Two IPGP PhD Students Join a NSF Oceanographic Expedition on a equatorial Transform Fault!
Publication date: 10/11/2025
Research
Related teams :
Marine Geosciences
Related themes : Earth and Planetary Interiors
The oceanographic cruise is the third and final cruise of “Chain Transform Fault Experiment”, onboard R/V Roger Revelle, spanning from 10th October to 13th November, 2025. The main scientific goal of the expedition, led by Jessica Warren (University of Delaware), is to understand the dynamic behavior of a slow-slipping oceanic transform system from the study of the Chain Atlantic fault zone. Its composition, rheology, seismicity, structure, and magmatism will be characterized through acquisition of active and passive seismic data, high-resolution geophysical surveys using autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Sentry and dredging of rocks targeting active fault zone.
Location of Chain Transform Fault; Right: The science party in front of R/V Roger Revelle in Sao Vincente harbor of Cabo Verde
For Suzanne, this expedition represents a unique opportunity to complement her PhD research on fluid–rock interactions and the deep carbon cycle along transform faults. She will gain valuable field experience, develop new analytical skills, and collaborate with international experts. The collection and analysis of samples will provide new insights into fluid circulation in these environments and its impact on carbon dynamics, directly contributing to her research on the origin of organic matter in these still little-studied systems.
For Sampriti, this experiment will be an enriching experience, complementing her PhD thesis on the composition, hydration and deformation of magmatic rocks at oceanic transform faults. She will learn novel data collection methods in marine expeditions expand her technical expertise in marine research and foster international collaboration. Analysis of the active fault zone rocks recovered from the dredges will help to understand along-strike variations in lithologies and deformation and study the role of seawater and melt on oceanic transform fault
Dredge coming from ocean’s bottom; Right: Sentry on its way to explore the ocean depth
Their expedition expenses are covered by NSF and International mobility support of IPGP PhD students.
More info : https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2024nsf….2318855B/abstract
