incident negatively affecting their cultural significance, historic, physical and artistic values. Such events also pose a significant risk to the safety of workers and visitors and, inevitably, affect the livelihood of local communities, especially in the event that they are linked to cultural tourism. Major objective of the session is to explore innovative methodologies, tools and strategies for strengthening the resilience of Cultural and Natural Heritage to climate change and its impacts.
Natural or man-made hypogea (such as tombs, catacombs and crypts) are underground environments with a stable microclimate (temperatures rarely above 20°C and a consistently high relative humidity, often close to water vapour saturation). These features result from the combined effect of the high heat capacity of the structure and limited air exchange between the indoors and outdoors. Despite the stable microclimate conditions, the monitoring in such environments requires careful consideration of instrument choice and deployment due to prolonged near-saturation conditions. The THESAN project has been funded by Sapienza University of Rome to investigate the impact of a changing microclimate and microbial dynamics on the preservation of tombs in the Etruscan necropolis of Tarquinia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Mediterranean basin. This contribution describes the microclimate investigation undertaken in selected tombs, where an environmental monitoring has been implemented by the authors since 2024 and it is still ongoing. Particular attention was paid to selecting a sensor to measure relative humidity, which is challenging in such environments. Additionally, the contribution investigates the potential impact of a changing climate on related indoor microclimate conditions. Heat and moisture transfer functions were applied to indoor and outdoor microclimate observations collected in 2024-2026 in order to model indoor temperature and specific humidity based on past and future outdoor conditions. In this way, the evolution of the indoor microclimate from 1940 to 2100 under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) 2-4.5 scenario was analysed. Both microclimate variables increase slowly but steadily in line with the outdoor variables, with their intensity differing only according to the depth of the structures. This is a significant factor when assessing the risk to the preservation of these unique sites, as most degradation, including the spread of microorganisms colonising mural paintings, is induced by microclimate conditions. The investigation enabled the evaluation of the impact of outdoor climate and informs possible future pathways for the management of these sites in a constructive dialogue with microclimatologists, microbiologists, restorers, and the site manager.
How to cite: Frasca, F., Boccacci, G., Chimenti, C., Tomassetti, M. C., Rinaldi, T., and Siani, A. M.: THESAN Project: the role of a changing climate in Mediterranean cultural hypogea, 19th Plinius Conference on Mediterranean Risks, Murcia, Spain, 6–9 Oct 2026, Plinius19-40, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-plinius19-40, 2026.
Over recent decades, managers and curators of cultural heritage sites have faced unprecedented challenges in safeguarding cultural and natural heritage (CNH). Archaeological sites, historic parks and gardens, monumental complexes, historic buildings and related collections, cultural landscapes and natural reserves are increasingly vulnerable to the adverse impact of both slow-onset and extreme climate events, alongside anthropogenic pressure. This contribution presents two innovative tools developed within the Interreg Central Europe Project INACO (https://www.interreg-central.eu/projects/inaco/): (i) a “Risk Mapping Tool for Cultural Heritage Protection” to allow accessing and exploiting climate-related indicators, and (ii)CNH-Care, a specialised application designed for assessing the vulnerability of CNH sites exposed to climate extremes. Both tools are web-based and adopt a user-driven, multidisciplinary approach that fosters collaboration among the scientific community, public authorities, and the private sector. These tools provide knowledge and solutions to support policy and decision makers, curators and cultural heritage managers in the identification of hazard-prone areas and the evaluation of the vulnerabilities at the local scale. The INACO tools enable assessing the risk of cultural heritage assets based on:
- identification of climate and pollution parameters with priority in causing impacts on cultural heritage;
- computing extreme changes in precipitation and temperature using climate extreme indices;
- hazard analysis by exploiting Copernicus satellite services CAMS (Atmosphere Monitoring) and C3S (Climate Change), and other Earth Observation-based data and products;
- development of projections of hazard at territorial level by using outputs from Global/Regional Climate Models from the Euro-CORDEX experiment in the near (2021-2050) and far (2071-2100) future, under two different IPCC scenarios, stabilising (RCP4.5) and pessimistic (RCP8.5);
- vulnerability assessment of cultural and natural heritage with the evaluation of the physical and socio-economic dimensions of vulnerability;
The INACO tools have been tested in selected European case studies for different types of cultural and natural heritage assets and in three different environmental contexts linked to European river basin districts: sea/river shore, lake shore, and inland river shore. The testing results confirm the feasibility and effectiveness of these tools in optimising preparedness strategies and mitigating climate-related risk. The ultimate goal is to empower stakeholders and policymakers to integrate dedicated heritage protection measures into national disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation plans, while fostering the active participation of local communities.
