The Ice-ClimaLizer research investigates the role of two Antarctic bioconstructional and bioindicator organisms (bryozoan and coralline algae), responsible of promoting marine biodiversity, as proxies of environmental conditions (temperature, light intensity, pressure, oxygen, conductibility and pH). An experimental laboratory has been placed in Tethys Bay (Ross Sea) at 25.5 m deep. The project will compare 1 year of environmental data obtained via continuous recording (every hour) by CTD probe with reconstructed data obtained via geochemical proxies of skeletons/thalli of the investigated species. Data are collected from November 2018 to November 2019.

The project aims to determine the mass balance components in the Dome C drainage area and to study and monitor local glaciers in Victoria Land. The goal is to define the mass balance of the ice cap through the analysis of its altimetric variation with satellite systems and through the determination of the values of the positive (snow accumulation) and negative (flow of glaciers to the anchor line) components of the balance mass. Trought the study of the snow cores (collected as part of the ITASE project (XVII/XVIII expedition)), was determined the annual stratigraphy and evaluated the snow accumulation, the isotopic temperature and the chemical composition of the snow cores. Moreover analysis of geophysical data (GPR, GPS, RES, spectroradiometry) and remote sensing data were carried out for the study of the variability of snow accumulation, of the dynamics of the ice cap and of the flow of glaciers to the anchor line.

The IPICS-2kyr-Italia project, through multiple perforations in the Antarctic ice sheet, aims to provide new data on climatic variability over the last 2000 years. The ice caps of the polar caps are valuable natural archives of the Earth's climatic and environmental history. The extraction of the snow and ice cores have taken place during the summer campaign of the Italian expedition to Antarctica 2013/2014. The drilling site GV7 (70°41'S, 158°52'E; 1950 m), chosen for the high snow accumulation, is about 500 km from Mario Zucchelli Station. Drill up to 250 - 500m. Core samples will be studied by chemical, isotopic and physical analyses of the dust and gases contained in the ice. It will thus be possible to reconstruct the evolution of temperatures, the composition of the atmosphere and atmospheric circulation, the frequency of volcanic eruptions and the air pollution produced by human activities over the last millennium with considerable temporal detail.

The Observatory main purpose is to contribute to the monitoring of global climate change monitoring standard meteorological parameters. The automatic weather station AWS Modesta is located on the Priestley Nèvè (74° 37′ 35″ S - 164° 0′ 40″ E) at 1924 m a.s.l., and has been installed on the 1 February 1989. It acquired, every hour, all year round, the meteorological vaiables of wind velocity, wind direction, temperature, pressure and relative humidity, plus snow height acquired as daily averages.

The Observatory main purpose is to contribute to the monitoring of global climate change monitoring standard meteorological parameters. The automatic weather station AWS penguin is located at Edmonson Point (74° 20′ 0″ S - 165° 8′ 0″ E) at 30 m of altitude, and has been installed 3 December 1998. It acquired every 10 minutes, only during the opening season of the activities in MSZ station, the meteorological variables of wind velocity, wind direction, temperature, pressure, relative humidity and solar radiation.

The Observatory main purpose is to contribute to the monitoring of global climate change monitoring standard meteorological parameters. The automatic weather station AWS Arelis is located in Cape Ross (76° 42′ 54″ S - 162° 58′ 12″ E) at 150 m of altitude, and has been installed on the 21 January 1990. It acquired, all year round, the meteorological vaiables of wind velocity, wind direction, temperature, pressure and relative humidity.

