Science AMA Series: I am Jerry Dickens, science faculty member at Rice University and co-chief scientist for the drilling expedition to understand the submerged continent of Zealandia -- ask me anything!

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Hi reddit! The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) conducts scientific ocean drilling expeditions throughout the world’s oceans in search of clues to Earth’s structure and past. IODP is seeking to unlock secrets of the submerged continent Zealandia.

Scientists from around the world are calling for recognition of an eighth continent that lies submerged east of Australia. This mostly water world includes New Zealand and New Caledonia but also extensive surrounding regions of shallow continental that sank below the waves.

The first large scale international expedition to explore the submerged world will begin in late July 2017 as part of IODP. Researchers from over a dozen countries will join forces on a two-month long drilling campaign to decipher the history of the continent between New Zealand and New Caledonia. This expedition will obtain sedimentary cores as old as 60 million years old by drilling up to 900 meters below the sea floor.

Scientists will use the cores to understand when and why portions went underwater, how continent movement relates to global plate motion, and whether past climate was unusually warm in the region.

Great questions might include:

What is Zealandia?

Why is it mostly underwater?

What does this tell us about Earth history?

Why is Zealandia interesting for climate research?

Why is Zealandia interesting for biology?

How will you figure out the basics as to how Zealandia evolved time?

I will be back at 2 pm EST to answer your questions! Ask Me Anything!

">Science AMA Series: I am Jerry Dickens, science faculty member at Rice University and co-chief scientist for the drilling expedition to understand the submerged continent of Zealandia -- ask me anything!