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For more than 40 years, results from scientific ocean drilling have contributed to global understanding of Earth’s biological, chemical, geological, and physical processes and feedback mechanisms. The majority of these internationally recognized results have been derived from scientific ocean drilling conducted through three programs—the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP; 1968-1983), the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP; 1984-2003), and the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP; 2003-2013)—that can be traced back to the first scientific ocean drilling venture, Project Mohole, in 1961. Figure 1.1 illustrates the distribution of drilling and sampling sites for each of the programs, and Appendix A presents tables of DSDP, ODP, and IODP legs and expeditions. Although each program has benefited from broad, international partnerships and research support, the United States has taken a leading role in providing financial continuity and administrative coordination over the decades that these programs have existed. Currently, the United States and Japan are the lead international partners of IODP, while a consortium of 16 European countries and Canada participates in IODP under the auspices of the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD). Other countries (including China, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and India) are also involved.
As IODP draws to a close in 2013, a new process for defining the scope of the next phase of scientific ocean drilling has begun. Illuminating Earth’s Past, Present, and Future: The International Ocean Discovery Program Science Plan for 2013-20231 (hereafter referred to as “the science plan”), which is focused on defining the scientific research goals of the next 10-year phase of scientific ocean drilling, was completed in June 2011 (IODP-MI, 2011). The science plan was based on a large, multidisciplinary international drilling community meeting held in September 2009.2 A draft of the plan was released in June 2010 to allow for additional comments from the broader geoscience community prior to its finalization. As part of the planning process for future scientific ocean drilling, the National Science Foundation (NSF) requested that the National Research Council (NRC) appoint an ad hoc committee (Appendix B) to review the scientific accomplishments of U.S.-supported scientific ocean drilling (DSDP, ODP, and IODP) and assess the science plan’s potential for stimulating future transformative scientific discoveries (see Box 1.1 for Statement of Task). According to NSF, “Transformative research involves ideas, discoveries, or tools that radically change our understanding of an important existing scientific or engineering concept or educational practice or leads to the creation of a new paradigm or field of science, engineering, or education. Such research challenges current understanding or provides pathways to new frontiers.”3 This report is the product of the committee deliberations on that review and assessment.
HISTORY OF U.S.-SUPPORTED SCIENTIFIC OCEAN DRILLING, 1968-2011
The first scientific ocean drilling, Project Mohole, was conceived by U.S. scientists in 1957. It culminated in drilling 183 m beneath the seafloor using the CUSS 1 drillship in 1961. During DSDP, Scripps Institution of Oceanography was responsible for drilling operations with the drillship Glomar Challenger. The Joint Oceanographic Institutions for Deep Earth Sampling (JOIDES), which initially consisted of four U.S. universities and research institutions, provided scientific advice. Among its numerous achievements, DSDP
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