236
concluded that the force of “underground fires” was still acting under the Apennines
after their uplift, as testified by frequent seismicity in the whole central Italy, but in
his opinion no magma effusion could occur in Norcia, because of the lack of a great
“tectonic fracture.”
The local population was thus reassured after Secchi’s final report, and his observations provided useful indications for land planning and management in seismic
zones. This was a positive example of the “useful science” of terrestrial physics, a
tool that could prevent damage and loss of life (Altamore et al. 2015).
14.4 Angelo Secchi and Geophysics
14.4.1 A New Phase: Birth of Seismology in Italy
Secchi’s contribution to geophysics was consistent with Jesuit scientific studies in
colleges and universities worldwide. After its restoration in 1814, the Society of
Jesus established numerous scientific observatories in Europe and around the world
(Udìas 2009). Beyond astronomy, the Jesuits promoted meteorological, geomagnetic, seismological, and geodetical measurements as well, in order to achieve
quantitative data on natural phenomena and to assure the safety and welfare of the
local population.
Secchi’s work in geomagnetism and geodesy has been widely analyzed by previous studies (Aebischer et al. 2012) and in other chapters of this volume. Recall that
in 1858, under his guidance, the first Italian geomagnetic observatory was established at the Collegio Romano (Altamore and Ptitsyna 2012). Secchi also briefly
dealt with this topic in Lessons of Terrestrial Physics: one of his excellent tables
shows contours of the magnetic declinations of 1840, mapped onto a planisphere
(Secchi 1879).
If Rome can be considered the “moral capital” of Italian geophysics between the
end of the nineteenth century and the first decades of the twentieth century, it is
probably because a significant impetus toward the development of this science came
from Angelo Secchi. The first seismograph to be installed in Europe by the Jesuits
(in 1868) was in fact near Rome, in the Alban Hills (Fig. 14.5). The instrument, a
seismoscope made by the Jesuit Giovanni Egidi (1835–1897), was located at the
Tuscolano Observatory of Frascati (Udìas 2009). In 1877, Egidi, director of the
Tuscolano Observatory and former assistant of Father Secchi at the Collegio
Romano, began to collaborate with Michele Stefano de Rossi (1834–1898), one of
the pioneers of seismological research in Italy. Secchi sometimes criticized de
Rossi, but he appreciated his efforts to install as many seismological stations as possible (Chinnici 2019).
A. Argentieri and M. Parotto
concluded that the force of “underground fires” was still acting under the Apennines
after their uplift, as testified by frequent seismicity in the whole central Italy, but in
his opinion no magma effusion could occur in Norcia, because of the lack of a great
“tectonic fracture.”
The local population was thus reassured after Secchi’s final report, and his observations provided useful indications for land planning and management in seismic
zones. This was a positive example of the “useful science” of terrestrial physics, a
tool that could prevent damage and loss of life (Altamore et al. 2015).
14.4 Angelo Secchi and Geophysics
14.4.1 A New Phase: Birth of Seismology in Italy
Secchi’s contribution to geophysics was consistent with Jesuit scientific studies in
colleges and universities worldwide. After its restoration in 1814, the Society of
Jesus established numerous scientific observatories in Europe and around the world
(Udìas 2009). Beyond astronomy, the Jesuits promoted meteorological, geomagnetic, seismological, and geodetical measurements as well, in order to achieve
quantitative data on natural phenomena and to assure the safety and welfare of the
local population.
Secchi’s work in geomagnetism and geodesy has been widely analyzed by previous studies (Aebischer et al. 2012) and in other chapters of this volume. Recall that
in 1858, under his guidance, the first Italian geomagnetic observatory was established at the Collegio Romano (Altamore and Ptitsyna 2012). Secchi also briefly
dealt with this topic in Lessons of Terrestrial Physics: one of his excellent tables
shows contours of the magnetic declinations of 1840, mapped onto a planisphere
(Secchi 1879).
If Rome can be considered the “moral capital” of Italian geophysics between the
end of the nineteenth century and the first decades of the twentieth century, it is
probably because a significant impetus toward the development of this science came
from Angelo Secchi. The first seismograph to be installed in Europe by the Jesuits
(in 1868) was in fact near Rome, in the Alban Hills (Fig. 14.5). The instrument, a
seismoscope made by the Jesuit Giovanni Egidi (1835–1897), was located at the
Tuscolano Observatory of Frascati (Udìas 2009). In 1877, Egidi, director of the
Tuscolano Observatory and former assistant of Father Secchi at the Collegio
Romano, began to collaborate with Michele Stefano de Rossi (1834–1898), one of
the pioneers of seismological research in Italy. Secchi sometimes criticized de
Rossi, but he appreciated his efforts to install as many seismological stations as possible (Chinnici 2019).
A. Argentieri and M. Parotto