Tuesday January 10, 2006

Japanese scientists plan to drill deep into core of Earth

channelnewsasia.com :

Japan has announced ambitious plans to tunnel to the very core of planet Earth - a feat no human has ever achieved. The almost 58,000-tonne vessel which will do the drilling is one of the largest research ships in the world, measuring 210 meters long and 28 metres wide. The vessel has a tower which stands 121 meters tall - the equivalent of a 30-storey building. Named "chikyu" or "earth", the ship was built to drill 7,000 metres under the seabed - using cutting edge riser technology.

Asahiko Taira, Director-General, Centre for Deep Earth Exploration, said, "7,000 metres is the magic number for earth science. The reason is because oceanic crust is only 5,000 to 6,000 meters. Underneath, there is a place called mantle, which is the largest component of the earth, and the mantle behaves like a convection cell, moving the earth's surface like a gel, covered in magma. In an earthquake, the whole earth mantle moves, but nobody has seen the mantle."

Operated by the Japanese Agency for Marine-Earth Science Technology, the ship has already conducted preliminary digs. Aside from discovering micro-organisms and the mechanism of earthquakes and tsunamis, by drilling 5,000 metres into the seabed, it is likely that they will hit natural gas. Scientists are hoping they will be able to unveil the mystery of the creation on the earth, and where it is headed.

(2006-01-10 17:49:19 SGT) [Tech] Permalink

Most popular blog postings on lowem.log :

1. Singapore MRT rail network length to double by 2020
2. 2010 Nissan Leaf electric car specifications : 107hp, 24KWh lithium-ion batteries, 100-mile range
3. Live spot gold price quotes chart on COMEX
4. 2010 Toyota Prius specifications released : 50 mpg, 1.8L, 134hp, Ni-MH, solar roof option
5. AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 2011 direct download link
6. Real-time live gold and silver price quotes chart on COMEX
7. Singapore electric vehicles : Government agencies EMA and LTA to study EV introduction
8. Book review : Shut Down by William Flynn

Featured articles on lowem.log :

1. Book review : Shut Down by William Flynn
2. Singapore electric cars testing starts with 9 electric vehicles
3. Honda, GS Yuasa JV to make lithium-ion batteries for 2010/2011 Honda Civic Hybrid
4. 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid preliminary specifications released
5. 2010 Honda CR-Z hybrid, 2010 Honda Fit/Jazz hybrid models confirmed
6. 2010 Toyota Prius specifications released : 50 mpg, 1.8L, 134hp, Ni-MH, solar roof option
7. NYMEX crude oil recovers from $32.40 low after 2.2 mbpd OPEC production cut announced
8. Singapore : Nuclear power not ruled out