Connections Among Life, geo-Dynamics and Eruptions in a Rifting Arc caldera (CALDERA) Workshop - call for participation

Caldera volcanoes produce Earth’s largest explosive eruptions, generate seismicity both independent and associated with unrest and eruptive periods, host mineral and geothermal resources that interact with groundwater, and support a largely unexplored biosphere. Many silicic calderas are hosted in an active rift. Volcanic, tectonic, hydrologic and biologic processes in calderas are intimately connected, yet poorly understood, and require subsurface observations.

The project “Connections Among Life, geo-Dynamics and Eruptions in a Rifting Arc caldera (CALDERA)” aims to obtain drill cores, downhole measurements and monitoring data from the Okataina Volcanic Centre (OVC), one of two giant active calderas in the Taupō Volcanic Zone, Aotearoa New Zealand. Members of the international scientific community are invited to attend a scientific drilling workshop in Tauranga, New Zealand, on January 24-27th 2023 in preparation for a future Full ICDP Drilling Proposal.

The CALDERA workshop call is online on the ICDP website here. Application deadline is 17th August to caldera.drill(at)gns.cri.nz.
The Workshop will directly precede the IAVCEI Scientific Assembly at nearby Rotorua.

ANZIC Call for new representatives on the ANZIC 2021 Science Committee!

ANZIC is seeking four new representatives to serve on the 2021 ANZIC Science Committee.
The role is extremely rewarding and a significant boost to broadening your knowledge, skills and national network across IODP. ANZIC are looking for representatives that are willing to embrace the collaborative, collegiate and constructive ethos of the review process.

The roles of the Science Committee are:
Scientific Oversight

• Setting the criteria for ANZIC IODP Expeditioner selection reflecting IODP policy and guidelines.
• Assess and rank applicants for Expeditioner status and support by ANZIC.
• Set the criteria for ANZIC post-expedition and legacy project support, reflecting IODP policy and guidelines.
• Assess and rank applications for ANZIC post-expedition and legacy project support for advice, reflecting appropriate support of post-expedition and legacy grants.
• Set criteria, assess and rank applicants for other calls for scientific funding support (e.g. workshops) supported by ANZIC.
• Execute effective scientific governance of ANZIC.

The Science Committee will also set scientific criteria for assessing and ranking any other matters that the ANZIC Program Scientist or the ANZIC Governing Council delegates to the Science Committee.

The structure of the committee reflects the science undertaken by IODP. With the recent release of the new 2050 Strategic Framework and membership rotation, the structure of the ANZIC Science committee will evolve to bring on wider expertise to reflect the new Strategic Objectives, Flagship Initiatives and Enabling Elements in the Framework. ANZIC is therefore seeking four new representatives on the Science Committee starting from October 2021.

ANZIC are looking to promote diversity within the Science Committee, therefore applications by women and minority groups, ECR, MCR and Established researchers are welcome to apply for these roles. Applications are open to all ANZIC members (University and Research Organisations).

Assessment and selection:
Members of the Science Committee encompass expertise across IODP Research Themes.

• Application for Committee membership is via an EOI and two-page CV is to be submitted to the ANZIC Program Director and Chair of the Science Committee. Assessment is undertaken by the Science Committee, and assessment criteria include motivation, experience, Research Theme expertise, diversity, and institutional balance and commitments.
• Committee membership means an invited member acknowledges and abides by their institutional Code of Conduct and Professional ethics guidelines, policies, and procedures, or equivalents, and the IODP Code of Conduct and Anti-Harassment Policy in all matters related to serving as a Committee member.

EOI Application
Scientists interested in volunteering for these opportunities should send a cover letter, and a two-page CV to iodp.administrator(at)anu.edu.au by August 16th 2021. (details below)

Cover letters should clearly indicate your primary field of expertise, briefly describe any previous committee experience, describe your interest in the scientific ocean drilling programs (now and in the future), and clearly identifying your alignment to with direct reference to: Strategic Objectives (primary and secondary alignment), Flagship Initiatives (Primary Alignment) and Enabling Elements (Primary Alignment) outlined in the 2050 Strategic Framework.

