A scientific research vessel for seafloor

exploration and observation

JOIDES Resolutionoverhaul and enhancement

New to the core After major refurbishment, the JOIDES Resolution returns

The JOIDES RESOlutIOn is a dynamically positioned drillship

and a floating laboratory that can drill down more than 2,000 meters into the seafloor and in waters as deep as 7,000 meters.

On board the JOIDES Resolution, scientists from all over

the world will lead expeditions aimed at the deep biosphere

and the sub-seafloor ocean; environmental change, processes

and effects; and solid earth cycles and geodynamics. These are

the principal science themes for the Integrated Ocean Drilling

Program (IODP), the international endeavor for which the

new and improved JOIDES Resolution will primarily work.

Already a 20-year workhorse of scientific ocean drilling, the

JOIDES Resolution has been completely overhauled, resulting

in a new U.S. drilling vessel for IODP. Laboratory space has

been increased by 34% and is designed for greater efficiency

in handling cores. There are 16 additional berths and all

staterooms are double occupancy. Drilling capabilities

and ship stability have been enhanced.

United States Implementing OrganizationIntegrated Ocean Drilling Program

IODP•USIO

exploring and expanding humankind’s

understanding of planet earth requires

state-of-the-art research equipment.

WhO WILL USe this science facility? And for what?

In the ship’s microscopy, paleontology, downhole logging,

core description, and petrophysics laboratories, scientists

will work to better understand earth’s climate conditions

and sea level in the distant past.

In the ship’s chemistry, paleomagnetism, thin section

and X-ray laboratories, petrologists, volcanologists

and geophysicists will analyze material and data during

expeditions focused on improving our understanding

of plate tectonics, volcano formation, gas hydrates,

and earthquake mechanisms.

A floating laboratory now equipped for the 21st Century

increase in overall square footage for science facilities

27%increase in laboratory spaces, including offices and conference rooms

34%increase in science berths; all staterooms will be double occupancy

20%

Yet we rely upon the 10-inch drill of unique research vessels like the JoIdeS resolution to investigate the valuable information the seafloor holds.

of earth is seafloor

70%

DriLLinG

Dynamic positioning system, derrick and drill string. A highly trained crew and new specialized engineering equipment make it possible to target and core the seafloor.

91/2 meter sections of ocean sediment or rock are transferred from the drilling area to the laboratories for analysis by scientists and technicians.

cOre receiVinG anD PrOcessinG

Few research ships have a 22-foot hole in the center. The drill string drops through to the seafloor, and cores and downhole logging data return up through it en route to laboratories.

MOOnPOOL

WheTher cLUeS AbOUT our planet come from downhole

instruments the JOIDES Resolution sends deep below the

seafloor, or from rock and sediment samples the ship brings

to the surface, carrying out an expedition and extracting

research results requires specialized equipment and specially

trained staff on the vessel.

continuing work often extends for years while post-expedi-

tion research is carried out at shore institutions throughout

the world and results are published in international peer-

reviewed scientific publications.

The core work of the JOIDES Resolution in the deep sea

SCIENCE PARTYGeochemists, microbiologists, paleontologists, geophysicists, sedimentologists, petrologists

and educators

LAB TECHNICIANS Staff uniquely trained

to support laboratories and IT environments

CREW Captain, mates,

engineers, drillers, stewards and chefs

DOWnHOLe LOGGinG

After cores have been extracted, the borehole itself becomes a laboratory. Scientists lower instruments or install long-term observatories to study the surrounding environment.

Cores are sliced lengthwise, analyzed and sampled, and one half is stored in Integrated Ocean Drilling Program repositories for future research.

cUraTiOn anD sPeciaLTY researcH

Nearly 7,500 square feet of science space immediately spring to life as scientists conduct analyses, for example examining fossils in the freshly recovered cores to date the material.

PriMarY anaLYsis

JOIDES Resolution from the outside...

...new to the coreAfter 20 years of service, the JOIDES Resolution,

the pioneering scientific ocean drilling vessel that

has allowed scientists to retrieve samples of the

earth’s crust and sediments from deep beneath the

ocean, got an extreme makeover.

virtually all-new from bow to rig

2007 a busy year at the shipyard overhauling the JoIdeS resolution

JUne 3 Demolition completed for the new deckhouse for quarters and labs.

sePTeMBer 19

New steel decks and bulkheads being fitted for accommodations.

OcTOBer 13 Steel deck work nearing completion in preparation for the new deckhouse.

all of the labs and quarters are new

The ship’s dynamic positioning system is now integrated into the bridge. Technical Support, Science and Operations offices for IODP and a science planning area are now located on the Bridge Deck.

BriDGe DecK

From the receiving platform on this deck, the cores are taken through a series of scientific analyses. Downhole measurements, microscopy, paleontology, core description, petrophysics, stratigraphic cor-relation and paleomagnetism labs are on the Core Deck.

cOre DecK

The Fo’c’s’le Deck now includes the following facilities: chemistry, microbiology, sample preparation, thin-section and X-ray laborato-ries; imaging office, publications office, videoconference enabled conference room for entire science party; and hospital.