References:
Bonazza, A., and A. Sardella. 2023. Climate change and cultural heritage: Methods and approaches for damage and risk assessment addressed to a practical application. Heritage 6(4): 3578–3589
Bonazza, A.; Bonora, N.; Ducke, B.; Spizzichino, D.; Recchia, A.P.; Taramelli, A. Copernicus in support of monitoring, protection and management of cultural and natural heritage. Sustainability 2022, 14, 2501.
Cacciotti, R., Sardella, A.*, Drdácký, M. & Bonazza, A. (2024). A methodology for vulnerability assessment of cultural heritage at risk due to extreme changes in climate. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science 2024.
Cacciotti, R.; Kaiser, A.; Sardella, A.; De Nuntiis, P.; Drdácký, M.; Hanus, Ch.; Bonazza, A. (2021). Climate change-induced disasters and cultural heritage: Optimizing management strategies in Central Europe. Climate Risk Management, vol. 32, 2021: 1-13
How to cite: Sardella, A., Cacciotti, R., Natali, S., and Bonazza, A.: Sharing experiences in the sustainable management of cultural and natural heritage at risk under climate change scenario: the INACO Project, 19th Plinius Conference on Mediterranean Risks, Murcia, Spain, 6–9 Oct 2026, Plinius19-51, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-plinius19-51, 2026.
The Vesuvius National Park (Campania, southern Italy) represents an ecologically and culturally significant protected landscape in the central Mediterranean, encompassing Natura 2000 sites and priority habitats designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. These ecologically valuable areas are increasingly exposed to the growing frequency and severity of wildfire events driven by climate change. Recent fire seasons, including the catastrophic events of 2017 and the large-scale fires of August 2025, have caused extensive damage to forest ecosystems within the protected perimeter, confirming a pattern documented at national level by ISPRA: a substantial proportion of the forest areas affected by fires in Italy falls within the Natura 2000 network.
This contribution presents a multi-temporal remote sensing approach aimed at mapping wildfire impact and monitoring post-fire vegetation recovery within the ecologically sensitive zones of the Vesuvius National Park. The Normalised Burn Ratio (NBR), derived from Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery (Copernicus), is computed for two reference periods using an automated PyQGIS workflow. The differencing of pre- and post-fire NBR values (dNBR) enables the spatial classification of burn severity and the identification of habitat units showing incomplete ecological recovery.
Furthermore, a composite Wildfire Risk Index (WRI) is derived by integrating dNBR-based burn severity with topographic, climatic, and habitat variables as input features to an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) classifier trained on historical fire occurrence data, producing a spatially explicit fire susceptibility map. This methodology, well established in the Mediterranean wildfire literature, allows the identification of high-susceptibility zones within ecologically sensitive habitats, supporting conservation planning and post-fire restoration prioritisation.
The entire workflow relies on an Open Science framework and freely accessible Copernicus Earth Observation data, making it scalable and transferable to other ecologically valuable protected areas across the Mediterranean basin. Results are intended to inform habitat management under the Habitats Directive and to contribute to early-warning and preparedness protocols consistent with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
How to cite: De Simone, C. S., Giugliano, P., Longobardi, A., and Ronza, M.: Multi-temporal NBR Analysis and Neural Network-Based Wildfire Risk Assessment for Ecologically Sensitive Protected Areas: The Case of Vesuvius National Park, 19th Plinius Conference on Mediterranean Risks, Murcia, Spain, 6–9 Oct 2026, Plinius19-86, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-plinius19-86, 2026.
