About Chikyu
The D/V Chikyu is the world’s first riser drilling-equipped science vessel, capable of drilling deeper below the seafloor than any other science drilling vessel to date. Since 2007, Chikyu has participated in the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program, and since 2013, the International Ocean Discovery Program.
The earth where we live in is an oasis blessed with water and life. However, meteorites and earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis over the past 4.6 billion years have repeatedly changed life on Earth since life began.
The Earth preserves, in fossil form, past “memories”, or records, of past climate change, activity of life, and the gradual process of crustal movement and plate tectonics. D/V Chikyu drills into the Earth, collecting samples and data, teaching us about how energy from deep inside the Earth affects the extent of sub seafloor life, sub seafloor resources, and global climate change.
Glossary
Riser mode (Riser Drilling) : The riser drilling system is an industry-standard drilling technology, here applied to scientific drilling for the first time. This technique connects the ship to the sub seafloor hole via special riser pipe, creating a “closed circuit of drilling”. The drilling pipe and special drilling mud all pass through the riser pipe.
International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) : The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) is an international marine research collaboration organization, established in October 2013. IODP uses drilling vessels respectively provided by Japan, the United States of America, and the European Union. These vessels conduct scientific drilling research around the world, collecting and analyzing geological samples (drilling cores) and data, and by installing in-situ observational tools, all part of an effort to elucidate the mysteries of the Earth and life.