SWATH BATHYMETRY AND GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY OF THE TYRRHENIAN SEA REPORT ON BATHYMETRIC, MAGNETIC AND GRAVIMETRIC INVESTIGATIONS DURING CRUISES TIR96 AND TIR99

A summary of the ship-board results of two swath bathymetry and geophysical surveys in the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas is presented. The research cruises were done within the framework of the National Research Council and "Dip.Servizi Tecnici Naz. - Pres.Consiglio" funded project "Lithosphere Formation in mid-oceanic ridges and back- arc basins : Geological Studies in the Equatorial Atlantic and Tyrrhenian Sea". Apart from the detailed makeup of the Tyrrhenian seamounts and surrounding margins, with important implications that concern the rifting and opening of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the surveys have substantially increased our understanding of the basin-wide sedimentary dynamics through the combined use of the bathymetric and sonar data. The same combination,in addition to the magnetic data has also allowed the recognition of several new areas of recent submarine volcanic activity.