238
seismological observatories in Italy, probably came from pioneering example of
Father Secchi and coworkers. For instance, in 1873 de Rossi, as director of the
observatory of Rocca di Papa in the Alban Hills volcanic area, had created the first
network of private seismic observatories; it relied on the contributions of scholars
and volunteers, without public funding.
After this reorganization, in the first decades of the new century, the two strongest earthquakes ever to occur in historical times struck Italy: in Reggio Calabria
and Messina, between Calabria and Eastern Sicily, in 1908 (XI–XII degree MCS),
and then in Avezzano (Abruzzi; XI degree MCS) in 1915.
In 1923 the Bureau, which had been directed by Luigi Palazzo (1861–1933) since
1900, was renamed “Ufficio Centrale di Meteorologia e Geofisica” (Central Bureau
for Meteorology and Geophysics) (Beltrano 1996 a, b; Beltrano et al. 2003;
Argentieri 2014). Later, in 1930, the Irpinia earthquake (X degree MCS) occurred;
this led to a significant debate about the inadequacy of the existing national seismic
survey. Finally, in 1936, under the proposal of Guglielmo Marconi (1874–1937) as
director of the CNR (National Research Council), the ING (“Istituto Nazionale di
Geofisica”) was created, and Antonino Lo Surdo (1880–1949) was appointed director (Foresta Martin & Calcara 2010). In 1937, the Bureau was then renamed “Ufficio
Centrale di Meteorologia e Climatologia,” (Central Bureau for Meteorology and
Climatology) and progressively the ING acquired all responsibilities for earthquake
measurements and studies, confirming after many decades the definitive separation
between meteorology and seismology.
At the same time that Enrico Fermi (1901–1954) and his young colleagues (the
so-called Ragazzi di Via Panisperna) were starting their discoveries on nuclear
physics at the Institute of Physics in Rome, a new generation of seismologists was
coming of age in Rome. In the 1930s, under the direction of Pietro Caloi (1907–1978),
a group of researchers was gathering at the ING whom we might call the “Ragazzi
della Geofisica romana,” among them Francesco Peronaci, Enrico Medi, Guido
Pannocchia, and Ezio Rosini (Foresta Martin & Calcara 2010; Fig. 14.6). While the
Fascist regime was pushing Italy toward the Second World War, Caloi and coworkers were providing their important contribution to the development of geophysics,
following the legacy of Father Angelo Secchi.
14.5 Concluding Remarks: Useful Science
Angelo Secchi is undoubtedly one of the founders of several modern scientific disciplines. His contribution to the birth of modern astrophysics, meteorology, geodesy, limnology, and other applied sciences has been widely studied by historians of
science and scholars of those disciplines. But in addition, his impetus was fundamental for both the dissemination of modern geological concepts in the nineteenth
century and the development of geophysics, especially seismological observations.
His intellectual legacy allowed disciples and followers, decades after his death, to
give birth to the Italian seismic survey, making Rome its “moral capital.”
A. Argentieri and M. Parotto
seismological observatories in Italy, probably came from pioneering example of
Father Secchi and coworkers. For instance, in 1873 de Rossi, as director of the
observatory of Rocca di Papa in the Alban Hills volcanic area, had created the first
network of private seismic observatories; it relied on the contributions of scholars
and volunteers, without public funding.
After this reorganization, in the first decades of the new century, the two strongest earthquakes ever to occur in historical times struck Italy: in Reggio Calabria
and Messina, between Calabria and Eastern Sicily, in 1908 (XI–XII degree MCS),
and then in Avezzano (Abruzzi; XI degree MCS) in 1915.
In 1923 the Bureau, which had been directed by Luigi Palazzo (1861–1933) since
1900, was renamed “Ufficio Centrale di Meteorologia e Geofisica” (Central Bureau
for Meteorology and Geophysics) (Beltrano 1996 a, b; Beltrano et al. 2003;
Argentieri 2014). Later, in 1930, the Irpinia earthquake (X degree MCS) occurred;
this led to a significant debate about the inadequacy of the existing national seismic
survey. Finally, in 1936, under the proposal of Guglielmo Marconi (1874–1937) as
director of the CNR (National Research Council), the ING (“Istituto Nazionale di
Geofisica”) was created, and Antonino Lo Surdo (1880–1949) was appointed director (Foresta Martin & Calcara 2010). In 1937, the Bureau was then renamed “Ufficio
Centrale di Meteorologia e Climatologia,” (Central Bureau for Meteorology and
Climatology) and progressively the ING acquired all responsibilities for earthquake
measurements and studies, confirming after many decades the definitive separation
between meteorology and seismology.
At the same time that Enrico Fermi (1901–1954) and his young colleagues (the
so-called Ragazzi di Via Panisperna) were starting their discoveries on nuclear
physics at the Institute of Physics in Rome, a new generation of seismologists was
coming of age in Rome. In the 1930s, under the direction of Pietro Caloi (1907–1978),
a group of researchers was gathering at the ING whom we might call the “Ragazzi
della Geofisica romana,” among them Francesco Peronaci, Enrico Medi, Guido
Pannocchia, and Ezio Rosini (Foresta Martin & Calcara 2010; Fig. 14.6). While the
Fascist regime was pushing Italy toward the Second World War, Caloi and coworkers were providing their important contribution to the development of geophysics,
following the legacy of Father Angelo Secchi.
14.5 Concluding Remarks: Useful Science
Angelo Secchi is undoubtedly one of the founders of several modern scientific disciplines. His contribution to the birth of modern astrophysics, meteorology, geodesy, limnology, and other applied sciences has been widely studied by historians of
science and scholars of those disciplines. But in addition, his impetus was fundamental for both the dissemination of modern geological concepts in the nineteenth
century and the development of geophysics, especially seismological observations.
His intellectual legacy allowed disciples and followers, decades after his death, to
give birth to the Italian seismic survey, making Rome its “moral capital.”
A. Argentieri and M. Parotto