, B., 2020. Hybrid multiple-site mass closure and source apportionment of PM2. 5 and aerosol acidity at major cities in the Po Valley. Science of the Total Environment, 704, 135287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135287
  • Masiol, M., Squizzato, S., Rich, D.Q. and Hopke, P.K., 2019. Long-term trends (2005–2016) of source apportioned PM2.5 across New York State. Atmospheric Environment, 201, 110-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2018.12.038
  • Stenni, B., Curran, M.A., Abram, N.J., Orsi, A., Goursaud, S., Masson-Delmotte, V., Neukom, R., Goosse, H., Divine, D., Van Ommen, T. and Steig, E.J., 2017. Antarctic climate variability on regional and continental scales over the last 2000 years. Climate of the Past, 13(11), 1609-1634. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-13-1609-2017

Case studies

  • Antarctic climate variability through the analysis of stable isotopes in ice core samples
  • Isotopic composition of the precipitations collected at the Concordia station, East Antarctica
  • Isotopic composition of the precipitations collected in north-eastern Italy
  • Harmful elements in phosphate fertilizers: compliance with the new European Regulation 2019/1009
  • Source apportionment of aerosol pollution
  • Biomass burning emissions and their aging in the atmosphere
  • Long-term trends of air pollution in remote and anthropized environments
  • Analysis of heavy metals in fish species, shellfishes, marine phanerogams
  • Analysis of air pollution and the hydrological cycle in mountain environments
  • Analysis of isotopic composition in ice cores using laser ablation (LA) coupled with CRDS spectroscopy
  • Analysis of seasonal sea ice variability through the study of halogens in glacial records

Equipment

Laboratory analysis instruments

  • CRDS (cavity ring-down spectroscopy) PICARRO L2130-i isotope and gas concentration analyzer for simultaneous analysis of δ18O and δ2H in solids, liquids, and vapors
  • 2 CRDS (cavity ring-down spectroscopy) PICARRO L2140-i isotope and gas concentration analyzer for simultaneous analysis of δ18O, δ17O, and δ2H in solids, liquids, and vapors; The analyzer also determines excess deuterium and excess 17O values
  • PICARRO A0213 induction module for isotopic analysis of matrix-bound water with high total dissolved solids
  • Thermo Scientific DeltaQ IRMS (isotope ratio mass spectrometer), with elemental analyzer, IsoLink, GasBench Plus, Dual inlet, and ConFlow IV for analysis of the isotopic abundances of 13C, 15N, 34S, 18O, and 2H in solid, liquid, and gaseous samples
  • An ArF* excimer laser ablation system (Teledyne CETAC Photon Machines, Analyte Excite) coupled to a CRDS spectroscope (Picarro, L-2130i)
  • Milestone Ethos UP microwave oven
  • Perkin-Elmer Optima inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). 5300 DV for elemental analysis
  • Malvern Panalytical Mastersizer 3000 Laser Granulometer
  • Retsch AS200 Control Vibratory Sieve Shaker

Field samplers and analyzers

  • TSI 3938W50-CEN10 Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer Spectrometer (SMPS), including the TSI 3082 classifier, the TSI 3083 Tropos-compliant DMA (differential mobility analyzer), the TSI 3750 CPC (condensation particle counter), and an Advanced Aerosol Neutralizer (Soft X-Ray).
  • Tecora Skypost HV "low-volume" particulate samplers
  • DAVIS Vantage Pro2 plus wireless weather stations with anenometer, rain gauge, and soil temperature and moisture sensors at four depths.
  • IAEA GNIP-compliant rain gauges

