Multibeam swath bathymetric survey for collecting site survey data (23 Oct-20 Nov 2013):

IODP-India successfully completed the expedition SK-306, onboard ORV Sagar Kanya from 23 Oct to 20 Nov 2013. The expedition was carried out in Arabian Sea to acquire Swath Bathymetry Multibeam and site surveys for Arabian Sea Monsoon Expedition IODP 355 (based on IODP Proposal 793-CPP2). Multibeam swath bathymetry survey was carried out along the 27 track lines and total of 7740 line km data, covering an area of about ~54000 km² were collected. Sound velocity and Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) profiles were obtained from 09 locations. Many significant seabed features were observed in the side scan images obtained in multibeam data. The prominent features identified were Raman Seamount and Laxmi Ridge covered fully for the first time under multibeam swath bathymetry technique. Several previously unreported deep sea channels were also ensonified.

Indian IODP Participants Meet, Goa (14-15 Jan 2013):

Indian IODP Participants meet was organised by IODP-India on 14-15 January 2013 at NCAOR, Goa to facilitate interaction among the Indian IODP participants. The meet was focussed on evolving future strategy to involve Indian participants in the IODP proposal on Arabian Sea submitted by India. The two days programme was inaugurated by Prof V K Gaur, Emeritus Scientist, CMMACS, Bangalore in the presence of Dr S Rajan, Director NCAOR, Shri R K Sharma, Advisor, MoES, Prof A K Singhvi, outstanding Scientist, PRL and expert invitees besides the participants. About 30 delegates from various parts of the country attended the programme and presented the scientific work carried out by them based on their IODP expedition.

During the meeting, comprehensive presentation was made on the Indian IODP proposal in the Arabian Sea to decipher tectono-climatic linkages. Possible role of Indian IODP participants in the Arabian Sea drilling proposal was explored through discussions. It was unanimously agreed that a core competence should be developed to deal with post-cruise science plan of the Indian IODP proposal in the Arabian Sea. Scientists attending the meet expressed their excitement towards the Indian IODP activities and requested IODP-India for continued association in future in this international endeavour. Further, participants suggested to form few theme based sub groups to chalk out prospective scientific drilling proposals emanating from Indian Ocean sector.

Chikyu + 10 Workshop: Tokyo, Japan April 20-23, 2013

The first phase of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (2003-2013) is set to enter into its new phase as International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). The new program is poised for an exciting decade of revealing the secrets of the Earth beneath the sea using two independent platforms namely D/v JOIDES Resolution and D/v CHIKYU. The deep riser-drilling vessel Chikyu is a keystone of this endeavour, providing the global community with the capability to reach targets inaccessible by any other scientific platform.

In order to formulate the decadal planning (2013-2023) for the deep sea drilling vessel Chikyu of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) an international workshop was convened at Tokyo, JAPAN during April 21-23, 2013. Scientific ideas in form of White papers on five different themes were invited from the scientists and deliberated upon to discuss priority projects for Chikyu's next decade of exploration.

On behalf of IODP-India, Dr. D K Pandey, Program Officer (IODP-India) presented a white paper entitled “Scientific drilling in the Indian Ocean to unravel complex geo-scientific issues”. The focus was to highlight the scientific problems in the Indian Ocean sector and stress on the need to prioritize scientific drilling in this region to understand key issues such as Monsoon, Tectonism, and Natural Hazards etc. using state of art drilling technology.