As part of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) (* 1), the US Science Drilling vessel, JOIDES Resolution (* 2), will implement the “Guaymas Basin Tectonics and Biosphere” drilling expedition to begin on September 16th.
The Gulf of California, also known as a “UNESCO World Islands and Natural Reserves”, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has active seabed expansion and rapid deposition of organic rich sediments from surface seawater. In the Guaymas Basin (the basin is a concave “bowl” in the seafloor) located in the center of the Gulf of California, an energy-rich environment is formed by the action of accumulated organic matter derived from marine snow, etc., and the heat of uprising magma. It is thought to have a great influence on the exchange of heat and materials between the bottom of the sea, the surface of the sea floor, and seawater. The purpose of this research voyage is to elucidate the specific processes, interactions, and their effects on the global carbon cycle, by drilling, collecting, and analyzing geological samples (cores) from the Gulf of California Guaymas Basin (Figure 1).
A total of 32 researchers from Japan (three from Japan), the United States, Mexico, Europe, China, India, and South Korea will board this research voyage.
*1 International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP)
This international scientific research cooperative project started in October 2013. By drilling deep below the ocean floors using drilling vessels provided by Japan (MarE3 DV Chikyu), the United States (JOIDES Resolution), and Europe (Mission-Specific Platforms), IODP promotes research aimed at elucidating the internal structure and the biosphere within and below the Earth’s crust.
*2 JOIDES Resolution
The JOIDES Resolution Science Operator (JRSO) manages and operates the riserless drillship, JOIDES Resolution, for the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). The JRSO is based in the College of Geosciences of Texas A&M University.
JOIDES Resolution ©IODP
Table 1: Drill sites in this research expedition (in the order of drilling)
| Site and hole name |
Water Depth |
Depth of penetration |
Estimated working days |
| GUAYM-01B |
1,600m |
600m |
7.5 days |
| GUAYM-02B |
1,600m |
600m |
7.6 days |
| GUAYM-03B |
1,750m |
200m |
4.2 days |
| GUAYM-12A |
1,750m |
200m |
4 days |
| GUAYM-16A |
1,839m |
182m |
2.8 days |
| GUAYM-06B |
2,013m |
250m |
5 days |
| GUAYM-15A |
1,821m |
670m |
6.3 days |
| GUAYM-04B |
1,850m |
650m |
6.2 days |
| GUAYM-11A |
1,821m |
450m |
5 days |
| GUAYM-10B |
1,845m |
200m |
4.2 days |
(Drill sites may change depending on the expedition preparation status, meteorological conditions, and research progress.)
*Figure 1 is cited from the IODP website with partial modification.
IODP JRSO・Expeditions・Guaymas Basin Tectonics and Biospehere
http://iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/expeditions/guaymas_basin_tectonics_biosphere.html
http://iodp.tamu.edu/about/copyright.html
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