AMQ_27(2) 11 Available online http://amq.aiqua.it ISSN (print): 2279-7327, ISSN (online): 2279-7335 Alpine and Mediterranean Quaternary, 27 (2), 2014, iii - vi REPORT ON THE COURSES " FUNDAMENTALS OF SOIL SCIENCE" AND "THE STUDY OF PALEOSOLS AND THEIR USE IN GEOLOGY PRACTICE” DEVELOPED BY ISPRA IN COLLABORATION WITH OGL Letizia Vita, Valeria Ricci Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Rome, Italy Corresponding author: L. Vita ABSTRACT: A short report on two training courses on Soil Science and Paleosols is here presented. They were designed by IItalian Insti- tute for Environmental Protection and Research (SPRA) in collaboration with the Order of Geologists of Latium (OGL). The courses were developed through a blended learning program. A one-day field training in the Roman countryside comprised the analysis of two soil pro- files specially excavated. Keywords: soils, paleosols, training courses, ISPRA According to one of the most accepted definitions, paleosols are soils that have evolved in environments different from the current one (see Ferrari & Magaldi, 1983, among others:). The systematic study of these geological layers offers a great potential in paleocli- matic, paleoenvironmental and stratigraphic reconstruc- tions of the Quaternary continental record. Even the North American Stratigraphic Code (NACSN, 1983) recognised their undoubted value by introducing specific formal stratigraphic units named pedostratigraphic units or geosols. In addition, the common use of unconformity -bounded stratigraphic units (UBSU, Salvador, 1994) for the stratigraphic classification of the Quaternary conti- nental and volcanic deposits, also adopted in the Geo- logical Map of Italy at 1: 50,000 scale (CNR, 1992), has often led to use both relict and buried paleosols (Fig. 1) as a guide to recognise and track the unconformity sur- faces (e.g. Coltorti & Pieruccini, 2006; Giannandrea et al. 2006). As a result, the paleopedological analysis has become a rewarding interpretive tool in the practice of the field geologists and scientists dealing with the study of past environments. However, these studies need a multidisciplinar approach integrating geologic- stratigraphic and soil sciences, the latters usually treated in agricultural or agronomic context. This inte- grated approach is only sporadically available in the training programs of the Italian university. Therefore the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) has developed two training courses ("Fundamentals of Soil Science" and "The study of paleosols and their use in geology prac- tice ") in collaboration with the Order of Geologists of Latium (OGL) and with the support of AIQUA, the Italian Geological Society (SGI), the Italian Association of Physical Geography and Geomorphology (AIGeo) and the Italian Association of Pedologists (AIP). The educa- tional activities were held from September 18th to Octo- ber 31th through a blended learning program including: i) digital self-training courses on the ISPRA web platform, ii) two days of face-to-face lessons at ISPRA headquar- ters in Rome and iii) a one-day field training course in the Roman countryside (Agro Romano) which com- prised the analysis of two soil profiles specially exca- vated. The two courses have been designed as an inte- grated approach, starting from the common basic con- cepts of pedogenesis and soil classification, then deep- ening in specific topics relating to soils and paleosols respectively. The general part was organized by ISPRA Geologists M. Di Leginio and F. Fumanti, with the help of the other ISPRA experts for specific subjects covered by the Institute. Authors of this note took care of the course on paleosols. Visiting professors, some of the leading experts for the subject, have been involved: the lectures on paleosols were given by L. Trombino (Professor of Geopedology at the State University of Milan) and F. Scarciglia (Professor of Geopedology at the University of Calabria). M. Paolanti (self-employed agronomist), and R. Napoli [researcher at the Council for Research and Experimentation in Agriculture (CRA)] provided the lessons on soils. The field activity (Fig. 2a) made use of the experience of F. Terribile (Professor of Soil Sciences at the University of Naples "Federico II"), flanked by R. Napoli and M. Paolanti. The general part, which was common to both courses, provided participants with an overview of soil properties and functions, classifications and surveying and analysis techniques. Applications on soil databases and mapping, including GIS techniques, were also out- lined. In addition the main factors of land degradation