The Sumatra Seismogenic Zone expedition (IODP 362) aims to establish (1) the initial and evolving properties of the North Sumatran incoming sediments and (2) their potential effect on seismogenesis, tsunamigenesis, and forearc development for comparison with global examples. The 2004 Mw 9.2 earthquake and tsunami that struck North Sumatra and the Andaman-Nicobar Islands devastated coastal communities around the Indian Ocean. This earthquake showed unexpectedly shallow megathrust slip that was focused beneath the accretionary prism including the distinctive prism plateau offshore North Sumatra. This intriguing seismogenic behavior and forearc structure are not well explained by existing models and by relationships observed at margins where seismogenic slip typically occurs further landward. The correspondence between the 2004 rupture location and the overlying prism plateau, and evidence for a strengthened thick sediment input section suggests that the input materials are key to driving this distinctive slip behavior and long-term forearc structure.

        Visit http://iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/ for the original IODP proposal and expedition planning information.

        China-based scientists could apply through the IODP-China Office, and submit application form, English CV as well as post-cruise research proposal no later than 30 April 2015.

       For further details, please contact:

        Shouting Tuo, Science Coordinator, the IODP-China Office

        State Key Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University

        1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China

        Tel.: +86-21-65982198, Fax: +86-21-65988808

        Email: iodp_china@tongji.edu.cn