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Deepest Seismic Station in the Mediterranean Expands Earthquake Detection and Strengthens Alert Systems in Italy
Science has taken an important step for seismic and tsunami monitoring in the Mediterranean. In October 2024, the deepest seismic station in the region was installed in the Ionian Sea, over 3,400 meters deep.
The equipment, now fully operational, enhances earthquake detection capabilities and strengthens alert systems in Italy and across the Mediterranean.
The station was installed at a depth of 3,443 meters, off the southeast coast of Sicily, about 80 kilometers from Portopalo di Capo Passero, in Syracuse. This new structure is part of the Italian national seismic network, managed by the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).
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Multidisciplinary Project and International Cooperation
The equipment was developed by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from INGV and the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN). The station is part of the PON Marine Hazard program, funded by the Fund for Development and Cohesion 2014-2020 programming.
Initially, the goal was to build a functional prototype. With the work of the research group, the project exceeded expectations and is now connected to the large underwater infrastructure KM3NeT/ARCA, the largest deep-water neutrino telescope in the Mediterranean.
Acoustic Monitoring and Real-Time Transmission
In addition to recording seismic shocks, the station also picks up sounds and noises from the deep sea. This information is valuable for understanding the environmental impact of acoustic waves on the seafloor.
The collected data is transmitted in real-time to the processing servers of INGV, located at the Data Processing Center of the INFN headquarters in Portopalo di Capo Passero.
This transmission is done through a submarine electro-optical cable approximately 100 kilometers long.
Technological and Scientific Advancement
According to Sergio Scirè Scappuzzo, the scientific director of the Marine Hazard project at INGV, “the deployment of infrastructure of this scale represents a major success, laying the foundation for the ongoing exploration of environments considered inaccessible until a few years ago, with unique characteristics in its kind.”
Gianluca Lazzaro, a technologist at INGV involved in the development and integration of the instruments, highlighted that the project is the result of strong scientific and technological collaboration.
“This undertaking is the result of multidisciplinary synergy and its success adds even more value to the scientific and technological collaboration between INGV and INFN, and emphasizes the importance of cooperation among European research infrastructures, considering also the support we received from EMSO ERIC,” he stated.
Joint Work of Various Institutions
The work involved several research units. From INFN, the National Laboratories of the South (INFN-LNS), the Bari Section (INFN-BA), and the Rome Section (INFN-RM1) participated. From INGV, the Palermo Section was involved.
The researchers from INGV in Palermo were responsible for installing sensors that measure conductivity, water temperature, water column pressure, and low-frequency acoustic measurements.
INFN-LNS handled the physical structure of the station, control electronics, data transmission, and the waterproof containers that withstand the high pressure of the seafloor.
For Simone Biagi, manager of KM3NeT/ARCA, and Angelo Orlando, technical coordinator of the station project, the installation strengthens the ties between INFN and INGV.
“It highlights the relationship of full interaction between the two research institutes, besides adding even more multidisciplinary value to the scientific excellence represented by the KM3NeT/IDMAR infrastructure,” they stated.
Support for Seismic and Tsunami Monitoring
The use of these cutting-edge technologies allows research to advance in the long-term study of the deepest areas of the oceans, regions previously little observed.
This advancement also contributes to the strengthening of the European scientific community and facilitates the transfer of knowledge and technology to Italian companies.
The strategic location of the MHPPL station significantly enhances Italian geophysical monitoring. It is situated in a seismically active area, between the Ibleo-Maltese escarpment and the Strait of Messina, a site of events such as the 1990 earthquake off the coast of Syracuse.
Thus, the new station can improve the identification and analysis of earthquakes in the contact zone between the African and Eurasian plates.
Additionally, the installed absolute pressure sensor will soon allow the integration of the station into the Tsunami Alert Center of INGV. This enhancement to SiAM, the national seismic tsunami alert system, represents an important advancement for the safety of Italian and Mediterranean coastlines.
With information from Tempo.com.
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