Applications are invited from scientists in countries participating in IODP to join the Science Party for IODP Expedition 389: Hawaiian Drowned Reefs. Any scientist from an IODP member country with expertise relevant to the objectives of the proposal may apply.

The proposal upon which this expedition is based was submitted as IODP Proposal #716 ‘Hawaiian Drowned Reefs’. The proposal describing the primary drill sites, as well as up-to-date expedition information, can be found on the Expedition 389 webpage http://www.ecord.org/expedition389/.

The Co-chief Scientists for this Expedition are Dr Jody Webster (University of Sydney, Australia) and Prof. Ana Christina Ravelo (University of California, Santa Cruz, USA).

Background and Objectives

The overall goal of the drilling campaign is to sample a unique succession of drowned coral reefs around Hawaii now at -134 to -1155 m below sea level. As a direct result of Hawaii’s rapid (2.5-2.6/kyr) but nearly constant subsidence, a thick (100-200 m) expanded sequence of shallow coral reef dominated facies is preserved within the reefs. These reefs span important periods in Earth climate history, either not available or highly condensed on stable (Great Barrier Reef, Tahiti) and uplifted margins (Papua New Guinea, Barbados) due to a lack of accommodation space and/or unfavourable shelf morphology. Specifically, these data show that the reefs grew (for ~90-100 kyrs, albeit episodically) into, during and out of the majority of the last five to six glacial cycles.

Therefore, scientific drilling through these reefs will generate a new record of sea-level and associated climate variability during several controversial and poorly understood periods over the last 500 kyr.

The project has four major objectives:

1. To define the nature of sea level-change in the central Pacific over the last 500 kyr, we will construct a new, more complete sea level curve from the drowned Hawaiian reefs that will allow: a) more detailed testing of Milankovitch climate theory predictions and; b) improved constraints on millennial-scale sea-level changes over the last 500 kyr.

2. To identify critical processes that determine paleoclimate variability of the central Pacific over the last 500 kyr, we will: (a) reconstruct the mean and seasonal/interannual climate variability from massive coral samples; and (b) use these records to investigate how high latitude climate (e.g., ice sheet volume), pCO2, and seasonal solar radiation impact subtropical Pacific climate. This approach can be used to test theoretical predictions of climate response and sensitivity to changes in boundary conditions and climate forcing.

3. To establish the geologic and biologic response of coral reef systems to abrupt sea-level and climate changes, we will: (a) establish the detailed stratigraphic and geomorphic evolution of the reefs in response to these changes; (b) test ecologic theories about coral reef resilience and vulnerability to extreme, repeated environmental stress over interglacial/glacial to millennial time scales; and (c) establish the nature of living and ancient microbial communities in the reefs and their role in reef building.

4. To elucidate the subsidence and volcanic history of Hawaii, we will: (a) refine the variation through space and time of the subsidence of Hawaii, and; (b) improve the understanding of the volcanic evolution of the island.

Timing

Until the platform and drilling services are confirmed (estimated winter 2018) all timings are provisional. It is envisaged that the offshore phase of the expedition will last a maximum of 60 days during September-October 2019, with only a subset of the Science Party participating. Offshore activities will focus on core recovery, curation, sampling for ephemeral properties, biostratigraphy, physical properties, preliminary lithostratigraphy (whole core observed at core ends and through plastic liners), and downhole logging. The cores will not be split at sea.

Subsequently, an Onshore Science Party (OSP) will be held at the MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Germany, starting in mid- to late-January 2020 (exact dates to be confirmed), where the cores will be split. The OSP will be a maximum of 4 weeks long, the exact length dependent on core recovery. All members of the Science Party must attend the Onshore Science Party. Please see http://www.ecord.org/expeditions/msp/ (and linked pages within) for an overview of Mission Specific Platforms in IODP.

Successful applicants will be invited either as an offshore-onshore participant, or as an onshore-only participant. Please note that there are no opportunities for offshore-only participation.

Expertise Sought

Opportunities exist for researchers (including graduate students) in all specialties. While other expertise may be considered, specialists in the following fields are required: carbonate sedimentology, corals, sedimentology, paleontology, palynology, organic geochemistry, inorganic geochemistry, structural geology, paleomagnetics, microbiology, physical properties, geophysics, geodynamics, glacial isostatic adjustment, stratigraphic correlation and downhole logging. For the offshore phase of the expedition, we are particularly looking for the following fields: carbonate sedimentology, corals, sedimentology, paleontology, organic geochemistry, inorganic geochemistry, microbiology, physical properties, and petrophysics/downhole logging.

Information webinar

To learn more about the scientific objectives of this expedition, life at sea, and how to apply to sail, please join us for a web-based seminar on Wednesday 31^st October 2018 at 1pm GMT.

To participate in the webinar, you will need access to the internet with a computer equipped with a speaker and microphone (optional). To register, please visit:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/X3GWXKT

Please note that places are limited to 100, and the webinar link will be e-mailed to the first 100 registrants.

How to apply

China-based scientists should apply through the IODP-China Office, applications need to submit application form, English CV as well as post-cruise research proposal no later than 23rd November 2018 (Friday).

Contact us

Zhen Guo,

Ph.D., the Science Coordinator

The IODP-China Office

Tel.: +86-21-6598 3441

Fax: +86-21-6598 8808

Email: iodp_china@tongji.edu.cn