and related monitoring activities were treated, with men- tions to soil remediation, restoration and recovery meth- ods. A part of the lessons was devoted to the discussion of the current European, national and regional legislation and to the possible future developments in the Italian Parliament. The specialized part on present soils are dealt with matters relating to land evaluation and land use plan- ning; notions of hydrology, chemistry and ecology of soils were also provided. As regard to paleosols, basic elements for their definition, recognition, characterization and analysis were illustrated, as well as their use as pedostrati- graphic units in geological and paleoenvironmental stud- ies. The significance of the time factor, chronose- quences and chronofunctions was widely discussed. Several examples of applications of paleopedology to the stratigraphic, paleoenvironmental, paleoclimatic and archaeological reconstruction, in different climatic and geological environments, were presented. The dating methods and their reliability were also mentioned. Fi- nally, the micromorphological analysis of soils and the wealth of information that can be drawn were discussed in detail. The field activity took place at Casale della Perna, near Tenuta di Decima (Rome). At first M. Fabbri (Vice- President of the Order of Geologists of Latium) outlined the geological-stratigraphic framework of the area. The practical lesson was then focused on the observation of two soil profiles sited in different geomorphological con- text: one on the summit plateau and one in the valley area. A geopedological surveying form was given out to participants, then filled in with the help of the experts according to specific guidelines (Costantini, 2007). Fi- nally participants, on the basis of data detected (Fig. 2b), were guided to the classification and interpretation of soils cropping out in the two profiles and to the recog- nition of an important paleosol, which represent a rele- vant stratigraphic marker for the Roman area. The two courses have received a good acceptance among a number of about 60 researchers and technolo- gists, self-employed, public and private officials, aca- demics, having a cultural background mainly related to Earth sciences and in minor part, to environmental, agri- cultural and biological sciences. REFERENCES C.N.R. - Commissione per la Cartografia Geologica e Geomorfologica (1992) - Carta geologica d'Italia alla scala 1:50.000: guida al rilevamento. Quaderni del Servizio Geologico Nazionale. Ser. 3, n. 1, pp. 203. Roma. Fig. 1 - In the volcanic area of the Vulture (Italy) the paleosol M18 was used as a marker that divides two supersynthems: it marks the base of the Valle dei Grigi - Fosso del Corbo synthem, fossilising a transpressive “flower" structure in the underlying Barile synthem. (From Schiattarella et al., 2005). iv Vita L., Ricci V. Fig. 2 - Field trip in Agro Romano (Rome, Italy): a) Fabio Terribile and Rosario Napoli explain how to study a soil profile to course partici- pants; b) participants practice the soil description. a b v ISPRA soils and paleosols courses Coltorti M., Pieruccini P. (2006) - The last interglacial pedocomplexes in the litho- and morpho- stratigraphical framework of the central-northern Apennines (Central Italy). Quaternary Internatio- nal, 156-157, 118-132. Costantini E. A. C. (2007) - Linee guida dei metodi di rilevamento ed informatizzazione dei dati pedolo- gici. CRA-ABP, pp. 280. Firenze. Ferrari G.A., Magaldi D. (1983) - Significato ed applica- zioni della padeopedologia nella stratigrafia del Quaternario. Boll. Mus. Civ. St. Nat. Verona, X, 315-340. Giannandrea P., La Volpe L., Principe C., Schiattarella M. (2006). Unità stratigrafiche a limiti inconformi e storia evolutiva del vulcano medio-pleistocenico di Monte Vulture (Appennino meridionale, Italia). Boll. Soc. Geol. It., 125, 67-92. North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomen- clature (NACSN) (1983). North American Strati- graphic Code: American Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., v. 67, p. 841-875. Salvador A. (1994) - International Stratigraphic Guide. A guide to stratigraphic classifcation, terminology, and procedure. The International Union of Geologi- cal Sciences and the Geological Society of Amer- ica (Eds.), pp.214. Schiattarella M., Benaduce P., Di Leo P., Giano S.I., Giannandrea P., Principe C. (2005) - Assetto strut- turale ed evoluzione morfotettonica quaternaria del vulcano del Monte Vulture (Appennino lucano). Boll. Soc. Geol. It., 124, 543-562. Ms. received: November 18, 2014 Final text received: December 4, 2014 vi Vita L., Ricci V.