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Workshop Reports
The workshop was introduced by a series of presentations that
provided an updated view of tectono-magmatic processes in
magma-starved slow spreading centres, the associated development
of H 2
-generating, serpentine-hosted hydrothermal fields
and on related microbial communities, as well as an introduction
to the most recent improvements in seabed rock drills
(e.g., BGS, MeBo). Discussions focused on (i) the development
of novel uses of MSP to explore ridge processes and options
to design a drilling experiment, and (ii) the major questions
and rationale that drive interest in Scientific Ocean Drilling
at slow spreading ridges today. Atlantis Massif (Mid-Atlantic
Ridge, 30°N) was chosen as a target area because (i) it samples
a typical slow spreading ridge with intrusive mantle lithosphere
(mantle rocks intruded by gabbros), (ii) it hosts a H 2
-generating
hydrothermal system (Lost City Hydrothermal Field), (iii)
abundant geophysical and geological data are available at this
site (e.g., IODP Expeditions 304-305), and (iv) it has shallow
bathymetry and a smooth topography. Substantial discussion
was directed at defining the detailed objectives and work plan,
with the intention of submitting an MSP proposal to IODP
in April 2009 (coordinator: Gretchen Früh-Green) focused on
the exploration/characterization of interactions between faulting,
serpentinization, fluid flow and microbial activity in the
shallow ultramafic/mafic seafloor. We invite others, especially
from non-European IODP member countries to contact the
workshop conveners for more information or to get involved
with this effort.
Figure 1: Participants at the Magellan Workshop, September
2008, Montpellier, France.
5 th Asia Oceania Geosciences Society Conference (AOGS 2008)
Sung-Hyun Park and Jian Lin
The 5 th Asia Oceania Geosciences Society Conference (AOGS
2008) was held in Busan, Korea, June 16-20, 2008. AOGS is a
relatively young geosciences organization with the purpose to
advance geosciences in Asia and to promote cooperation between
Asian scientists and the international community. Mr.
Seung-soo Han, the Prime Minister of Korea and UN Special
Envoy on Global Climate Change Treaty, gave an inspiring
opening speech. This was one of the best attended AOGS meetings
(http://www.asiaoceania.org/society/index.asp).
A special session on “Recent multidisciplinary studies of midocean
ridges and ophiolites” was held during the 2 nd day of
the conference (for session summary, please see: http://www.
interridge.org/node/4893). In recent years, several Asian countries,
for example, Japan, China, India, and Korea, have started
scientific programs to explore and investigate geological, hydrothermal,
and biological processes at mid-ocean ridges and
the deep seafloor, while increasing collaborations with US
and European counterparts under the auspices of InterRidge.
Ophiolites, which are ancient oceanic crust exposed on land,
have also attracted scientists in Asia as they offer important accessible
sections of mid-ocean ridges. This special session was
organized to promote further collaboration of Asian scientists
and the international community and to encourage discussion
of joint projects at greater scale. The session was co-convened
by Sung-Hyun Park (Korea Polar Research Institute), Jian Lin
(Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, USA), John Chen
(Peking University, China), Susumu Umino (Kanazawa University,
Japan), Natsue Abe (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth
Science and Technology), and K.A. Kamesh Raju (National
Institute of Oceanography, India).
The special session attracted 27 abstracts that reflect rapid recent
progress of Asian countries and the international community
in the investigation and exploration of ocean ridges
and ophiolites. It was one of the sessions receiving the most
submitted abstracts of the AOGS 2008 conference. The special
session covered a wide range of topics on recent research
of the Central Indian Ridge, Southwest Indian Ridge, East
Pacific Rise, Western Pacific, back-arc basins, drilling of the
InterRidge News 52 Vol. 17, 2008