In a constantly evolving world characterised by ever-changing weather conditions, the planet is experiencing a steady rise in temperatures, a phenomenon linked, as reported in the scientific literature, with a growing incidence and worsening of chronic diseases such as diabetes [1,2]. This condition is sensitive to lifestyle factors, including dietary habits. In this context of rethinking what we eat for our health and the planet we live in, the EAT-Lancet Commission proposed the Planetary Health Diet (PHD), which is designed to simultaneously promote human wellbeing and the protection of the environment [3,4]. This study presents an analysis performed across four European macro-regions (Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Western Europe, Eastern Europe), over the period 2012-2023. For each region we evaluated diabetes incidence variations and temperature patterns as well as we assess how current dietary habits diverge from PHD recommendations. In this context, particular attention has been paid to the Italian condition, being Italian cuisine officially inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on December 10, 2025, with the following statement “Italian Cuisine: Between Sustainability and Biocultural Diversity”. This was the first time that an entire national cuisine has been recognized, honoring not only the dishes themselves but also the rituals, conviviality, and traditions passed down through the generations [5]. This recognition represents the culmination of a process that has placed at the center the strategic role of the Italian cuisine as an engine of development, cohesion and diplomacy. The added value of Italian cuisine is seen in relation to the well-being of the population, which advocates a low-fat diet and a return to the traditional diet of so-called "poor cooking" (peasant cuisine). Such a result follows the designation of the Mediterranean diet on November 16, 2010, with a rationale that was not only culinary but also cultural and transnational (for Italy, Spain, Greece, Morocco, and later Cyprus, Croatia, Portugal). In fact, it is not just about food, but about practices, knowledge, and traditions that range from the land to the table [6]. In this regard, this work adopts an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to explore how culture, health, dietary habits and temperatures interact synergistically from a One Health perspective.
[1] Mascitelli, A.; Tumini, S.; Chiacchiaretta, P.; Aruffo, E.; Sacrini, L.; Saltarelli, M.A.; Di Carlo, P. Effect of Atmospheric Temperature Variations on Glycemic Patterns of Patients with Type 1 Diabetes: Analysis as a Function of Different Therapeutic Treatments. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22, 1850. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22121850
[2] Chiacchiaretta, P.; Tumini, S.; Mascitelli, A.; Sacrini, L.; Saltarelli, M.A.; Carabotta, M.; Osmelli, J.; Di Carlo, P.; Aruffo, E. The Impact of Atmospheric Temperature Variations on Glycaemic Patterns in Children and Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes. Climate 2024, 12, 121. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli12080121
[3] https://eatforum.org/eat-lancet/the-planetary-health-diet/
[4] https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl/chapter/chapter-5/
[5] https://www.unesco.it/it/news/la-cucina-italiana-iscritta-alla-lista-rappresentativa-del-patrimonio-culturale-immateriale-unesco
[6] https://www.unesco.it/it/iniziative-dellunesco/patrimonio-culturale-immateriale/dieta-mediterranea/
How to cite: Mascitelli, A., Buso, M., Prestileo, F., Stella, E. M., di Giuseppantonio, I., Chiacchiaretta, P., Di Carlo, P., and Dietrich, S.: Evolving diets in a changing climate: analysis of the European scenario, with a focus on Italian cuisine recognised as UNESCO intangible Cultural Heritage, 19th Plinius Conference on Mediterranean Risks, Murcia, Spain, 6–9 Oct 2026, Plinius19-21, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-plinius19-21, 2026.
Cultural heritage is increasingly exposed to the growing intensity and frequency of extreme climate events, highlighting the need for integrated methodologies that combine large-scale risk assessment with real-time diagnostic tools [1]. In this context, the Horizon Europe project ChemiNova [2] develops an advanced framework for cultural heritage inspection and condition reporting, while the methodology implemented in the Interreg Central Europe projects ProteCHt2save and STRENCH provides a structured approach to risk assessment and preparedness through the WebGIS-based platform “Risk Mapping Tool for Cultural for Cultural Heritage Protection” [3].
This study illustrates the synergy between these two complementary approaches. The Risk Mapping Tool supports the identification of hazard, vulnerability, and exposure assessment at territorial scale, enabling the prioritization of cultural assets at risk. In parallel, ChemiNova focuses on in-depth analysis through multi-scale monitoring (artefacts, buildings, monuments) and the development of standardized condition reports [4], integrating non-invasive diagnostic techniques and artificial intelligence for automatic detection and damage classification.
