During the fourth Italian expedition to northern Victoria Land in 1988–1989, a new volcanic centre named Mount Rittmann was discovered on the eastern shoulder of Aviator Glacier, north of Mount Brabec, in the Mountaineer Range. Mount Rittmann is still active and shows fumarolic activity mainly concentrated along a steep slope on the east flank of the volcano, uncovered by perennial ice. In the framework of the ICE-VOLC project (www.icevolc-project.com), we are assessing the state of this volcano, as well as of Mt. Melbourne, and investigating their dynamics by acquisition, analysis and integration of multiparametric geophysical, geochemical and thermal data. Complementary objectives of ICE-VOLC project include investigation of the relationship between seismo-acoustic activity recorded in Antarctica and cryosphere-ocean-atmosphere dynamics, evaluation of the impact of volcanic gas in the atmosphere, and finally dissemination of the project outcomes. The project involves three institutions: Università degli Studi di Catania, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia e Università degli Studi di Perugia. To achieve the project objectives, we developed and installed in 2017 a permanent seismo-acoustic station on the top of Mount Rittmann (Contrafatto et al., 2018, https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5023481). This station continuously acquires three-component broadband seismic data, as well as infrasonic signals.

Monitoring the ionosphere is an essential part of the “Space Weather”, a research field that deals with the study of phenomena involving the Sun, the solar wind, the magnetosphere, the ionosphere and the thermosphere. The polar regions are a natural laboratory for the research in this field and the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) currently manages, among others, an ionospheric observatory at Concordia Station. The observatory hosts 4 GNSS ionospheric scintillation and TEC monitor (GISTM) receivers which collect real-time data 24/7; the first one (DMC0S) was installed in 2009, followed by DMC1S in 2010, DMC2S in 2013 and DMC0P in 2017. To monitor such transient effects as ionospheric scintillations, the receivers sample the signals of different GNSS constellations in both amplitude and phase, with a frequency of at least 50Hz. The raw data are collected and processed at Concordia by dedicated software and transmitted in Italy, where the INGV-eSWua system provides near real-time ionospheric scintillation data and products (amplitude scintillation index, phase scintillation index, Total Electron Content, scintillation maps, etc.) harmonized among different instruments and accessible in a standardized and interoperable distribution format.

A permanent seismological observatory, international code TNV, is operating at MZS Italian Antarctic station: Seismological VBB data are recorded and collected according to the international SEED standard. Two independent parallel chains are running: 1) Streckeisen STS-1 Sensors + Quanterra Q330HR datalogger, marked with location code 01; 2) Streckeisen STS-2 Seismometer + Quanterra Q330HR datalogger, marked with location code 02. All data are available for the international seismological community. Research activities: global seismicity of the Earth studies; studies of local and regional seismicity; lithospheric structure studies.

Monitoring the ionosphere is an essential part of the “Space Weather”, a research field that deals with the study of phenomena involving the Sun, the solar wind, the magnetosphere, the ionosphere and the thermosphere. The polar regions are a natural laboratory for the research in this field and the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) currently manages, among others, an ionospheric observatory at the Italian Mario Zucchelli station. The observatory hosts a GNSS ionospheric scintillation and TEC monitor (GISTM) receiver, which collects ionospheric data 24/7 since 2006. To monitor such transient effects as ionospheric scintillations, the receivers sample the signals of different GNSS constellations in both amplitude and phase, with a frequency of at least 50Hz. The raw data are collected and processed at the OASI laboratory by dedicated software and transmitted in Italy, where the INGV-eSWua system provides near real-time ionospheric scintillation data and products (amplitude scintillation index, phase scintillation index, Total Electron Content, scintillation maps, etc.) harmonized among different instruments and accessible in a standardized and interoperable distribution format.

Seismological observations can be useful in the monitoring of ice stream dynamics and evolution. A temporary seismic array was deployed around the David Glacier, Victoria Land, during the austral summers 2015-16. Target of the experiment is the collection of seismometric data in order (i) to contribute to filling the gap in global seismic instrumentation, (ii) to monitor the Antarctic seismicity despite its weakness, (iii) to study the lithospheric and deep structure of the continent, (iv) to study interconnections between geodynamics and icecap and glacial evolution.