Research projects

  • Project iNEST "Interconnected Nord-Est Innovation Ecosystem", submitted under the PNRR program "Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza", Proposer: Università degli Studi di Padova, affiliation Spoke: 1.
  • H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020 project “Research and training network on understanding Deep icE corE Proxies to Infer past antarctiC climatE dynamics – DEEPICE / Duration: 48 months / Project starting in January 2021. (https://deepice.cnrs.fr/)
  • Marie Sklodowska-Curie Global Fellowship (H2020 - IF, 101018266, MICRO-CLIMATE), at Ca' Foscari University, Venice, Italy and the Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, USA. Duration: 36 months. Running project. www.unive.it/micro-climate
  • Project "Abrupt climate change and Greenland ice cover in a high-resolution ice core record", funded by Programma di Ricerche in Artico / Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Italy. Duration: 24 months. Running project.
  • Marie Curie "plus one" extension grant by Ca’Foscari University of Venice, Duration: 12 months, Project concluded.
  • Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (H2020 - IF, 790280, GOLD-ICE), at Ca' Foscari University, Venice, Italy. Duration: 24 months. Project concluded. www.unive.it/gold-ice
  • PNRA18_00098-A Project "TALDEEP - Paleoclimate reconstruction from the deep part of the TALDICE ice core"/Duration: 24 months / Funded by MIUR in the frame of the National Research Program in Antarctica / Running project.
  • Project INTERREG IT-SLO – ACQUAVITIS “Innovative solutions for the efficient use of water in cross-border viticulture” / Funded EU / Duration: 24 months / Running project. (https://www.ita-slo.eu/en/acquavitis)
  • Project EU Beyond EPICA / Duration: 6 years / EU funded (RIA EU grant agreement No. 815384) - Third Party Contract with UniVE/ Running project. (https://www.beyondepica.eu/en/)
  • PNRA16_00049 – B Project “East Antarctic International Ice Sheet Traverse (EAIIST) / Duration: 24 months / Funded by MIUR in the frame of the National Research Program in Antarctica / Running project.
  • Project PNRA16_00008 – A2 “Study of the Solar Forcing over the Holocene from a new Dome C Ice Core – SOLARICE” / Duration: 24 months / Funded by MIUR in the frame of the National Research Program in Antarctica / Running project at CNR.
  • PNRA 2013/B2.11 Project “IPICS-2kyr-Italy second phase: the climate reconstruction” / Duration: 24 months / Project concluded.
  • PNRA 2013/AC3.05 Project “Precipitation Retrieval at Concordia (PRE-REC)” / Duration: 24 months / Project concluded.
  • Project CHEERS “Chemical and Physical Properties and Source Apportionment of Airport Emissions in the context of European Air Quality Directives” / Duration: 24 months / Funded by the European Community under the FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF (Marie Curie IEF project no. 328542) / Project concluded.
  • European Science Foundation Project n. 09-PolarCLIMATE-FP-012 "HOLOCLIP" (Holocene climate variability at high-southern latitudes: an integrated perspective) / Duration: 36 months / Project concluded.
  • Project n. 2009/A2.09 “IPICS-2kyr-Italy” – National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA) / Duration: 24 months / Project concluded.
  • PRIN 2009 “Variability and geographic provenance of eolian dust in Antarctica during the late Quaternary: a multi-parametric approach with the use of cutting-edge techniques. / Duration: 24 months / Project concluded.
  • Joint PNRA-IPEV project CONCORDIA AIR-GlaCS – Aerosol studies at Station Concordia, Dome C, Antarctica “Present day sources, transport and air-to-snow interactions of atmospheric gases and aerosols at Dome C (Antarctica) and implications for ice core studies” (2008-2011). Scientific activities funded by PNRA / Duration: 48 months / Project concluded.
  • Project “TALDICE” (Talos Dome Ice core Project) 2008 - PNRA / Duration: 24 months / Project concluded. (http://www.taldice.org/data/)
  • PRIN-2007 "Geochemical balance for the evaluation of the agroenvironmental quality in a complex territorial system: the case study from the Ravenna area” / Duration: 24 months / Project concluded.
  • Project “EPICA MIS - New Paleoreconstructions from Antarctic Ice and Marine Records”. E.U. funded project, FP6 project 003868 (GOCE) / Duration: 42 months / Project concluded.
  • Project n. 2004/5.01 “Paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental reconstructions from chemical, physical and isotopic ice cores records” - PNRA / Duration: 36 months / Project concluded.
  • Project n. 2004/5.02 “Surface mass balance of Dome C and Talos Dome drainage area (SURFMASS)” - PNRA / Duration: 36 months / Project concluded.
  • Project n. 2004/5.03 “Permafrost and Climate Change in Antarctica: study and monitoring of the impacts of Climate Change on permafrost and related terrestrial ecosystem and use of permafrost as paleoclimate archive” - PNRA / Duration: 36 months / Project concluded.
  • Project E.U. Life04-ENV/IT/000500 “CAMI - Water-bearing characterization with integrated methodologies” / Duration: 30 months / Project concluded.
  • Project “EPICA III- European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica”. E.U. funded project EVK2-CT-2000-0077 / Duration: 36 months / Project concluded.
  • Project n. 2002/5.1 “Paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental reconstructions from chemical, and physical ice cores records” - PNRA / Duration: 24 months / Project concluded.
  • Project “EPICA II- European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica”. E.U. funded project ENV4-CT98-00702 / Duration: 28 months / Project concluded.
  • Project E.U. “ALPCLIM - Environmental and Climate Records from High Elevation Alpine Glaciers” - Environment and Climate Program/ Duration: 36 months / Participant; project concluded.
  • Project OROMBE7 “Paleoclimate and paleoenvironment from ice core and glacial archives” - PNRA / Duration: 36 months / Participant; project concluded.
  • Project “EPICA - European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica”. E.U. funded project ENV4-CT95-0074 / Duration: 36 months / Participant; project concluded.
  • Project 2a.1.1 “Surface mass balance, monitoring and paleoclimate study of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet – Pacific sector” - PNRA / Duration: 36 months / Participant. project concluded.

Last update: 22/09/2025