Report on IODP Expedition 346 “Asian Monsoon”
Second Post-Cruise Science Meeting
22nd-24th & Field Trip 25th-27th January 2016 at the University of Melbourne
Associate Professor Stephen Gallagher, School of Earth Sciences, the University of Melbourne.
Exp. 346 Micropalaeontologist and Meeting Convener
Email: sjgall@unimelb.edu.au
All Expedition 346 scientists wholeheartedly thank the following organisations who have provided the venue, and funded the lunch, morning and afternoon teas and the Friday 22nd evening function: the ANZIC IODP (primary funder) and the University of Melbourne. We are also grateful to ESSO Australia Pty Ltd and the Geological Society of Australia Victoria Division who provided additional funds that reduced the cost of the associated field trip. The provision of this sponsorship and the ready access to reasonable cost accommodation at the University of Melbourne encouraged fifteen graduate (Ph.D.) students to attend out of the fifty on-shore and offshore research scientist attendees.
The three day conference was split into five sessions consisting of a series of 15 minute talks, followed by a tea break, followed by 3 minute talks by poster presenters.
On Friday, 22nd Co-chief Professor Ryuji Tada (the University of Tokyo) summarised the Asian Monsoon Expedition 346 Background and Scientific Objectives. Friday's sessions focussed on 1) bio-, magneto and tephro- and OSL stratigraphic results to date and 2) the palaeoceanographic and palaeoenvironmental evolution of most expedition 346 sites. All participant enjoyed a Cocktail Reception sponsored by ANZIC IODP at University House
On Saturday, 23rd the Expedition 346 staff scientist Dr Carlos Alvarez Zarikian summarised IODP Publications, Obligations, Guidelines and Publications Deadlines. Saturday's sessions examined 1) ongoing provenance (geochemistry, mineralogy and IRD) and volcanism studies of several sites and 2) the detailed millennial scale isotope analyses being carried out on Site U1428 and U1429 in the East China Sea.
On Sunday, 24th the fifth session of the meeting examined ongoing XRF, RGB, and Geochemistry (not provenance, including diagenesis) analyses. This was followed extensive discussion and research planning that was combined with lunch and morning coffee. The breakout groups primarily focussed on Japan sea sites U1430 and U1427 and on the East China Sea sites U1428 and U1429. Discussions centred on producing refereed journal publications for submission by November 2016. It was a highly fruitful exercise and engendered convivial collaboration from all onshore and offshore scientific participants.
On Monday 25th to 27th 35 participant attended a field trip to southeast Australia. The bus left from outside the Earth Science department (conference venue) for field trip to the Otway Basin ~120 km southwest of Melbourne. In addition to field activities, all participants helped prepare a BBQ feast at the accommodation venue on Australia Day, this included kilos of kangaroo steaks as we were unable to actually observe these marsupials in the field!
Many thanks again to the Geological Society of Australia Victoria Division for supporting this event.
Sincerely,
Stephen
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