Here we present the snow pits collected along the international EAIIST project traverse, which took place in 2019-2020 Antarctic Campaign. We report the number of snow pits collected, the depth of the samplings and their geographic information.

Here we present the firn cores collected along the international EAIIST project traverse, which took place in 2019-2020 Antarctic Campaign. We report the number of firn cores collected, the depth of the samplings and their geographic information.

We will collect stool samples from the volunteers at the Mario Zucchelli Station at different time points. The samples will be analysed by shotgun metagenomic sequencing, considering only the microbial component.

Trophic interactions underlie coexistence mechanisms between species, define the functional role of specie within communities, affect biodiversity and bioaccumulation processes of heavy metal. Sea-ice dynamics, which at Terra Nova Bay is characterized by an extraordinary seasonality, drives interspecific interactions and the exchange of materials between ecosystem compartments. Indeed, the activation of the primary production after sea-ice break up opens alternative trophic pathways for consumers. The “next generation SRPs” represent a highly appropriate framework for the present project which follows the results obtained with the previous project ISOBIOTOX (PNRA 2013) and aims at (i) determine topological and functional metrics of sympagic and pelagic food webs at Terra Nova Bay under different conditions of sea-ice coverage along a distance gradient from the nearest open water polynya to areas were the seasonal sea-ice coverage persists longer; (ii) evaluate bioaccumulation and biomagnification of heavy metals in trophic sources at the base of the food web and in target species along food chains, including fishes of commercial interests and top predators, both in the presence and absence of sympagic and pelagic primary producers. High resolution food webs will be reconstructed by means of the simultaneous elemental and isotopic analysis of different elements (C and N) and the bioaccumulation of pollutants. The research program integrates complementary research approaches: (a) Elemental analysis coupled with mass spectrometry for stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ15N) in animal and vegetal tissues and dead organic matter, (b)analyses of heavy metals accumulation (Chromatography) in the constituent species of the Antarctic food web.

Calibrated (in unit of solar disk brightness) measurements of the sky brightness at DOME C as obtained by the ESCAPE experiment during the campaign 2018-2019

We present here the final 100-meter cell size grid projection EPSG:9354 and metadata from the ISOBatA PNRA project, shared with the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) as part of the International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO). This dataset was collected by the ISOBatA project team using the Kongsberg EM304 multibeam system installed on the R/V Laura Bassi. The dataset processed and quality-controlled using QPS Qimera software and corrected for sound velocity using XBT and CTD data (courtesy of the MORSEA project), has been provided to AWI (IBCSO) and is archived here to ensure traceability, wide dissemination, and future usability. The PNRA-funded project ISOBatA (Italian Southern Ocean Bathymetry from consistent exploitation of opportunistic seafloor datasets in the Antarctic region and surrounding areas) introduced an innovative approach to optimize the collection of acoustic (mainly bathymetric) and magnetometric data. The primary objective of the project was to improve the bathymetric understanding of the Southern Ocean by collecting multibeam echosounder data during the Laura Bassi expeditions, focusing on previously unexplored areas in the Ross Sea and in the region between the Macquarie Triple Junction (MQ TJ) and the Emerald Fracture Zone (EMZ). The operational phase of ISOBatA spanned three expeditions: XXXVII (2021-2022), XXXVIII (2023), and XXXIX (2024) of the Laura Bassi in Antarctica. In the first two years (XXXVII and XXXVIII), the project benefited from dedicated ship time, which enabled efficient data collection through strategic speed reductions during transfers and route adjustments along pre-identified corridors. Data collection was planned based on pre-existing metadata, such as IBCSO coverage, the Seismic Data Library (SDL), Italian Mooring Sites, and Italian Coring and Box Coring Sites. This also included transit routes through the Southern Ocean along the MQ and EMZ, as well as unmapped areas in the Ross Sea, such as the Italian MORSEA Mooring Sites. In the third year (XXXIX), no dedicated ship time was available. Nevertheless, ISOBatA managed to collect data under two conditions: 1) without changing the ship's course or speed and 2) by simultaneously collecting acoustic data for other projects, which affected the spatial resolution of the data collected with EM304. Despite the challenges posed by rough seas, ice, ship speeds, and the lack of tide gauges, ISOBatA proved the feasibility of opportunistic acoustic data collection, particularly in the Ross Sea. This was achieved by utilizing downtime during mooring maintenance, support for supply vessels, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and sheltering during standby weather conditions. Onboard data sharing fostered valuable collaborations with other research teams, enhancing the overall scientific results. We acknowledge the MORSEA project for providing real-time of XBT and CTD data, which enabled the application of accurate sound velocity profiles. We also thank to the PNRA Program for funding and support, to ISOBatA project partners: OGS (PI D. Accettella, P. Diviacco), UniMIB (A. Savini), IGAG-CNR (M. Cuffaro), and INGV (F. Muccini), as well as the Laura Bassi research teams for their scientific contributions and collaborations. Keywords: Southern Ocean, Bathymetry, ISOBatA, Laura Bassi, Antarctica, IBCSO.

