Abyssal scientific observatory in the Ionian Sea for the study of the sea depths

A team of researchers from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) and the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) has successfully installed a sophisticated seismo-acoustic station at approximately 3,500 meters deep in the abyssal plain of the Ionian Sea, in 80 kilometers south-east of Portopalo di Capo Passero (Syracuse). This feat represents a significant advancement in the ability to explore and monitor less accessible areas of the seas and oceans.

The station, developed within the PON Marine Hazard project financed by the “Development and Cohesion Fund” relating to the 2014-2020 programming, it was initially conceived as a working prototype. However, thanks to the commitment and competence of the research group involved, the objective was largely exceeded, allowing integration with the large KM3NeT/ARCA submarine infrastructure, the largest abyssal neutrino telescope in the Mediterranean Sea.

Currently, the station is acquiring sounds and noises that propagate in the depths of the sea in real time providing valuable data to understand the environmental impact of acoustic waves on the delicate ecosystem of the deep. The information collected is transmitted to the INGV servers hosted at the Data Processing Center of the INFN operational headquarters in Portopalo di Capo Passero, through a submarine electro-optical cable approximately 100 kilometers long.

The creation of this infrastructure is the result of a multidisciplinary synergy between different locations and skills. For the INFN, the Southern National Laboratories (INFN-LNS), the Bari Section (INFN-BA) and the Rome Section (INFN-RM1) participated, while for the INGV the Palermo Section was involved . The researchers from the INGV of Palermo have installed on the station a sensor capable of detecting the conductivity and temperature of the water masses, the pressure of the overlying water column, a hydrophone for the study of the low frequencies of the acoustic waves and a High sensitivity marine seismometer. In parallel, INFN-LNS scientists designed and built the station structure, the control and data transmission electronics, as well as the watertight containers resistant to the high pressures of the abyssal environment.

The installation of this station further strengthens the collaboration between INFN and INGV, underlining the importance of interaction between research institutes in the context of multidisciplinary projects. Furthermore, it highlights the added value resulting from cooperation between European research infrastructures, as evidenced by the support received from EMSO ERIC.