The IODP (International Ocean Discovery Program) Scientific Expedition 360, “Southwest Indian Ridge Lower Crust and Moho” will begin on December 1, with the JOIDES Resolution.
This expedition aims to drill through the Atlantis Bank gabbroic massif to elucidate the nature of lower crust and Moho at slow spreading ridges. A total of 29 scientists including four from Japan and those from the U.S., Europe, China, South Korea, Australia and Brazil will go on board.
The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) is a multinational cooperative project started in October 2013. A total of 26 nations are currently participating: Japan, the U.S., 18 European countries, China, South Korea, Australia, India, New Zealand and Brazil.
The scientific drilling vessel D/V Chikyu operated by Japan and the JOIDES Resolution by the U.S, and the option to charter mission-specific platforms by Europe are utilized for expeditions. It aims to shed light on global environmental changes, the earth’s mantle and crust dynamics and tectonics, and the biosphere beneath the seafloor.
The JOIDES Resolution is the U.S. drilling vessel operated for IODP. Compared to the deep-sea scientific drilling vessel Chikyu by JAMSTEC, it is used more often for drilling in shallow waters.