Why conduct research beneath the ocean floor?

Knowledge and understanding will help find solutions to natural and environmental disaster problems. We still have much to learn about earthquakes and volcanoes and oil spills and how to curb disasters. Perhaps the O word (obviation) in the acronym of our expedition 327 focus: "CORKS" is a good new goal word for caring for our world.

The picture is a illustration of the natural asphalt underwater volcanoes, 35,000 years old, found off the California coast. It probably leaked oil and methane into the sea with no help from man! Picture Credit: Jack Cook, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution http://news.discovery.com/earth/asphalt-volcanoes-oil-spill.html