JOIDES Resolution Sails Again!

JOIDES Resolution sailing out Singapore shipyard. Photo Credit: <i>Ocean Leadership</i>
JOIDES Resolution sailing out Singapore shipyard. Photo Credit: Ocean Leadership

The JOIDES Resolution, once workhorse of the deep sea scientific drilling research community, is currently at sea trials following a major overhaul. NSF has a press release, here is a snippet:

“This is a long-awaited day for the world of ocean research,” said Robert Gagosian, president and CEO of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership. “The JOIDES Resolution is operational again for IODP [International Ocean Drilling Program] expeditions at an extremely important time, when our need for scientific understanding of our ocean planet–and climate and energy challenges–is at its greatest. The research pursuits of thousands of scientists around the globe will be enhanced in a major way by the future work of the JR.”

Steven Bohlen, interim director of science services at IODP’s U.S. Implementing Organization–Texas A&M University, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University and the Consortium for Ocean Leadership–said that “from close ties with the community of scientists involved with IODP’s work, it’s a huge thrill for all of us to have this important vessel back in action.”

Expeditions onboard the JR help improve scientific understanding of the causes of natural hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis; Earth’s changing climate conditions over the past 100 million years; methane hydrates–“frozen” deposits of methane gas that may be a major factor in climate change; and future rising sea levels, by examining the evidence of past sea level rise and climate change in seafloor sediments.

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