Ocean Drilling
The key to understanding the geological history, resource potential and subsurface environment of the New Zealand continent lies in the rocks beneath the sea.
Ocean drilling allows scientists to sample rocks or install instruments within the Earth's crust. Drilling has played an important role in understanding the Earth's history and structure recorded sediments and rocks beneath the seafloor. It is the only way to “ground truth” geophysical interpretations of the subsurface and is useful for monitoring sub-seafloor environments.
GNS Science coordinates New Zealand’s participation in the Integrated Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP) and is part of the New Zealand scientific drilling consortium (DRILLNZ).