Understanding climate and environmental changes, sea-level variations, geohazards, natural resources, the structure and evolution of the Earth’s crust and the nature and extent of the deep biosphere all require having access to information recorded in subsurface layers. Two major and complementary international programs undertake drilling for the scientific community: IODP (Integrated Ocean Drilling Program) and ICDP (International Continental Scientific Drilling Program), in oceanic and continental environments respectively.
This Townhall meeting will be the opportunity to share our views on exciting challenges to take up for a better understanding of the Earth system and its changing environment. Prospects for the future of ocean drilling, post 2013, will be also presented.