CNR Antarctic Data Center
CNR Antarctic Data Center (CNR)
Continents, countries, sea regions of the world.
ESCAPE-Sky brightness measurements obtained during the summer campaign 2021-2022
Calibrated (in unit of solar disk brightness) measurements of the sky brightness at DOME C as obtained by the ESCAPE experiment during the campaign 2021-2022
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE DATA ORIGIN AND HOW IT GETS TRANSFORMED ALONG THE WAY FROM THE INSTRUMENT TO THE DATABASE.
Elemental composition of particulate matter at Concordia
Concentrations of major, minor and trace elements in particulate matter (PM10) samples, collected at Concordia with monthly time resolution, since January 2018, obtained by PIXE-PIGE and HR-ICP-MS measurements.
SIZA - Larval recruitment of zoobenthos organism in Terra Nova Bay
The larval stages can be considered as the link from plankton to benthos. In order to study larval recruitment from zoobenthos, 40 tiles were placed at each of the four sites outlined in the project: Tethys Bay (control), Rod Bay (area subject to anthropogenic impact), Faraglione (control) and Adelie Cove (area subject to natural impact, linked to the presence of a penguin house). Due to adverse environmental factors all the tiles from Faraglione were lost and from Tethys Bay only half were found. The tiles were analysed with the help of a binocular, which enabled better visualisation of the organisms and, consequently, better identification.
40 tiles were placed at each of the four sites outlined in the project: Tethys Bay (control), Rod Bay (area subject to anthropogenic impact), Faraglione (control) and Adelie Cove (area subject to natural impact, linked to the presence of a penguin house). Preserved in a solution of seawater and 70% alcohol. The tiles were analysed with the help of a binocular, which enabled better visualisation of the organisms and, consequently, better identification.
Anthropogenic microparticles in the emerald rockcod Trematomus bernacchii (Nototheniidae) from the Antarctic
Anthropogenic microparticles (AMs) were found for the first time in specimens of Trematomus bernacchii collected in 1998 in the Ross Sea (Antarctica) and stored in the Antarctic Environmental Specimen Bank. Most of the identified AMs were fibers of natural and synthetic origin. The natural AMs were cellulosic, the synthetic ones were polyester, polypropylene, polypropylene/polyester, and cellulose acetate. The presence of dyes in the natural AMs indicates their anthropogenic origin. Five industrial dyes were identified by Raman spectroscopy with Indigo occurring in most of them (55%). Our research not only adds further data to the ongoing knowledge of pollution levels in the Antarctic ecosystem, it provides an interesting snapshot of the past, highlighting that microplastics and anthropogenic fiber pollution had already entered the Antarctic marine food web at the end of the ‘90 s. These findings therefore establish the foundations for understand the changes in marine litter pollution over time.
presence and composition of anthropogenic microparticles (hereafter AMs) in the emerald rockcod were investigated, with the aim to evaluate if this kind of pollution already existed many decades ago.
ESCAPE-Sky brightness measurements obtained during the summer campaign 2019-2020
Calibrated (in unit of solar disk brightness) measurements of the sky brightness at DOME C as obtained by the ESCAPE experiment during the campaign 2019-2020
MIDAS: MIcrobial Diversity within the Vicinity of the Concordia Antarctic Station
The Concordia Research Station provides a unique location for preparatory activities for future human journey to Mars, to explore microbial diversity at subzero temperatures and monitor the dissemination of human-associated microorganisms within the pristine surrounding environment. The present study was performed in the frame of the BacFinder project (European Space Agency, ESA AO-13-Concordia) with the aim to unravel the environmental- and human-associated microbial diversity in the surrounding of the Concordia Station. This is the first intensive and extensive surface snow sampling performed monthly over a two-year period at three distances (10, 500, and 1000 m) from the Concordia Station, and investigated by a high-throughput sequencing approach. Emphasis was laid on the relation between microbial presence and both seasonality and distance from the Base. Data suggested that if present the anthropogenic impact was below the detection limit of the employed DNA sequencing-based techniques. On the other hand, our study corroborated the use of DNA sequencing for revealing microbial presence in remote and hostile environments, with implications for Planetary Protections and for life-detection in astrobiology relevant targets.
Marine trophic networks in Terra Nova Bay during different ice extent: stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes for determination of trophic interactions affecting biodiversity and heavy metal bioconcentration.
Trophic interactions underlie coexistence mechanisms between species and affect biodiversity and heavy metal bioaccumulation processes. Sea ice dynamics, which at Terra Nova Bay is characterized by an extraordinary seasonality, drives interspecific interactions. Indeed, the activation of the primary production after sea-ice break up opens alternative trophic pathways for consumers. By means of C and N stable isotope analyses, the present project aims at (i) determining food web structure at Terra Nova Bay at different bathymetries and in opposite sea-ice cover conditions; (ii) evaluating heavy metal bioaccumulation in species along food chains, including fish of commercial interests, both in the presence and absence of photosynthetic primary producers. The hypothesis to be tested is if the activation of primary producers following sea-ice break up significantly modifies the food web structure and stability against species loss, as well as heavy metals concentration along food chains. Data on Antarctic food webs are scarce, and even scarcer is our knowledge on mechanisms of primary and secondary biodiversity loss and biomagnification processes in invertebrates and fish. The present research project will shed light on mechanisms underlying biodiversity maintenance in the Antarctic ecosystem and on risks for human health related to heavy metals accumulation in fish species currently or potentially exploited commercially, also in light of expected changes in the extension of sea ice cover. A valuable reference baseline will be established for future studies at the Italian Antarctic Station and for the Marine Protected Area in the Ross Sea.
This dataset contain Isotopic data (Carbon δ13C, and Nitrogen δ15N) and elemental concentrations (C and N) of macroinvertebrates, benthic/sympagic algae and penguin guano samples.
Seismic reflection profiles from the Drygalski Basin
Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica), characterized by a moltitude of ice tongues flowing from land to sea, represents an ideal study site for understanding the complex interaction between relative sea level variations and ice sheet dynamics during the Holocene. The DISGELI project, thanks to the combination of innovative technology and traditional methods for geomorphologic and stratigraphic analysis, aims to: i) reconstruct the local variations of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet after the Last Glacial Maximum; ii) provide a time constrain for the deglaciation processes along the coast; iii) reconstruct, with unprecedent detail, the relative sea level variations during Holocene in the Drygalski basin. The morpho-bathymetric and topographic data obtained through this study will be integrated using digital terrain models based on the analyses of key areas onland, where palaeo-coastlines and sea-level markers have been identified.
Metatranscriptome of the Antarctic plant Colobanthus quitensis
De novo transcriptome analysis of Colobanthus quitensis Antarctic vascular plant grown under condition miming the global warm-up.
Colobanthus quitensis, Metatranscriptome, Global warming, Annotation, Assembly
Monitoring DISsostichus mawsoni in sea-ice COVERed areas of the Ross Sea Region MPA bY low-impact technologies
The efficacy and reliability of low-impact technologies were tested to document the occurrence and distribution of Antarctic toothfish in sea-ice covered coastal areas at Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea). Ancillary information, including main water column parameters (temperature, salinity, density, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, and turbidity), was collected at each sampling station.
Baited Remote Underwater Videocamera (BRUV)
BRUVs, hydrophone, CDT and currentometer were deployed from holes drilled in the land-fast ice. The BRUV system was positioned in close vicinity of the sea bottom where it recorded for up to three hours.
INAF - Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica
CoNISMa - Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare
CNR - Consiglio nazionale delle ricerche
INAF-Astrophysical Observatory Of Torino