Seismological observations can be useful in the monitoring of ice stream dynamics and evolution. A temporary seismic array was deployed around the David Glacier, Victoria Land, during the austral summers 2003-04. Target of the experiment is the collection of seismometric data in order (i) to contribute to filling the gap in global seismic instrumentation, (ii) to monitor the Antarctic seismicity despite its weakness, (iii) to study the lithospheric and deep structure of the continent, (iv) to study interconnections between geodynamics and icecap and glacial evolution.

L'esplorazione radar anche su aree estese è alla base della glaciologia e svolge diversi ruoli nello studio dei ghiacciai per determinarne lo spessore e il volume, la stratificazione interna del ghiaccio, dei primi strati di nevato (firn), la topografia del bedrock, inclusa la caratterizzazione delle aree crepacciate. Il metodo, ampiamente utilizzato con pieno successo nelle aree polari, incontra maggiori difficoltà se applicato al rilevamento di ghiacciai di montagna come quelli alpini e himalayani. Tali difficoltà sono dovute alle diverse caratteristiche fisiche del ghiaccio temperato e alle problematiche tecniche logistiche legate allo svolgimento di operazioni di campo ad alta quota su aree dove sono presenti crepacci, seracchi e cascate di ghiaccio, rendendo estremamente varia la superficie del ghiacciaio. A seconda delle condizioni del ghiaccio, l'orografia delle zone e la sua estensione, vengono utilizzate differenti tecniche di misura con differenti mezzi d'indagine. Misure da terra: Le misure da terra vengono utilizzate per effettuare indagini di dettaglio in zone di particolare interesse come siti di perforazione o piccoli ghiacciai. La strumentazione viene posta all'interno di mezzi meccanici idonei come motoslitte (ski-doo) o gatti delle nevi, le antenne vengono montate su slitte e trainate lungo i percorsi d'indagine prescelti. Misure da elicottero: Le misure da elicottero vengono effettuate in zone non estese e in luoghi remoti e non facilmente raggiungibili con i mezzi terrestri o inaccessibili e per questo vengono facilmente utilizzati nello studio dei ghiacciai Alpini e nelle zone costiere dell'Antartide. Sulla base della nostra esperienza nella realizzazione di sistemi RES, abbiamo sviluppato un'unità funzionante a 40 MHz (4 kW di potenza di picco massima) con un ampiezza di impulso di inviluppo variabile tra 25 ns (1 ciclo) e 500 ns (20 cicli). Le antenne sono state posizionate su un supporto di legno (Bygol-1) sospeso a 18 m sotto la fusoliera dell'elicottero per mezzo di una fune baricentrica mentre l'elettronica del radar occupa un posto sul sedile posteriore. Per facilitare le manovre in volo dell'elicottero, negli ultimi anni si è utilizzato un montaggio fisso dell'antenna a fianco al carrello dell'elicottero attraverso un sistema di sostegni meccanici molto efficaci. Misure da aereo: In Antartide, dove le aree di rilevamento sono molto estese, si ricorre necessariamente agli aerei. Nelle spedizioni antartiche (1997, 1999, 2001 e 2003), il gruppo italiano di "Radioglaciologia" ha utilizzato un aereo DE HAVILLAND DHC-6 Twin Otter (TO), che è stato anche a disposizione del PNRA con l'intero equipaggio per altri servizi nella campagna italiana per tutto il periodo della spedizione annuale. Il TO, sebbene leggermente sovradimensionato per i rilievi radar, si è rivelato particolarmente utile in quanto permette di avere due antenne VHF a dipolo ripiegate a λ/2 circa un metro sotto le ali che agiscono da riflettori. Essendo dotato di strumentazione di bordo come altimetri laser e dispositivi di geo-localizzazione, il TO è in grado di volare a un'altitudine di 300 m seguendo le rotte pianificate. Di solito un altro sistema di geo-localizzazione, costituito da un altro ricevitore satellitare GPS, è direttamente interfacciato al computer di acquisizione della traccia radar. La frequenza di ripetizione degli impulsi deve essere rapportata alla velocità (circa 270 km/h) del TO e alla capacità di elaborazione del computer di acquisizione. Misure da drone: Con l'avvento dei droni in tempi recenti si è cominciato a studiare la possibilità di utilizzarli anche per le misure RES. Nel caso di misure in aree estese il drone ad ala fissa sembra essere la migliore soluzione considerando oltre alle grandi distanze da percorrere anche il peso della strumentazione RADAR. I droni ad ala fissa, con motore a scoppio, possono anche percorrere 1000 km in completa autonomia.