2 page max. Curriculum Vitae should include:

• Academic/ Professional Qualifications
• Employment History
• Selected recent publications or relevant Government/Industry reports or outputs
• Recent Synergistic Activities (e.g. service, committee, reviewer)
• Relevant Field experience (last 5 years)

Selection Process
Applications will be administratively processed by the ANZIC Office and provided to the ANZIC Science Committee Chair who will convene a sub-committee to assess the applications. A short list will be provided to the ANZIC Program Director for consideration, and subsequent ANZIC Governing Council approval. This outcome is anticipated to be announced in September, 2021.

We strongly encourage NZ participation in the Science Committee. Please circulate this note to anyone else who may be interested in applying.
The new representatives will serve on the ANZIC Science Committee starting from October 2021
More information on the committee can be found here.

Apply to participate in JOIDES Resolution Expeditions 397 and 398

(Application deadline: 1 November 2021) 

Expedition 397: Iberian Margin Paleoclimate 
6 October to 6 December 2022

The Iberian Margin has rapidly accumulating sediment that contains a high-fidelity late Pleistocene record of millennial climate variability (MCV). Sir Nickolas Shackleton demonstrated that piston cores from this region can be correlated precisely to polar ice cores from both hemispheres. Moreover, the narrow continental shelf off Portugal results in the rapid delivery of terrestrial material to the deep-sea environment, thereby allowing correlation of marine and ice core records to European terrestrial sequences. Few places exist in the world where such detailed marine-ice-terrestrial linkages are possible. The continuity, high sedimentation rates, and fidelity of climate signals preserved in sediments make this region a prime target for ocean drilling. During IODP Expedition 339, Site U1385 was drilled and recovered a complete record of hemipelagic sedimentation for the last 1.43 Ma with a mean sedimentation rate of 11 cm/kyr. IODP Expedition 397 will extend this remarkable sediment archive through the Pliocene and recover a complete depth transect of five sites that will provide a complete suite of downhole records with which to study past variability in the major subsurface water masses of the North Atlantic.

Expedition 398: Hellenic Arc Volcanic Field
6 December 2022 to 5 February 2023

The Hellenic Arc Christiana-Santorini-Kolumbo (CSK) volcanic field, which includes Santorini caldera and its Late Bronze Age eruption, provides a unique opportunity to address how subduction-related volcanism impacts life. Better understanding of island-arc volcanism requires study of the processes that drive such volcanism, and how the volcanoes interact with the marine environment. What are the links between crustal tectonics, volcanic activity, and magma genesis? What are the dynamics and impacts of submarine explosive volcanism and caldera-forming eruptions? What are the reactions of marine ecosystems to volcanic eruptions? The rift basins around the CSK field, as well as Santorini caldera, contain volcano-sedimentary fills up to several hundreds of meters thick. We propose to drill six sites, four in the rifts basins and two in Santorini caldera. Deep drilling is essential to characterize and interpret the depositional packages visible on seismic images, to chemically correlate primary volcaniclastic layers in the rift fills with their source volcanoes, to fill in gaps in onland volcanic records, to provide a precise chronostratigraphic framework for rift tectonic and sedimentary histories, and to characterize the subsurface microbial life.

2050 Science Framework: Exploring Earth by Scientific Ocean Drilling

The new 2050 Science Framework: Exploring Earth by Scientific Ocean Drilling guides multidisciplinary subseafloor research into the interconnected processes that characterize the complex Earth system and shape our planet's future. The 2050 Science Framework has a 25-year outlook, inspiring state-of-the-art approaches for scientific ocean drilling far into the mid-21st century. Foundational Earth science research is described in seven Strategic Objectives and five Flagship Initiatives with Enabling Elements that encourage innovation and new discoveries. The Framework is supported by Enduring Principles that discuss access to data, the proposal process, planning and safety, diversity and inclusion, and international collaboration.

The full-length 124-page document guides scientists on the important research frontiers that scientific ocean drilling should pursue and often that only can be achieved through scientific ocean drilling. The framework focuses on the many ways in which scientific ocean drilling will increase our understanding of the fundamental connections among Earth system components while addressing a range of natural and human-caused environmental challenges facing society.

