Fitted with a derrick standing 62 m (205 ft) above the water line, the 143 m (469 ft) long research vessel is 21 m (69 ft) wide. When the JOIDES Resolution reaches the drilling site, the crew positions the vessel over the site using 12 computer-controlled thrusters as well as a main propulsion system. The rig suspends up to 9,150 m (30,020 ft) of drill pipe to an ocean depth as great as 8,235 m (27,018 ft). This is about the equivalent of six miles!
Near the center of the research vessel is the “moon pool,” a 7m (23 ft) wide hole, through which the drillstring is lowered into the ocean. Each piece of pipe is about 28m (93 ft) and weighs about 874 kg (1925 lb—just a tad more than a draft horse).
Stephen Pekar, a geology professor at Queens College, has been investigating past climate and oceanographic changes during times (16- 45 million years ago) when CO2 was as high as what is predicted for this century (500-1000 ppm). As CO2 is rising rapidly today, exploring these times for him is like “Looking Back to Our Future.” To investigate climate change of the past, he looks at sediments, microfossils, and geochemical data obtained from cores obtained from near-shore to deep-sea locations ranging from the tropics to Antarctica. His research has taken him on expeditions around the world.
Professor Pekar is a Queens, New York native, and attended Queens College, first as a 20th century music composition major and then getting his BA in Education. He is enthralled with exploring and discovering new places and ideas.
From James Bendle:
In the last few days we’ve been riding out a gale force 10/11 storm (for perspective, 12 is hurricane strength). We had to leave the site we were drilling at and move to the north as there were too many ice bergs close-by. It’s one thing to “heave to” through a Southern Ocean storm. It’s quite another to be in the vicinity of huge chunks of ice, the best policy is to run away!
Deep Earth Academy is still accepting applications for an exciting opportunity to sail on board the JR as an education officer and/or science communication specialist in Summer 2010. To read more and get an application, click here: http://joidesresolution.org/node/453
Deep Earth Academy will also be at the national NSTA convention in Philadelphia March 18-21, 2010. Come see us at our booth!
This newsletter is brought to you by The Consortium for Ocean Leadership and Deep Earth Academy. Ocean Leadership is a nonprofit organization representing 97 leading ocean research and education institutions, aquaria and industry. The organization also manages ocean research and education programs in areas of scientific ocean drilling, ocean observing, ocean exploration, and ocean partnerships. Deep Earth Academy is the education arm of the scientific ocean drilling programs at Ocean Leadership. Deep Earth Academy uses exploration of the world around us as a model and strive to help students become better decision makers, problem solvers, science-literate citizens and stewards of our planet.
