A new discovery expands our knowledge of the Aeolian archipelago's underwater hydrothermal system and opens up new perspectives for research, volcanic monitoring, and the study of deep-sea ecosystems.
A large underwater crater, with dimensions of approximately 100 × 60 meters, and new hydrothermal vents were discovered on the ocean floor about a mile from the island of Panarea, at a depth between 60 and 80 meters.
The discovery is the result of a study coordinated by theIstituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) in collaboration with the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station (SZN), in particular the Sicily Marine Centre and Calabria Marine Centre - (CRIMAC).
“The discovery of this new area characterized by intense activity northeast of the island of Panarea suggests the need to reconsider the extent of the submarine hydrothermal system known to date. This result raises new challenges in the study of dynamics and the energy of the system and, more generally, of the state of activity of the Panarea volcanic complex and its impact on the surrounding ecosystem, opening new perspectives for volcanic research and monitoring activities useful for updating hazard scenarios”, researchers say Antonino Torre, Agostino Semprebello, together with Alexander Gattuso, research coordinator and head of the INGV operational headquarters in Milazzo.
The study started from the analysis of the data acquired within the IDMAR project (Multidisciplinary Infrastructure Distributed on the SEA) funded by the OP FESR 2014-2020, concerning the characteristics of the seabed located approximately 1,5 km northeast of Panarea. The Multibeam surveys, acquired by the research group in underwater hydrothermal areas of the INGV of Palermo coordinated by Manfredi Longo, have allowed us to identify, using geographic information systems (GIS), complex morphologies at various depths. Subsequent detailed analyses have allowed us to interpret these structures as potential routes for the ascent of hydrothermal fluids from the seabed, never previously documented.
To verify the presence of the identified structures and evaluate their state of activity, a direct investigation was conducted in July 2026 using a ROV (Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle), an underwater robot guided by wires from the surface.
The ROV, made available by the University of Padua and piloted by Marco Munari (SZN), returned images and videos that confirmed an intense degassing activity inside the large crater, with emissions spread both along the walls and in the deepest sector.
In the area of the fireplaces, further evidence has been documented. recent hydrothermal activity e a high rate of gas emission from the seabedThe identified structures present morphological characteristics similar to those of the hydrothermal vents in the area known as Smoking Land, discovered in 2015 just south of the islet of Basiluzzo.
Although the survey was primarily aimed at characterizing hydrothermal emissions and did not include a systematic census of the biological component, the images acquired by the ROV also provided the first observations of the present habitats.
In the area of the chimneys, characterised by less hydrothermal activity, the seabed hosts a rich benthic community (organisms present in the seabed area) dominated by green macroalgae of the family Udoteaceae and from numerous colonies of gorgonian Eunicella singularis, in accordance with what has already been observed in the nearby Smoking Land.
Inside the large crater, however, where the degassing is much more intense, the floor is mainly covered by extensive bacterial mats associated with hydrothermal vents, while macroalgae and sessile organisms (i.e. organisms anchored to the seabed) are almost completely absent.
These initial findings suggest that the hydrothermal activity gradient can significantly influence the distribution of biological communities and indicate the interest of future campaigns dedicated to the ecological study of these environments.
From a geological-structural point of view, the new area is located along the tectonic direction oriented northeast/southwest, already known in scientific literature, which connects the island of Panarea to the islet of Basiluzzo. The morphological scarps identified and confirmed during the underwater survey indicate that this tectonic structure constitutes a preferential route for the hydrothermal circulation and the rise of gases and fluids of deep origin.
Antonio Paonita, Director of the Palermo Section of the INGV (INGV - PA), underlines: “The evidence obtained is the fruit of a long tradition of research which sees the Palermo Section has been involved for more than twenty years in the study of underwater volcanic and hydrothermal systems, with particular reference to the Aeolian Islands, where he developed innovative science and technologies for monitoring and modeling deep processes”.
Teresa Romeo, Director of the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station Sicily-Calabria, concludes: “The discovery of this area opens up new scenarios that could give us information on the biodiversity of these complex ecosystems. which, given their size, represent natural laboratories for studying climate change and the adaptations of organisms. The synergy between volcanological, biological, and ecological expertise allows for a complete interpretation of the system's energetic complexity. Starting from this discovery, this can be further explored through research and monitoring campaigns for a better risk assessment, as well as through specific simulations of extreme conditions..
Link to the drive with HR videos and images
Links
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
INGV Palermo Section (INGV - PA)
Calabria Marine Center (CRIMAC)
University of the Algarve – Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
IDMAR Project – Multidisciplinary Infrastructure Distributed on the SEA
Figure 1 – Framing map.
Figure 2 – Emissions from the crater.
Figure 2b – Hydrothermal emissions from the crater floor.
Figure 2c – Emissions: crater floor and walls.
Figure 3a – Chimneys and emissions.
Figure 3b – Particular hydrothermal chimney.