Commandant Charcot. Italian National Research Council - Institute of Polar Sciences data from a local source.

Antarctic ecosystems have a high number of species, that are closely linked to the presence of sea ice and seasonal cycles. This biodiversity is subject to anthropogenic and natural influences. Macrozoobenthic communities are the 'biological memory' of the ecosystem, structuring themselves as a function of environmental changes over the years. Macrozoobenthos samples were collected using suction dredging and scraping techniques, in soft and hard bottoms. Sampling occurred in 5 different sites.

The raw SeaSpy magnetometer data presented here were collected in the Southern Ocean (SO) as part of the ISOBatA PNRA project during the XXXVII and XXXVIII Italian Antarctic expeditions on board the icebreaker Laura Bassi. The ISOBatA project (Italian Southern Ocean Bathymetry from consistent exploitation of opportunistic seafloor datasets in the Antarctic region and surrounding areas) aimed to improve the understanding of the Southern Ocean through a novel approach that systematically integrates the collection of bathymetric and magnetometric data during the Laura Bassi voyages in poorly charted regions between the Macquarie Triple Junction – MTJ and the Emerald Fracture Zone n-EFZ. This dataset spans two field campaigns (2021-2022 and 2023) collected through optimized navigation strategies, including reducing vessel speed during transits and following pre-planned corridors to enhance data quality and spatial coverage. The project was a collaboration between OGS (PI D. Accettella), UniMIB (A. Savini), IGAG-CNR (M. Cuffaro) and INGV (F. Muccini). The work was supported by the Programma Nazionale di Ricerca in Antartide - PNRA and benefited from the joint efforts of the Laura Bassi research teams on board. Keywords: Southern Ocean, Bathymetry, ISOBatA, Laura Bassi, Antarctica, IBCSO.

The multibeam echosounder (MBES) raw data presented here were collected in the Southern Ocean (SO) within the ISOBatA PNRA project as part of the XXXVIII Italian Antarctic Expedition aboard the icebreaker Laura Bassi. The data were collected with the EM304 system mounted on board, corrected for sound velocity, processed with Qimera and formatted as ASCII-XYZ grid. This dataset is part of the collection "ISOBaTA MBES GRID for IBCSO", which can be downloaded from SNAP and is searchable at https://antarcticdatacenter.inogs.it/. The ISOBatA project (Italian Southern Ocean Bathymetry from consistent exploitation of opportunistic seafloor datasets in the Antarctic region and surrounding areas) introduced an innovative approach to optimize the collection of acoustic (mainly bathymetric) and magnetometric data. The main objective was to improve bathymetric knowledge of the Southern Ocean, focusing on unexplored areas such as the Ross Sea and the region between the Macquarie Triple Junction (MQ TJ) and the Emerald Fracture Zone (EMZ). During the XXXVII expedition (2021-2022), dedicated ship time allowed for efficient data collection by reducing speed during transfers and adjusting routes along pre-determined corridors. Data acquisition was planned based on existing metadata: 1) IBCSO coverage and Italian MBES coverage, 2) Seismic Data Library (SDL) navigation, 3) Ross Sea Italian mooring sites, 4) italian coring sites and 5) ODP sites. The surveyed areas included transit routes through the Southern Ocean along MQ TJ and EMZ as well as previously unmapped areas in the Ross Sea, such as the Italian MORSEA moorings. Acknowledgments: We thank the MORSEA project for providing real-time XBT and CTD data that allowed us to generate the required sound velocity correction. Special thanks go to the PNRA for funding and support and to the Laura Bassi research teams for their scientific interaction and collaboration. Keywords: Southern Ocean, Bathymetry, ISOBatA, Laura Bassi, Antarctica, IBCSO.