The MARGE project will collect long-period magnetotelluric (MT) data in central Italy with high spatial resolution with two main goals:
- To use magnetotelluric (MT) data to define large-scale litospheric structures in the central Appennino region. This will improve the understanding of the physical characteristics of crust and mantle, of the structure and tectonic evolution of the studied area, and of large-scale geodynamic processes, particularly the role of deep and fluid melts in recent magmatism and seismogenesis. The survey results can be combined with other datasets, including those from seismic tomography, geochemistry, and geology.
- To use magnetotelluric impedance tensors constructed from data acquired during surveys across central Italy and magnetic field variation from magnetic observatories and/or models to develop maps of geoelectric fields across Central Italy. While real-time geomagnetic data can be used to produce real-time geoelectric field maps, historical records of geomagnetic field time series collected at ground-based magnetic observatories can be used to reconstruct geoelectric fields in the past, such as during particular geomagnetic storms. These findings will help with the creation of Space Weather models and with the facilitation of vulnerability analyses of crucial infrastructures.