Secrets Of The Deep
By Catherine Scullion
The discovery of a large area of exposed mantle deep below the Atlantic’s waves is promising to turn into a geological hotbed! In just a few days, a team of British scientists will set out for a very special area of the Atlantic between the Cape Verde Islands and the Caribbean.
Their research subject is an area of thousands of square metres 3,000m below the surface from which the, normally omnipresent, crust of the earth appears to be missing.
The team, led by Prof. Roger Searle of Durham University, hope to collect samples and images which will give insight into the composition of the mantle. The trip will be the maiden voyage for the RSS James Cook, a new research ship.
Though it is hoped the data will answer many geological questions, it will doubtless pose many others. Another participant in the expedition, Marine Geologist Dr Chris MacLeod, is already asking many of his own "This discovery is like an open wound on the surface of the Earth. Was the crust never there? Was it once there but then torn away on huge geological faults? If so, then how and why?"
Progress of the cruise can be monitored via a live web link to the ship. Progress of science in general can be monitored through Catherine's other articles!
)){kind=link}
Their research subject is an area of thousands of square metres 3,000m below the surface from which the, normally omnipresent, crust of the earth appears to be missing.
 The research team will be working way out in the middle of the Atlantic ocean.
|
Though it is hoped the data will answer many geological questions, it will doubtless pose many others. Another participant in the expedition, Marine Geologist Dr Chris MacLeod, is already asking many of his own "This discovery is like an open wound on the surface of the Earth. Was the crust never there? Was it once there but then torn away on huge geological faults? If so, then how and why?"
Progress of the cruise can be monitored via a live web link to the ship. Progress of science in general can be monitored through Catherine's other articles!
Images: GEBCO
Share this