The integration of these methodologies is demonstrated through two complementary pilot contexts characterised by high climate vulnerability. The first case concerns the catastrophic DANA (Isolated High-Altitude Depression) event in the Valencia region occurred on October 29 2024, where extreme rainfall induced flooding, sediment deposition, and material degradation. In this context, the Risk Mapping Tool provides a spatial understanding of exposure and vulnerability, supporting the identification of priority intervention areas. Concurrently, ChemiNova tools enable detailed post-event condition assessment, including evaluation of material decay, moisture distribution, and structural stability, supporting evidence-based decision-making during emergency and recovery phases.
The second case study focuses on the Palchetto della Musica in Palermo, a coastal monument located in a Mediterranean area highly exposed to extreme weather conditions. Here, the combination of climate-related hazard mapping and condition reporting allows the identification of specific vulnerabilities linked to heavy rainfall, marine aerosol, and pollution. Advanced documentation techniques, including 3D models in which data obtained from hyperspectral imaging and surface analysis are mapped in layers, contribute to defining a consistent damage taxonomy and to generating datasets for AI-based classification tools developed within ChemiNova.
The results highlight how the synergy between large-scale risk assessment (Risk Mapping Tool) and site-specific analytical investigation represents a crucial step towards a dynamic and resilient management of cultural heritage. This integrated approach supports the transition from static preparedness models to adaptive, data-driven strategies capable of responding effectively to the rapid onset and increasing severity of climate-induced hazards. Ultimately, the combined use of ProteCHt2save-STRENCH and ChemiNova methodologies demonstrates a scalable framework for strengthening heritage resilience across Europe, fostering coordination between strategic planning and operational intervention.
[1] European Commission Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture. Strengthening Cultural Heritage Resilience for Climate Change: Where the European Green Deal Meets Cultural Heritage; Publications Office of the European Union: Luxembourg, 2022; Available online: https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2766/44688;
[2] https://cheminova.eu/
[3] www.protecht2save-wgt.eu
[4] EN17135:2020, “Conservation of cultural heritage – General terms for describing the alterations of objects”
ChemiNova has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme under grant agreement 101132442. Palchetto della Musica is owned by Ufficio Città Storica of Municipality of Palermo.
How to cite: Sardella, A., Prestileo, F., Solbes-Garcia, Á., Cano Sola, C., Villuendas Ferri, E., Alba, E., Megna, B., Palla, F., Manachini, B. R. I., Portales, C., and Bonazza, A.: Integrating Risk Mapping and Condition Reporting for Cultural Heritage at Risk: Synergies between ProteCHt2save WebGIS and ChemiNova in Extreme Climate Events, 19th Plinius Conference on Mediterranean Risks, Murcia, Spain, 6–9 Oct 2026, Plinius19-25, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-plinius19-25, 2026.
Coastal cultural heritage in the Mediterranean is increasingly threatened by extreme hydro-meteorological events and intensifying climate-related hazards [1-3]. This contribution analyses the catastrophic event that affected Kamarina and Caucana archaeological sites (Ragusa, southern Sicily), interpreting them as a paradigmatic case of climate-driven risk for coastal archaeological and historical sites. The event was caused by the exceptional Mediterranean cyclone Harry, which struck between 19 and 23 January 2026. Its combined effects — extreme precipitation, storm surge, strong winds, and enhanced wave activity — produced severe impacts on both natural systems and cultural heritage assets.
The study adopts an integrated approach that links large-scale atmospheric dynamics to local-scale geomorphological processes and vulnerability of the sites. Meteorological and marine conditions associated with the cyclone are analysed together with geomorphological evidence and observed damage to coastal infrastructure, archaeological remains, and protective beach systems. Particular attention is devoted to the interaction between exceptional hydrodynamic forcing and pre-existing coastal fragilities, including shoreline modification and urban development, which significantly amplified the impacts of the event. This interaction transformed an intense but short-lived meteorological phenomenon into a complex and long-lasting heritage emergency.
The Kamarina and Caucana archaeological sites case study highlights how coastal cultural heritage located in low-lying environments is exposed not only to direct physical damage, but also to indirect and cascading effects such as accelerated erosion, loss of archaeological stratigraphy, sediment redistribution, and reduced resilience to subsequent events. These impacts demonstrate the limitations of traditional protection and conservation strategies that are often designed for stationary climatic conditions or single hazards.