Understanding Antarctica’s role in a warmer world

Scientists from GNS Science, Victoria University of Wellington, Otago University and NIWA will combine cutting-edge science and innovative technology to critically improve future projections about Antarctica’s response to climate change.

A special issue of “Oceanography", the official magazine of the Oceanography Society

The March issue of Oceanography is a special issue focusing on scientific ocean drilling.

Hokkaido University Summer Program: HSI

Hokkaido Summer Institute (HSI) is a program that brings together world-leading researchers, and provides educational courses in cooperation wiht the Hokkaido University (HU) faculty members. In 2019, more than 160 researchers from all over the world will gather at HU. Interacting with people from different fields of study and ethnic backgrounds will bring you unexpected experiences.

Discovering the secret past of Antarctica 

The JOIDES Resolution, a scientific research ship, is journeying to the Ross Sea to discover more about the history of the ice sheets around Antarctica. 

Voyages of discovery

One of the world’s largest scientific research ships is in New Zealand waters for six expeditions to probe some of the 21st century’s biggest science questions. 

Mastering Marine Geoscience

Twenty students from universities around New Zealand and Australia took part in this year’s Marine Geoscience Masterclass. The programme, focused around the science led by the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), ran from 4^th to 8^th December. The event has been hosted by GNS Science, with contributions from NIWA and Victoria University of Wellington.

Explorers probe hidden continent of Zealandia

Rupert Sutherland talks about exploring Earth’s hidden continent.

Connect to the JOIDES Resolution via live Ship-to-shore link

There are outreach officers currently on board the JOIDES Resolution dying to tell school students and teachers more about life on board and the science behind drilling deep beneath the seafloor to unlock our geological history. 

VIDEO: Exploring Zealandia-Expedition 371 Tasman Sea Frontier

A brief explanation of Zealandia with interviews from Co Chiefs Rupert Sutherland, and Jerry Dickens. Take a look at the first core samples taken from Zealandia

VIDEO: The Adventure Begins: Expedition 371-Tasman Sea Frontier

The excitement grows as we leave port in Townsville Australia for the beginning of Expedition 371-Tasman Sea Frontier. 

Plumbing the depths of Zealandia’s ocean

One of the world’s top scientific research ships will next week start a series of expeditions in the seas around New Zealand probing some of the 21st century’s big earth science questions.

Voyage to discovery: drilling to diagnose slow slip earthquakes

GNS and NIWA scientists are preparing to go on two voyages, joining the International Ocean Discovery Programme, onboard research ship Joides Resolution. Kathryn Ryan from RadioNZ speaks with NIWA principal scientist Phil Barnes and project leader at GNS Science Laura Wallace, who has recently held a series of hui with East Coasters about the project.

Five IODP Expeditions are scheduled for 2017-18 in NZ waters

Information on key objectives and co-chief scientists for the five IODP expeditions taking place in New Zealand waters during 2017-2018. 

JOIDES Resolution charts a course for NZ waters

The world’s largest geoscience programme has confirmed that the research ship JOIDES Resolution will undertake several projects exploring the seafloor off New Zealand’s coast.

Scientific ocean drilling charts a new course

The International Ocean Discovery Program plans drilling expeditions for 2016 and 2017 while increasing efficiencies in ship scheduling and operations.

Drilling off Gisborne to study silent quakes

An international proposal to use scientific ocean drilling to investigate ‘silent earthquakes’ under the seafloor east of Gisborne has been scheduled for 2018 by the International Ocean Discovery Program.

The long-term track of JOIDES Resolution

A recent letter from Anthony Koppers, Chair, U.S. Advisory Committee for Scientific Ocean Drilling, to the scientific community on the long-term track of JOIDES Resolution.

Japan tectonic study has implications for NZ

An investigation of the plate boundary fault off the east coast of Japan that caused the magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami in March 2011 has implications for New Zealand, according to Virginia Toy, an Otago University scientist who contributed to the study.

Drilling into the Alpine Fault - Radio NZ: Our Changing World interview with Rupert Sutherland

Rupert Sutherland gives a general overview of the Alpine Fault drilling project.