Eighteen Italian soldiers from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Carabinieri are taking part in the 40tha Italian expedition to Antarctica, with Cnr, ENEA and OGS, within the framework of the National Research Program in Antarctica (PNRA), in the bases Sugars e Concord and on the ship Laura bassi in projects covering different disciplines.
Eighteen Italian soldiers from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Carabinieri are taking part in the 40th Italian expedition to Antarctica, at the station Mario Zucchelli on the promontory of Terra Nova Bay, which until February 2025 will see 140 researchers and technicians involved in projects of glaciology, climatology, seismology, geomagnetism and biodiversity. The Italian missions in Antarctica, which began on 23 December 1985, are conducted within the framework of the National Research Program in Antarctica (PNRA), financed by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR) and managed by the National Research Council (Cnr) for scientific coordination, by ENEA for the planning and logistical organization of activities at the Antarctic bases and byNational Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics (OGS) for the technical and scientific management of the icebreaker Laura Bassi.
During the current campaign at the station Mario Zucchelli a new geomagnetic observatory will be built and the photovoltaic system will be strengthened, with the aim of producing an ever-increasing share of energy from renewable sources. A Concord, instead, the completion of the first module of the new summer camp is planned, the area outside the station intended to host researchers and technicians during the summer campaigns.
The mission's projects are crucial for the advancement of knowledge in various sectors and will bring significant results to better understand the scientific challenges of the moment, such as climate change. With 24 hours of light a day and a temperature ranging from 0 to -20 degrees, at the Station Mario Zucchelli, there will be observatories of climatology, seismology, geodesy, geomagnetism, upper atmosphere and space weather, also evaluated volcanological monitoring, modifications on microbial communities, permafrost and vegetation, the role of sea ice in the mercury cycle, supraglacial lakes, biodiversity, evolution, adaptation and immune mechanisms of Antarctic organisms will be analyzed. Finally, one of the research projects will examine the human microbiome.
The Armed Forces are participating in the expedition with 18 military experts from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Carabinieri. They will support the researchers in the field throughout the expedition, making both external and underwater campaigns possible and safe, as well as air operations thanks to the expertise of weather forecasters and air traffic controllers. In addition, the Air Force will ensure, thanks to the C-130J of the 46th Air Brigade, connections between Christchurch (New Zealand), the Italian “Zucchelli” station and the US McMurdo station, providing transportation of materials, vehicles and personnel. Two members of the national Fire Brigade will also participate in the activities.
