IODP Expedition 381

From October 2017, a team of scientists, drillers and staff from the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling Science Operator (ECORD-ESO) will take part in International Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP) Expedition 381, to drill the Corinth Rift, Greece. The rift is a unique laboratory situated in one of highest seismically active areas in Europe. This project, lasting up to 56 days, will drill into the main rift, which with its closed drainage system and high sedimentation rates, makes it an ideal location to examine the relationship between rift development and faulting, and how the landscape responds to those forcing factors. To do this the team will use a specialised geotechnical vessel, the DV Fugro Synergy. After the offshore phase, cored material will be taken to the IODP Bremen Core Repository (for an onshore sampling phase in January and February 2018) and split to reveal it’s secrets.

The scientific team will core in three different locations, up to a depth of 750m below the seabed, with the aim to address questions on four main themes:

Structural Evolution – how does the rift actually evolve and grow and over what timescale? How does the activity on faults change with time?

Surface Processes – how does the development of the rift and movement on the faults modify the drainage of sediments into the rift? How does the landscape respond to tectonic and climatic changes?

Natural Hazards – as one of the most seismically active areas in Europe, what are the implications for earthquake activity in a developing rift?

Paleoclimate Reconstruction – what was the climate like in the Eastern Mediterranean in the past? Can we reconstruct high-resolution records for past environments and climates from the sediments deposited within the rift?

During the Expedition we’ll use this page to communicate about the Expedition, both onshore and offshore, with input from the diverse range of people involved. Expect anything from how to drill a hole to what its like to live offshore for a long time……..

For more information: http://www.ecord.org/expedition381/6

Visual core description

February 26, 2018 by esoexp381corinthactiveriftdevelopment

We have now reached the last meters of the core of the last drilling site M0080A. After almost four weeks after of core description, we still have some good surprises regarding the facies, structures and sedimentary processes recorded in these beautiful cores. There are ten scientists involved in the VCD-team, which is split in two … Continue reading Visual core description

How do you measure a core?

February 24, 2018 by esoexp381corinthactiveriftdevelopment

Measurements on cores take many different guises and require many different experts. Here are just some of the standard things we look at: We (Erwan, Abah, Giorgios, Mohammad, Mai Linh, Malka Leah, Emilio, Marco, Johanna, Leah, Natalia, Vera, Malgorzata, Nataliya, Laurence and Liane) look at the physical properties of a core (see also Leah’s blog … Continue reading How do you measure a core?

Culture studies

February 21, 2018 by esoexp381corinthactiveriftdevelopment

Being part of an international expedition is not only about the science, it also gives scientists the opportunity to experience other cultures. At the OSP for Expedition 381 not only did we celebrate a Greek national holiday, but also Valentines and Chinese New Year. Since the OSP is located in Bremen, Germany, the participants of … Continue reading Culture studies

How do you split a core?

February 19, 2018February 19, 2018 by esoexp381corinthactiveriftdevelopment

When the cores are collected offshore, they come up in clear plastic liners which are then divided into a maximum length of 1.5 meters. Those liners are sealed and labelled and then put into a cold dark container. On Mission Specific Platform expeditions the cores are split onshore. They are returned to the IODP Bremen … Continue reading How do you split a core?

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