| Session Details | |
| Section | SE - Solid Earth Sciences |
| Session Title | Recent multidisciplinary studies of mid-ocean-ridges and ophiolites |
| Main Convener | Dr. Sung-Hyun Park (Korea Polar Research Institute, Korea, South) |
| Co-convener(s) | Dr. Jian Lin (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, United States) Prof. John Chen (Peking University, China) Prof. Susumu Umino (Kanazawa University, Japan) Dr. Natsue Abe (Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Japan) Dr. Raju Kamesh (National Institute of Oceanography, India) |
| Session Description | Mid-ocean ridges are the largest volcanic system on Earth and play an important role in the exchange of energy and material among various domains of our planet. Oceanic crust, covering over 65% of the Earth surface, is being generated at mid-ocean ridges. Submarine hydrothermal activities at mid-ocean ridges affect the chemistry of oceans and support a unique deep-sea ecosystem that is based on chemosynthesis rather than photosynthesis. Studies of mid-ocean-ridges are multidisciplinary in nature, encompassing disciplines of geology, geophysics, geochemistry, hydrothermalism, and biology. In recent years, several Asian countries including Japan, China, India, and Korea have started scientific programs to explore and investigate geological, hydrothermal, and biological processes at mid-ocean ridge and deep seafloor, while increasing collaborations with US and European counterparts under the auspices of InterRidge. Ophiolites, which are ancient oceanic crust exposed on land, have also attracted scientists in Asia as they offer important accessible sections of mid-ocean ridges. In this session, we invite scientific contributions on diverse issues related to mid-ocean ridges and ophiolites. In particular, we welcome new results and interpretations from recent sea-going cruises, fieldworks, and laboratory studies. |