The Italian geodetic observatory in Antarctica

Abstract

The Italian geodetic observatory in Antarctica is operating continuously since 1998, in this year it was installed the permanent GPS station TNB1 near the Italian Antarctic station MZS (Mario Zucchelli Station). In the following years, the geodetic infrastructure has been expanded with the installation of about 30 benchmarks in the area of Northern Victoria Land, in order to study the crustal deformation. Later on, the VLNDEF (Victoria Land Network Deformation Control) geodetic network was created within an area between 71 ° S and 76 ° S and 160 ° E and 170 ° E. During the year 2006 a tide gauge immersion (model Aanderaa WLR7) was located at sea in the bay opposite to MZS, this instrument registered data for one year. During the 2009-2010 Antarctic campaign gravimetric relative measurements were made covering the majority of the points of the VLNDEF geodetic network, moreover absolute gravimetric measurements were performed at the Italian Antarctic base MZS. The integration of all the data collected by means of the previously described sensors of the geodetic observatory provide a powerful tool to give to the scientific community a complete view of the geodynamic situation of Northern Victoria Land.