Research

I specialize in spectroscopy and radiative transfer within Earth's atmosphere. I'm part of the Applied Spectroscopy group at the University of Basilicata, where I've been collaborating since April 1999 and leading the group since September 2020.

My research focuses on developing instruments and physical models of radiative transfer to synthesize Earth's emission spectra. The goal is to extract information about the atmospheric thermodynamic state (temperature and molecular concentrations) and surface properties (temperature and emissivity).

To achieve this, we utilize measurements of Earth's emission spectrum in the thermal and far-infrared range (3.5 - 100 microns) obtained from both satellite platforms and ground-based instruments.

This research is supported by major national and international Earth Observation projects. We are specifically involved in projects funded by 

• The Italian Space Agency (ASI)

  • The development of methods for FORUM – short for di Far-infrared Outgoing Radiation Understanding and Monitoring, the instrument on ESA's 9th Earth Explorer mission (2020-Present)

  • The synergistic use of data from the instrument candidate for ESA's 11th Earth Explorer mission, Cairt – short of  changing-atmosphere infrared tomography and IASI-NG - short for di Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer - New Generation (2023-Present)

  • As part of the Space It Up! project, which brings together all the skills to contribute to a sustainable and long-term future, both in space and on Earth.

• The European Space Agency (ESA)

  • For the development of an end-to-end simulator for the FORUM  instrument (2023-Present)

  • For the study of methane spectroscopy and radiative transfer to improve the quality of retrievals from satellite data (2017-2020)

• The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)  

  • For the analysis of data acquired by the SEVIRI instrument on the geostationary platform from 2011 to 2019.

  • For research aimed at developing the next generation of the IASI instrument, IASI-NG, from 2006 to 2017.

  • For investigating the feasibility of including a hyperspectral sensor on the (MTG-IRS) satellite, the third generation of Meteosat, from 2004 to 2017. 

  • For the analysis of data acquired by IASI,  from 1999 to 2021; 

• The Italian Ministry for University and Research, MUR (formerly MIUR) 

  • For the retrieval of global-scale vertical profiles of atmospheric methane using an innovative approach based on Physics-Informed Neural Networks, as part of the PRIN 2022 MVP project (2024-Present).

  • For developing technologies to mitigate fire risk within the project PNRR TECH4YOU – Technologies for climate change adaptation and quality of life improvement, (2023-Present Spoke 1, Goal 4.1.

  • For the development of technologies for sustainable development within the project PNRR – Space It Up, (2024-Present) WP 7.2.

  • For the development of innovative Earth Observation (EO) techniques and methods, PON OT4Clima (2020-2022).

  • For the observation of the water vapor rotational band in the 17-50 micron hyperspectral range, as part of the PRIN 2005 COBRA/ECOWAR project (2006-2009).