Through direct exploration of the subseafloor, U.S.-supported scientific ocean drilling programs have significantly contributed to a broad range of scientific accomplishments in Earth science disciplines, shaping understanding of Earth systems and enabling new fields of inquiry. The programs' technological innovations have played a strong role in these accomplishments. The science plan for the proposed 2013-2023 program presents a strong case fo... More >>

Deep-diving manned submersibles, such as Alvin, which gained worldwide fame when researchers used it to reach the wreck of Titanic, have helped advance scientific understanding of the deep ocean. Many scholars in this field, however, have noted that the number and capabilities of today's underwater vehicles no longer meet current and expected scientific demand. At the same time, the relative value of manned and unmanned vehicles is ofte... More >>

Seventy percent of our blue planet is covered by oceans. Progress has been made in understanding the role of oceans in climate change, locating energy reserves, revealing new life forms, and describing the flow of carbon through these systems. However, it may be time to catapult our understanding to new levels by undertaking an interdisciplinary, international, global ocean exploration program. This interim report outlines the committee's visio... More >>

Each year, exiting, ocean-related discoveries are made; however, more research funding is available to scientists that revisit sites as opposed to individuals that want to explore poorly understood regions. A new program, where opportunities exist to investigate unexplored areas of the ocean, is needed to facilitate rapid discovery and implementation of previously unknown information. This report argues that a new large-scale, multidisciplinar... More >>