Finally, Kamarina and Caucana archaeological sites case study is discussed as a transferable example, illustrating how integrated, climate-aware risk management approaches can enhance preparedness, early warning, and long-term resilience of coastal cultural and natural heritage under increasing climate extremes.
[1] Mascitelli A., Prestileo F., Stella E.M., Aruffo E., López Campos L.I., Federico S., Torcasio R.C., Corsi A., Di Carlo P., Dietrich S., Impact of Climate Change on the “Trabocchi Coast” (Italy): The Trabocco Turchino Case Study, Sustainability, 2023, 15, pp. 1-15, https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410880;
[2] Mascitelli A., Prestileo F., Sonnessa A., Federico S., Torcasio R.C., Ravanelli R., Biondi R., Dietrich S., Cultural Heritage Resilience in the Face of Extreme Weather: Lessons from the UNESCO Site of Alberobello. Sustainability. 2023;15: 15556. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/su152115556;
[3] Prestileo F., Mascitelli A., Meli G., Petracca M., Giorgi C., Melfi D., Puca S., Dietrich S., Resilience of Cultural Heritage in Extreme Weather Conditions: The Case of the UNESCO Villa Romana del Casale Archaeological Site’s Response to the Apollo Medicane in October 2021. In Proceedings of the Computational Science and Its Applications—ICCSA 2022 Workshops, Malaga, Spain, 4–7 July 2022; Gervasi, O., Murgante, B., Misra, S., Rocha, A.M.A.C., Garau, Eds.; Springer International Publishing:Cham, Switzerland, 2022; pp. 511–526.
How to cite: Prestileo, F., Mascitelli, A., Rubinetti, S., Sardella, A., Stella, E. M., Federico, S., Ferrero, E., and Dietrich, S.: Impacts of the Mediterranean Cyclone Harry on coastal cultural heritage: Kamarina and Caucana archaeological sites (Ragusa, southern Sicily) case study, 19th Plinius Conference on Mediterranean Risks, Murcia, Spain, 6–9 Oct 2026, Plinius19-31, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-plinius19-31, 2026.
Wildfire is becoming an increasingly critical threat to cultural heritage in the Mediterranean region under climate change, with impacts on both natural landscapes and the built cultural environment. Following the climate risk framework of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), this study develops an integrated methodology combining climatic and non-climatic factors to assess fire risk around cultural heritage sites in two Mediterranean regions: Lazio (Italy) and Attica (Greece). Twelve archaeological sites were selected according to their historical significance and proximity to urban and forested areas. The climate-related hazard is characterized using the Fire Weather Index (FWI), while exposure and vulnerability are represented through non-climatic factors including land cover, proximity to potential ignition sources, fuel type, and topographic slope. All variables were analysed within a GIS environment to assess and compare fire risk patterns across the study regions. The analysis considers both the reference climate period (1981–2010) and future climate conditions under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 scenario (2041–2070), enabling the evaluation of potential future changes in fire risk affecting cultural heritage sites. In Attica, the highest fire risk is observed in areas characterized by high fuel loads and extensive vegetation cover, affecting sites such as Rhamnous, the Laurion mines, and the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina Island. In Lazio, elevated fire risk is primarily associated with dense forested environments in the Apennine and Tuscia regions, influencing sites including the Sacred Wood of Bomarzo, the Archaeological Area of San Giovenale, and the Banditaccia Necropolis. Overall, areas characterized by high fuel availability exhibit the highest fire risk in both regions, with risk levels projected to increase during the future period under the RCP 4.5 scenario. The proposed methodology offers a transferable framework for preventive fire risk assessment under current and future climate conditions and may support site-specific adaptation and cultural heritage protection strategies.
How to cite: Carrajana Almeida, G., Boccacci, G., Siani, A. M., Valvi, K., Mavrakou, T., Philippopoulos, K., Cartalis, C., and Frasca, F.: Fire Risk Assessment of Cultural Landscapes in Two Mediterranean Regions, 19th Plinius Conference on Mediterranean Risks, Murcia, Spain, 6–9 Oct 2026, Plinius19-41, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-plinius19-41, 2026.
