Fig. 3 and 4 show the pattern of the MCS, SBP and Magnetic lines that were run in the Ionian Sea and around the Aeolian Islands.
The data were processed onboard, obtaining the time-migration of all the sections.
Seismic profiles acquired along the slope of eastern Sicily are of pretty good quality and show a number of features of interest. Extensional faults, often cutting the sea floor, have been well imaged, particularly on the E-W-trending profiles. Some of these faults are linked to the slope of the Malta Escarpment, whereas others are located further to the east. Half grabens filled by sediments with growth strata geometries are typically associated to the faults. At a preliminary inspection of seismic profiles these extensional faults seem to be located mainly in the northern side of the survey. It is not clear yet if they die out south-ward or are transferred to the east of the grid of profiles. As a side aspect which has relevance to the regional geology of the area, the extent of the Calabrian Arc accretionary wedge and the way it interferes with the Malta Escarpment have also been rather well imaged. The Malta Escarpment itself appears quite clearly on seismic profiles, and often reflections that are in continuity with the escarpment can be followed eastwards for 20- 30 km, under a sedimentary pile of variable thickness. In the southern part of the survey, where water depth was deeper, the quality of seismic images was a little degraded, with reduced penetration. Besides the greater water depth this degrading of the image is related to the nature of the geological units encountered; in fact, the sedimentary cover of the Calabrian Arc accretionary wedge is greatly reduced, leaving a tectonised unit close to or at the sea floor.
Seismic profiles acquired around the Aeolian Islands are not as good as those of the first survey, quality wise. The shallowness of water, steep slopes and abundance of volcanic rocks contribute to lower the quality of seismic data. However, some interesting features have been imaged along the volcanic ridge, particularly south of Vulcano, where steep faults cutting the substrate of the sedimentary cover has been detected. The side slopes of volcanic edifices have also been well imaged.