Offshore phase of international expedition looking at fresh water under ocean floor wraps up – Mines Newsroom

International Expedition Advances Understanding of Offshore Freshwater Resources in Support of Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

An international scientific expedition has concluded its offshore operations, successfully retrieving significant geological and water samples from beneath the New England Shelf. The mission’s findings are poised to make substantial contributions to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning clean water, marine ecosystems, and global scientific partnership.

Operational Achievements and Innovation (SDG 9 & SDG 17)

The 74-day offshore mission, a joint effort under the International Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP³) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), represents a significant advancement in scientific infrastructure and innovation (SDG 9). The project successfully sampled sediment cores and water stored in previously unexplored sandy aquifers and clayey aquitards.

• Total Cores Retrieved: 718
• Total Core Length: 871.83 meters
• Drilling Locations: 3

A major technological breakthrough was the successful execution of groundwater pumping tests, a first for scientific ocean drilling. This innovation provides a new methodology for assessing submarine aquifers. The expedition exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through its collaboration between international bodies (IODP³, ECORD), national agencies (NSF), and academic institutions like the Colorado School of Mines and the University of Bremen.

Addressing SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The expedition’s primary objective was to investigate offshore freshened groundwater (OFG) systems, a direct contribution to SDG 6. These vast, unexplored aquifers represent a potential, unconventional source of fresh water. By sampling these systems, the research team aims to understand the origin, age, and extent of these water reserves, which is critical for the sustainable management of global water resources. Co-chief scientist Brandon Dugan noted that understanding this system “will be helpful for understanding other offshore freshened groundwater systems around the world.”

Supporting SDG 14: Life Below Water and SDG 13: Climate Action

The project contributes to SDG 14 (Life Below Water) by generating foundational data on submarine geology and hydrogeology, which is essential for the sustainable management and conservation of marine environments. Furthermore, analysis of the sediment and water will provide insights into past climate conditions and sea-level changes, offering valuable data for climate models and contributing to the knowledge base for SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Future Analysis and Commitment to Open Science (SDG 17)

The next phase of the project reinforces the commitment to global scientific partnership. The entire science team will convene for onshore analysis at the MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen, Germany. The post-expedition process will involve:

1. Transport of all cores and samples to the Bremen Core Repository.
2. A collaborative onshore event in early 2026 for core splitting, sampling, and analysis.
3. Archiving of cores for future research by the global scientific community following a one-year moratorium.

In line with the principles of SDG 17, all expedition data will be made open access through the IODP³ MSP data portal in PANGAEA, ensuring that the knowledge generated benefits the entire global community and promotes further scientific discovery.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The article’s central theme is an expedition to investigate and understand “fresh or freshened water under the ocean floor.” This research into previously unexplored offshore aquifers directly relates to identifying and managing potential future water resources, a core component of SDG 6.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The expedition takes place in a marine environment (“beneath the ocean floor,” “New England Shelf”) and focuses on increasing scientific understanding of these systems. This aligns with the goal of enhancing scientific knowledge about marine ecosystems and resources for their potential future sustainable management.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The article describes a highly technical and innovative scientific research project. It highlights the use of advanced drilling technology, new methodologies (“groundwater pumping tests… a first for scientific ocean drilling”), and the scientific infrastructure (Liftboat, core repositories) required, all of which are central to SDG 9’s focus on scientific research and innovation.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The expedition is explicitly described as an “international expedition” and a “joint collaboration between the International Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP³), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF),” and the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD). This multi-stakeholder, international partnership is a clear example of the collaboration encouraged by SDG 17 to achieve global goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate. The expedition’s goal to “understand this offshore aquifer system” is a fundamental first step toward the integrated management of this large-scale water resource. The international nature of the research points toward the “transboundary cooperation” aspect.

2. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.a: Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology… The entire project is designed to “increase scientific knowledge” about offshore freshened groundwater. The article mentions the development of research capacity through the “teamwork among the science team, the technical staff, and the drilling crew” and the use of advanced “scientific ocean drilling” technology.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities… encouraging innovation… The expedition is a direct example of enhancing scientific research to “understand the origin and age of this offshore freshened groundwater system.” It showcases innovation through new techniques like the “multiple groundwater pumping tests,” which were a “first for scientific ocean drilling.”

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.6: Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation… The article explicitly states the project is a “joint collaboration between the International Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP³), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF),” and involves the “European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD),” which exemplifies international cooperation on science and technology.
   • Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships… The collaboration between academic, national, and international bodies (IODP³, NSF, ECORD) to conduct this research is a model of a multi-stakeholder partnership working towards a common scientific goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 14.a (Increase scientific knowledge):

   • Number of samples collected: The article explicitly states “718 cores” were collected.
   • Volume of samples collected: The article quantifies the total core length as “871.83 meters of total core from three locations.”
   • Duration of research activity: The expedition involved “74 days offshore.”
   • Availability of research data: Progress is indicated by the commitment that “All expedition data will be open access in the IODP³ MSP data portal in PANGAEA.”
   • Number of scientific publications: Progress is implied by the statement that “resulting outcomes will be published.”

2. For Target 9.5 (Enhance scientific research):

   • Number of technological firsts/innovations: The article mentions the groundwater pumping tests were a “first for scientific ocean drilling,” indicating innovation.
   • Investment in research infrastructure: The use of the “Liftboat Robert” and the plan to use the “Bremen Core Repository at MARUM” imply significant investment in research infrastructure.

3. For Target 17.6 and 17.16 (Partnerships):

   • Number of international partners: The article identifies a partnership between at least three major entities: the International Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP³), the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), and the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: minesnewsroom.com