PNRR MER - Mapping of Seamounts in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea
Geophysical prospecting and sampling of small portions of sediment are underway for the mapping and topographic reconstruction of the underwater mountains, the subject of the PNRR-MER project. The surveys are preparatory to identifying areas where ROV dives can be carried out, to characterize the fauna present at great depths.
The oceanographic campaign is dedicated to the large-scale mapping of 79 underwater mountains located beyond 12 miles from the Italian coast at a depth of between 150 and 2000 meters. On board, the ISPRA team is studying sites that have mostly never been explored or studied before, collecting crucial data for the conservation of biodiversity and the assessment of geological risks.