During the XLI expedition (November-December 2025), the following activities were performed:

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Activities on Mount Melbourne

During the last Antarctic field campaign, extensive activities were carried out on Mount Melbourne, focusing on the maintenance, testing, and upgrading of the permanent multiparametric monitoring network and on geological–geodetic surveys.

Field operations started on 13 November 2024. With the support of alpine guides, the main ice caves were equipped to allow safe access also for less experienced personnel. Maintenance and data download were performed on the geochemical station (MG2) installed inside the Aurora ice cave, as well as on autonomous air and soil temperature sensors. The permanent seismic stations at Aurora (SMC1), MC3, and MC4 were serviced, with data successfully retrieved and, where possible, transmitted in real time to the servers at Mario Zucchelli Station (MZS).

Several experimental instruments were tested inside the Aurora ice cave, including a prototype bidirectional anemometer and a prototype accumulation chamber for measuring CO₂ soil fluxes. Gas sampling from the soil was carried out in the main fumarolic ice caves (Aurora and MC3; partially at MC4), providing valuable information on volcanic degassing.

The power supply systems were also maintained, including the solar panel installation at Aurora and the hybrid solar–wind system at MC4, restoring full functionality and parallel operation of the panels. In addition, the radio repeater located above the Aurora cave was serviced and upgraded with a datalogger.

Geomatics activities included partial geodetic surveys on the benchmarks of the Mount Melbourne local and regional networks, as well as preparatory work for GNSS installations. Drone-based photogrammetric surveys of the caldera and laser scanner surveys inside the Aurora cave were planned but could not be fully completed during this campaign and will be finalized in future expeditions.

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Activities on Mount Rittmann

Activities on Mount Rittmann were more limited due to technical and safety constraints but still provided important operational results.

Data transmission tests were successfully performed between the Rittmann seismic station and a radio repeater installed on Mount Melbourne, demonstrating the feasibility of long-range telemetry using high-gain Yagi antennas. However, the planned maintenance of the sismo-acoustic station could not be completed due to a major failure of the seismometer, which was therefore removed and returned to Italy for repair.

Access to the R5 fumarolic ice cave for gas and sediment sampling was not possible because of the unavailability of self-contained breathing apparatus required for safe progression in the cave environment. These activities are postponed to a future campaign.

Despite these limitations, the site was confirmed as suitable for continued monitoring, and once the seismic instrumentation is restored, new transmission tests toward MZS will be carried out.

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Main Results of the Expedition

• Gas sampling was performed in the main fumarolic ice caves on Mount Melbourne (Aurora, MC3, partially MC4); no sampling was possible at Mount Rittmann.

• Maintenance and data download were completed for the seismic and geochemical stations at Aurora, and partially for MC3 and MC4.

• Solar and hybrid solar–wind power systems at Aurora and MC4 were serviced and restored to full operation.

• Autonomous temperature sensors and the MG2 geochemical station at Aurora were successfully serviced and data retrieved.

• Experimental prototypes (bidirectional anemometer and CO₂ accumulation chamber) were tested inside the Aurora ice cave.

• Radio data transmission between Mount Rittmann and Mount Melbourne was successfully tested.

• Geodetic surveys on the Mount Melbourne benchmark networks were partially completed.

Overall, most of the planned activities were successfully completed during the campaign, significantly strengthening the I-Volcan Observatory infrastructure and providing a solid basis for future monitoring and research activities in Antarctica.

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Figure 1. Laser scanner measurements at Aurora ice-cave on Mt. Melbourne.

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Figure 2. Charging system for powering the seismic station at the Aurora ice cave (left) and the radio repeater for seismic and geochemical data transmission on Mount Melbourne (right).

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Figure 3. Maintenance of the seismic station at MC4 ice-cave on Mt. Melbourne.

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