This research addressed a feasibility study for a remote monitoring system based on acoustic tomography to be used in antarctic regions. The analysis of data collected during PNRA oceanographic campaigns provided the environmental scenarios and the oceanographic processes to be successfully monitored by means of acoustic tomography and the appropriate information and data to initialize the tomographic processor. The case studies regarded High Salinity Shelf Water formation process in Terra Nova Bay polynya. The simplified but realistic environmental scenario considered a 1000 m deep area with a flat bottom. The dense water formation area was defined by a strong vertical salinity gradient in the surface, while in the areas outside, temperature and salinity were considered constant in depth leading to an almost linear increasing sound speed profile. At this stage of study, the possible presence of ice layer covering the area is not expected to have any significant effect on the propagation prediction, so it was not considered. Simulations were carried out with a beam model (Bellhop) which is well suited for active sonar modelling and ocean acoustic tomography in a range dependent environment. Each simulation involves the use of an acoustic source and a receiving station (tomographic pair) consisting of a vertical array of hydrophones. By measuring the travel time relative to different scenarios, the analysis aimed at understanding if the detection of the oceanographic phenomenon is feasible. In particular, the study aimed at determining the best compromise between acoustic frequencies, sensors number and geometrical configuration, in order to achieve the desired spatial-temporal resolution useful to detect the presence of dense water masses. An acoustic system configuration consisting of an acoustic source transmitting a pulse with a carrier frequency of 10 kHz, and of a receiving array made of 6 hydrophones resulted to be appropriate, while the minimum size of detectable Dense Water Mass is 0.5 km. In particular, the conducted sensitivity study evidences that the measure of travel time of acoustic rays can be successfully exploited to detect the presence of a dense water mass in a polynya area Acoustic tomography thus provides “images” of wide areas in the inner ocean for long periods and with an high temporal resolution; in addition it permits to reconstruct the sound speed field even in the upper layers where direct measurements cannot be performed as instruments are at risk of damage. It can then be consider a powerful mean of observation that well integrates conventional in situ measurements. Preliminar investigation on the applicability of this methodology in Terranova Bay polynya demonstrated that it is able to resolve the vertical structure of water column with a good precision.

The aim of the MAss LOst in wind fluX (MALOX) project is to better understand the phenomenon of snow transport over a coastal area characterized by strong winds. The automatic weather station AWS Lucia purpose is to contribute to the monitoring of global climate change monitoring standard meteorological parameters. The AWS is located at Larsen Glacier, (74° 57′ 2″ S - 161° 46′ 19″ E) at 1350 m a.s.l., and has been installed the 25 january 2007. It acquires, every minute, all year round, the meteorological variables by two sensors for wind velocity and wind direction, two sensors for temperature (at 1 and 3 meters) and for relative humidity, and finally one for atmospheric pressure. Moreover, the AWS acquires further data using radiation sensor (longwave and shortwave), driftometer for the snow transport and height snow sensor.

The Geodetic Observatory is based on continuous measurements of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) data for the characterization of the neo-tectonics of a large area of ​​the Northern Victoria Land. Particularly for the definition of a three-dimensional reference (plano-altimetric), and tidal waves, for the definition of a local and global absolute altimetric reference model. The permanent GNSS station 'LRSN', has been set on Mount Larsen (74° 57' 02,0" S - 161° 46' 10,1" E), 948 m a.s.l during the antarctic campaign 2015 - 2016. LRSN records data of GPS and GLONASS constellations, with an acquisition interval equal to 30 s. It is equipped with Tocpon Net-G3 GNSS receivers and chokering antennas, Topcon CR-G5 model (radome TPSH ), installed on steel pillars.

The Geodetic Observatory is based on continuous measurements of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) data for the characterization of the neo-tectonics of a large area of ​​the Northern Victoria Land. Particularly for the definition of a three-dimensional reference (plano-altimetric), and tidal waves, for the definition of a local and global absolute altimetric reference model. The permanent GNSS station 'INXP', has been set on Inexpressible Island (74° 56' 55,1" S - 163° 41' 06,3" E), 32 m a.s.l. during the antarctic campaign 2015 - 2016. INXP records data of GPS and GLONASS constellations, with an acquisition interval equal to 30 s. It is equipped with Tocpon Net-G3 GNSS receivers and chokering antennas, Topcon CR-G5 model (radome TPSH ), installed on steel pillars.