Press Releases
JAMSTEC
International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 361
~Southern African Climates & Agulhas Current Density Profile~
On January 31st 2016, International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP)*1 Expedition 361, “South African Climates (Agulhas LGM Density Profile)” will begin with the JOIDES Resolution*2. It will investigate climates reorganizations of the past 5 Ma in Southern Africa with interaction between climate and the Agulas Current during the Plio/Pleistocene. Six sites will be drilled in the southern Indian Ocean and Mozambique Channel.
A total of 30 scientists including three from Japan and those from the U.S., Europe, China, South Korea, and Australia, New Zealand and Brazil will participate in it.
*1 The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) is a multinational cooperative project started from 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.
*2 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.
Figure 1: Drill sites for this expedition
Drilling at the first site will begin eight days after leaving Port Louis, the U.S.
| Site Name | Water Depth | Penetration | Estimate Time on Site (Days) |
| MZC-01C | 2,157m | 300m | 8 |
| ZAM-05A | 416m | 207m | 3 |
| LIM-01B | 450m | 180m | 3 |
| NV-02C | 3,040m | 350m | 10 |
| APT-01B | 2,691m | 300m | 9 |
| CAPE-01C | 2,648m | 350m | 8 |