An automatic geomagnetic station for monitoring the Earth’s magnetic field variations has been installed in December 2020 at Talos Dome, a remote site on the Antarctic Plateau, about 300 km away from the permanent geomagnetic observatory at Mario Zucchelli Station (MZS). Designed and assembled at the laboratory of electronics of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) in Rome, this autonomous station is formed by a vector magnetometer specifically manufactured by Lviv Institute (Ukraine) for very low temperatures and a low-power system supplied by batteries charged by wind generator and solar panel. Data, sampled at 1 Hz, are locally stored and can be downloaded once a year during the Antarctic summer expeditions. The goal was to integrate observatory data for better monitoring the geomagnetic field from an uncovered Antarctic area. In fact, it is well known that the distribution of geomagnetic observatories strongly favors the northern hemisphere and each new instrumental installation in Antarctica should be considered as a useful attempt to balance the geomagnetic monitoring in the two hemispheres. The achieved goal was to obtain a long data series, keeping the station working even during the austral winter when the temperature can reach −60°C; we recorded 4 years of data.

The SENECA project aims to provide first evaluations of gas concentrations and emissions from permafrost and/or thawing shallow strata and to derive a first estimate of the CO2 and CH4 emission at Southern Polar Hemisphere. The obtained results can also be used to assess uncovered new problems and opportunities, such as how the Antarctica environment can increase to permanent and temporal scale the global temperatures. The project is organized in four major tasks: (1) soil gas content and origin; (2) CO2 and CH4 degassing output; (3) geophysics exploration and petrographic characterization of the soils; (4) seasonal trend of CO2 soil concentration. Geochemical data: The geochemical dataset includes: Soil gas sampling/flux measurements and GasPRO CO2 monitoring probes Soil gas surveying consists in collecting gas samples from the active layer zone to measure the concentrations of some gaseous species in the soil pores. To avoid the major influence of meteorological variables, samples are collected inserting a steel probe vertically in the soil to a depth from 0.2 m to 0.6 m, depending by the thickness of the active layer. Soil gas samples are taken from the probe by using a 60 cc plastic syringe and stored in a 15 ml glass vials. The collected gas samples have been analyzed in Scott Base lab with a chromatographer (CP 4900 by Varian) to define the concentrations of the following gaseous species: He, Ne, H2, O2, N2, CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6, CO2, H2S. Radon (222Rn) and Thoron (220Rn) have been measured directly in the field using Durridge RAD7 instrument performing three/four measurements with 5-minute integration time. A total number of 226 samples were collected in this first expedition. Measurements of exhalation flux of CO2 and CH4 from the soil into the atmosphere have been conducted using the West System (West Systems TM) accumulation static closed-chamber method. Continuous monitoring of CO2 concentrations in active layer bottom was started with the deployment of GasPro CO2 Monitoring Probe designed to measure temperature, pressure and CO2 concentration in the unsaturated soil horizon. CO2 concentration is measured via a Non-Dispersive Infra-Red (NDIR) sensor (model IRC‐A1 Alphasense). The probes are equipped with four batteries and a small solar panel that should last for 10 to 12 months (depending on the outside temperature), collecting 1 measurement/hour. Water and permafrost sampling We sampled shallow waters among all streams, ponds and lakes in the studied areas. Physical-chemical parameters such as water temperature, pH, redox potential (Eh), electrical conductivity and alkalinity were determined in situ. Water samples were collected and stored in high-density polyethene flacons for laboratory analysis in the following amount: 2 flacons of 50ml for major anions and cations 1 flacon of 50ml for minor and trace elements 1 flacon of 100ml for isotopic analyses 1 serum glass bottle of 155ml for dissolved gas in the water. Major anions and cations were sampled on filtered and filtered and acidified samples, respectively. Minor and trace elements were collected on filtered and acidified samples. An unfiltered sample was collected for the determination of stable isotope analyses (δ18O, δD). The analysis of the chemical composition of dissolved gases (He, Ne, H2, O2, N2, CH4, CO2), extracted from water samples collected in serum glass bottles and sealed by gas-tight rubber plugs according to the method of Capasso and Inguaggiato (1998), was carried out in the Scott Base Laboratory by using a Agilent 4900 CP Micro-gas chromatograph equipped with two TCDs and Ar as carrier gas. Dissolved gas composition (expressed in mmol/L at STP) was calculated from the composition of the exsolved gas phase based on the solubility coefficient of each gas compound (Whitfield, 1978). Analytical error was <5%. A total number of 31 water samples were collected in this expedition. In addition, 33 permafrost samples were collected. These samples were sampled by hitting the permafrost with a hammer and chisel and collecting the small pieces of still frozen permafrost in a serum glass bottles of 155 ml. The bottle was sealed and vacuum-packed by removing the air inside it using a needle and syringe. Once the permafrost samples were defrosted, the gas content in the bottles were measured (He, Ne, H2, O2, N2, CH4, CO2). These measurements were performed directly at Scott Base using the Agilent 4900 CP Micro-gas chromatograph.

