Integrated Ocean Drilling Program

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: IODP Juan de Fuca Flank Hydrogeology II, South Pacific Gyre Microbiology, Louisville Seamount Geodynamics, and NanTroSEIZE Plate Boundary Deep Riser 1 Expeditions 

NanTroSEIZE Plate Boundary Deep Riser 1 (June - July 2010): The expedition (NanTroSEIZE Plate Boundary Deep Riser 1) intends to lengthen the borehole at site C0002 to approximately 3000 mbsf and set casing. The ultimate goal for this site is to cross the plate boundary megathrust fault at 7,000 mbsf and deploy a long-term observatory. NanTroSEIZE Plate Boundary Deep Riser 1 will sample the interior of the inner accretionary prism in the midslope region. Planned operations include: continuous logging while drilling (LWD), continuous cuttings sampling, wireline logging, downhole measurements, and limited intervals of coring. Sedimentologists, physical property specialists, geochemists, micropaleontologists, logging scientists, and structural geologists are encouraged to apply. Note: The expedition schedule and planned operations are subject to change based on final budget and operational time decisions as well as sea conditions at the proposed drilling sites. Contingency plans may include monitoring sensor installation in Site C0010 (splay fault site) and in the upper 1000 m at C0002, as well as coring of shallow sediments at other NanTroSEIZE transect sites.

The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program is currently accepting applications for scientific participants on three drilling expeditions of the JOIDES Resolution in the Northeast and Southwest Pacific Oceans: Juan de Fuca Hydrogeology, South Pacific Gyre Microbiology, and Louisville Seamount Expeditions.

Deadline for NanTroSEIZE Applications Extended until 12 February 2010

Juan de Fuca Flank Hydrogeology II Expedition (July - September 2010): Based on IODP Proposal 545-Full3, this expedition is designed to evaluate the formation-scale hydrogeologic properties within oceanic crust, determine how fluid pathways are distributed within an active hydrothermal system, and elucidate relations between fluid circulation, alteration, microbiology, and seismic properties.

This expedition will install subseafloor observatories in two new holes into oceanic crust (at Site SR-2), and replace an observatory in an existing hole (Site 1027) to facilitate long-term monitoring (pressure, temperature, geochemistry, microbiology) and to conduct cross-hole hydrologic experiments using a complete network of six observatory systems.

The expedition will be dominated by subseafloor observatory installation operations. Science activities during this full-length expedition will be consist of ~200 m of basement coring at Sites SR-2 and 1027, limited downhole logging, and drill string hydrologic testing.  A full complement of scientists is not required to achieve the science objectives and we anticipate opportunities for participation by engineers, educators, and/or science communicators.

South Pacific Gyre Microbiology Expedition (October-December 2010): Based on IODP Proposal 662-Full3, this expedition is intended to define the physical and chemical limits of subseafloor microbial life in tectonic and oceanographic settings not yet explored. Science objectives include (1) documenting habitats, activities, composition and biomass of microbial communities in subseafloor sediment with very low total activity and very low biomass, (2) determining oceanographic controls on sedimentary habitats, activities and communities from gyre center to margin, (3) constraining the extent that the subseafloor communities are nourished by hydrogen produced in situ by water radiolysis, and (4) determining how basement habitats, potential activities and communities vary with crustal age and hydrologic regime and evolve over 100 m.y. in a region of fast seafloor spreading and very low sedimentation rate. Coring will target sediment and oceanic crust.

Louisville Seamount Chain Expedition (Dec 2010-Feb 2011): Based on IODP Proposal 636-Full3, this expedition is designed to examine the possible mantle plume motion, eruptive style and geochemical evolution of the Louisville hotspot. Science objectives include (1) determining whether the Hawaiian and Louisville mantle plumes have moved in concert or independently, and (2) constraining the magmatic evolution of the Louisville seamount trail and possible plume-lithosphere interactions.

The proposals for each of the planned drilling programs and the current expedition schedule are available at http://iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/. The timing of the expeditions may change depending on the scheduling of non-IODP work for the drill ship, JOIDES Resolution.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15 January 2010

Scientists interested in participating must apply to the appropriate IODP Program Member Office (http://www.iodp.org/program-member-offices) by 15 January 2010.

Applications of nominated scientists will be forwarded from the IODP Program Member Offices to the United States Implementing Organization (USIO), which is responsible for staffing these expeditions. The USIO will work closely with the co-chief scientists and Program Member Offices to maximize the scientific output while balancing IODP member staffing quotas.