FO’c’s’Le DecK

The Main Deck is where the galley, mess hall, food storage areas, laundry room, card room and the crew changing room are located.

Main

The Forward ‘Tween Deck houses the ship’s recreation areas. It features a lounge for social gatherings, computers for casual internet use, coffee and snack bar, public telephone, movie room with new enter-tainment systems and an air-conditioned gym.

FOrWarD ‘TWeen

DrILLIng Off The cOAST of Antarctica in an ocean basin known

as the Palmer Deep has given scientists a glimpse of the pace

of rapid climate and oceanographic change in the Southern

Ocean. rapid warming in the Antarctic Peninsula region today

has resulted in collapse of ice shelves and changes in the region’s

ecosystem. Sediments at the bottom of the Palmer Deep help

inform and ground-truth models predicting future conditions

because these sediments record 13 thousand years of history of

the region’s fluctuations from colder to warmer climates.

fluctuations are evident in the core in the olive green colored

diatom ooze layers, which early in the record alternate with

gray-colored diatom sandy mud, indicating a relativewly cooler

period when annual ocean productivity blooms alternate with

glacial meltwater, silt and sand pulses. Deeper in the record, the

alternating annual layers give way to sediments with more

glacial debris, likely released by meltwater and icebergs during

a warming trend. Thousands of cores like this one have their

own story to tell.

What one core reveals about our past

ANTARCTIC A

STUDYAREA

Scientists use clues from IODP core samples

and borehole logging data to piece together a

more complete answer to scientific questions,

such as the record of climate from the past.

but what can we learn from one core?

cOOLer PeriOD

Olive green colored diatom ooze layers in sediment cores alternate with gray colored diatom sandy mud, indicating annual ocean productivity blooms from a glacial meltwater, silt and sand pulses.

Deeper in the record, the alternating annual layers give way to sediments with more glacial debris, likely released during a warmer period by meltwater and icebergs.

WarMinG TrenD

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NT

PA

STD

EE

P P

AST

20

10 cm

50

60

70

80

90

30

40

100

110

130

140

7 cm

PHOTOMICROGRAPH OF DIATOM—A MICROFOSSIL

INDIANOCEAN

ANTARCTIC A

AUSTRALIA

A S I A

JOIDES Resolution ocean drilling sites

Future Past

In ITS PAST ServIce to the Integrated Ocean Drilling

Program, and the Ocean Drilling Program before it,

the JOIDES Resolution has operated from north of the

Arctic circle to south of the Antarctic circle and from

the depths of the Mariana Trench to the shallow coastal

shelf off new Jersey.

In the next phase of IODP operations, the drillship

is scheduled to conduct expeditions from the equatorial

Pacific, north to the bering Sea, then south to the

canterbury basin off new Zealand and Wilkes Land

off Antarctica.

Global reach of the JOIDES Resolution 1985-Present

1985 | Ocean DriLLinG PrOGraM

The JOIDES Resolution sets sail on January 29 in the Gulf of Mexico for the first expedition of the Ocean Drilling Program.

Large amounts of gas hydrates are discovered in seafloor sediments during an expedition to the eastern margin of North America.

1995 | Gas HYDraTes FOUnD BeLOW

Drillers on the JOIDES Resolution penetrate 2,111 meters into the seafloor—the deepest-ever scientific ocean borehole.

1993 | DeePesT scienTiFic Ocean BOre-

N O RT HA M E R I C A

SOUTHAMERIC A

PACIFICOCEAN

ARCTICOCEAN

ATLANTIC OCEAN

A F R I C A

E U R O P E

1998 | MicrOBes aT 800 MeTers DeeP

Microbes are discovered living in sediments 800 meters beneath the seafloor, far deeper than previously thought possible.

Three expeditions to a single location recovered all three layers of ocean crust, including gabbro from the lowest layer.

2005 | GaBBrOs in DeePesT Oceanic

An expedition to Florida’s Atlantic coast recovers evidence of a meteorite impact thought to have led to mass extinctions.

1997 | MeTeOriTe HiTs 65 MiLLiOn Years aGO

F O

U.S. ScIenTISTS may apply to the U.S. Science Support

Program (USSSP)

JAPAneSe ScIenTISTS may apply to the Japan Drilling earth

Science consortium (J-DeSc)

ScIenTISTS In ecOrD (european consortium for Ocean

research Drilling) countries may apply to the ecOrD

Science Support Advisory committee (eSSAc)

ScIenTISTS In chInA may apply to the People’s republic

of china, Ministry of Science and Technology

ScIenTISTS In The rePUbLIc Of KOreA may apply through

the Korea Institute of geoscience and Mineral resources

www.iodp-usio.org

Join the scientific team aboard the JOIDES Resolution to research and explore

IODP expeditions on the JOIDES Resolution

are scheduled to resume in 2008. Applications

for expedition participation are being accepted

for future expeditions. forms and instructions

are available at the Program Member Offices:

JOIDES RESOLUTION arT BY cHarLes FLOYD MaP anD PHOTOs BY iODP-U.s. iMPLeMenTinG OrGaniZa-TiOn