The SENECA project aims to provide first evaluations of gas concentrations and emissions from permafrost and/or thawing shallow strata and to derive a first estimate of the CO2 and CH4 emission at Southern Polar Hemisphere. The obtained results can also be used to assess uncovered new problems and opportunities, such as how the Antarctica environment can increase to permanent and temporal scale the global temperatures. The project is organized in four major tasks: (1) soil gas content and origin; (2) CO 2 and CH 4 degassing output; (3) geophysics exploration and petrographic characterization of the soils; (4) seasonal trend of CO2 soil concentration. Geoelectrical data: The field campaign took place in the Taylor Valley, which is part of the McMurdo Dry Valleys (Antarctica). We performed 2D data acquisition on five profiles, ~N-S and ~W-E trending from Dec 26, 2019 to Jan 20, 2020. We used the Fullwaver system (Gance et al., 2018, Lajaunie et al.,2018). The Fullwaver system does not require long and heavy multi-core cables and fixed array configurations. Recording and injection devices come into separate hardware. Specifically, this field apparatus consists in: a) an induced polarization transmitter (VIP) b) one current measurement unit called I-Fullwaver c) a set of 2-channels independent receiving nodes called V-Fullwavers d) a motor-generator Current is injected through an induced polarization transmitter, (VIP 5000, IRIS Instruments). This transmitter enables to inject current up to 10 Amps, 5000W and 3000V, with a frequency of 0.5Hz. An external 7kVA generator provides current for the VIP. The receiving nodes record continuously the electrical field and the injection electrodes can be moved inside and outside the receiving nodes with any type of electrode array configuration. Injected current is recorded in real-time on the I-Fullwaver. Profile 1 (4.5 km length), 2 (3.8 km length) and 3 (3.2 km length) were designed in order to reach an ideal depth of investigation of ~800 m, while profiles 4 (1.8 km length) and 5 (1.6 km length) were designed in order to reach the depth of the borehole data from DVDP 11 (~300m), giving an independent geological control in phase of modeling and interpretation. We used from 8 to 12 receiving nodes combined with one injection node. Each V-Fullwaver was connected to 3 receiving electrodes deployed in a line (P1, P2, P3). Their spacing was set to 50 meters. Between each receiving node a 100 m spacing was set. One electrode A (e.g. Tx 1 ) was always fixed at one end of the profile and we moved the B (e.g. Tx 4 ) electrode across the acquisition line, until completing the largest injection, e.g. Tx1 -Tx9 . This procedure was repeated forward and backward, adopting Tx 1 or the last transmission as fixed electrode respectively. The distance between the injections was set to 200m for the transmissions located inside or immediately close to the V-Fullwaver line, while for the injections external to the V-Fullwaver line, the distance was set to 250m (e.g. for profiles 1, 2, 3). Receiving and injecting nodes are GPS-synchronized with an independent GPS unit mounted on each Fullwaver. Post-processing of the raw data can be performed to improve the signal to noise ratio producing high-resolution data. GPS positions for all the electrodes were acquired with a GPSMAP 64s, with an accuracy of ~3 m. For the data processing, we will utilize data of the surface topography extracted from Lidar of the Taylor Valley (Fountain et al., 2017). During the acquisition, contact resistances ranged from ~0.6 KOhm to 2.3 KOhm. We injected from 0.8 A to 2.5 A for 120 to 180s, in order to obtain as many stacks as possible to decrease the signal to noise ratio.