==================================== CHIKYU MAIL NEWS Vol. 100, April 23rd 2008 This mail news service provides you with information about the Deep Sea Drilling Vessel "Chikyu" and science and technology for the IODP Earth exploration. CHIKYU HAKKEN WEB SITE http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/ ==================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------- [Update] IODP NanTroSEIZE Stage 1B Expedition Plan A message from Dr. Shin'ichi Kuramoto, CDEX IODP Expedition Manager ------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello everybody! Thank you very much for your interests on NanTroSEIZE project of IODP. As the 1st series of NanTroSEIZE three expeditions by the Deep Sea Drilling Vessel CHIKYU were just completed last February, the NanTroSEIZE Project Management Team and CDEX are planning about next drilling expeditions under the endorsement of Science Planning Committee. The next series of expeditions are named as Stage 1B, because it plans for remaining Stage 1 riserless drilling originally planned. Expedition 318 "NanTroSEIZE Stage 1B Subduction Inputs" will launch in this year, to investigate input materials in the Nankai accretionary margin off Kumanonada using direct sampling, in-situ measurement, and wire-line logging. The primary goal of this expedition is to characterize the input materials, architecture, and state of sediments entering into the subduction system. It also plans to core near site C0004, penetrating through a shallow splay fault for the future installation of a long-term borehole observatory. The expedition plan has one site (NT1-07) at the input site and the other on the slope of the accretionary prism (near C0004). Several other sites have been designated as contingency coring sites (i.e. NT1-01, C0002 (NT3-01), C0005B (NT2-01G), and NT2-05). Basic analyses will be performed aboard Chikyu studying the properties of the accreted materials' initial condition. These data can be analyzed and compared with previously drilled/cored, collected data from Expeditions 314, 315 and 316. This expedition encourages participating as a science party member who has any interests on sediments, basement rocks, fluids and micro organisms being input to the Nankai subduction zone and plate boundary fault system, and shallow splay fault system near C0004 site. Accordingly, a second operation, Expedition 319 "NanTroSEIZE Stage 1B Riserless Observatory Engineering" will be implemented approximately one month long, will conduct engineering operations to install casing with wellheads at two riserless sites planned for future observatories near C0004 (NT2-01I) and C0002 (NT3-01). No coring and downhole measurements are expected during this expedition. One or two onboard scientists are needed as science representative. Future sensor installations are tentatively planned in or after 2010. Our exploration continues more and more to the seismogenesis zone where nobody reached yet. We really appreciated your sustainable interests and supports. Visit following web page for further NanTroSEIZE updates; http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/Expedition/NantroSEIZE/index.html ------------------------------------------------------------------- [JAMSTEC Press Release] Completion of Drydocking Survey and Current Schedule of The Deep-sea Drilling Vessel CHIKYU http://www.jamstec.go.jp/e/about/press_release/20080422/index.html The press release was anounced from JAMSTEC on April 22, 2008 about completion of drydocking survey and current schedule of the CHIKYU. Some damages on azimuth thruster are found but we do not anticipate any change of IODP FY2009 expedition schedule. ------------------------------------------------------------------- A gift of IODP/Chikyu Mug to 10 subscribers ------------------------------------------------------------------- To express our thanks for your subscribing the Chikyu mail news, we are offering a free mug cup as a token of the 100th issue, to 10 subscribers, to be selected by lottery. Please submit an e-mail to cdex@jamstec.go.jp with your postal address, zip code, name and your registered email address of this mail news. Please fill in the mail subject as "100th Chikyu mail news". Close of application is 2008 April 27th (JST). ------------------------------------------------------------- To subscribe the Chikyu mail news, http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/mailnews/ ------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: * Winners will receive the prize without prior announcement. * Your prize might be nullified when you submit incomplete or insufficient information. * The employees of JAMSTEC are not able to apply. * Your privacy information will be treated safely and properly, and CDEX comply with the JAMSTEC Policy on the Protection of Personal Information. ------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTICE -- Be careful about Spam mail ------------------------------------------------------------------- Several spam mails which pretended to be cdex@jamstec.go.jp as a sender are found recently. These are not related to CDEX and Chikyu Mail News. Please do not open suspect Email, display embedded image or click web address. ======================================== CHIKYU MAIL NEWS To subscribe or unsubscribe, http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/mailnews/ CHIKYU HAKKEN web site introduces you to every aspect of the Deep Sea Drilling Vessel "Chikyu" and science and technology for the IODP Earth exploration. http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/ The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) is an international marine research drilling program dedicated to advancing scientific understanding of the Earth by monitoring and sampling sub seafloor environments. IODP drilling operations aboard the Chikyu are managed by JAMSTEC through CDEX, Japan Implementing Organization. http://www.iodp.org "CHIKYU HAKKEN" means Discover the Earth in Japanese. =========================================