In the ice age to the dead sea (Jerusalem Post)

40 Scientists from six countries converged on the hotels in, dead sea Israel - the lowest point on Earth - but not for a spa holiday. They stay at this resort popular to reap the benefits of a historic drilling project to extract a sample of continuous basis from a few hundred meters below the surface of the sea.

Information that might be revealed by several layers, material extending four ice ages ago, could help experts to better understand the phenomena of many - earthquakes and climate change and prehistoric human migration and cultural evolution.

Specialists of the German International Continental scientific Drilling program (ICMP) began working on November 15 to drill a hole through which the data-rich sediments will be brought to the surface. The budget of $ 2.5 million allows 40 days perform this task, so that they work in two shifts around the clock, about four miles off the coast Ein Gedi.

As project manager, Mr. Michael Lazar, a Marine Geosciences at the University of Haifa, coordinating between the scientists and drill teams, organized for analysis and storage of samples and myriad other details - in short, "to ensure that everyone knows what everyone else does."

Lazar provides also updates on Facebook project page and on the website of the ICPD. November 22 entry reads:

"The first part of the day went well and recovery was good enough." After some time, a thick (estimated by the Driller is about 50 cm), a hard layer of salt was encountered. Carrot, could not enter so they highlighted the "foreign" - their Rotary custom bits.

"While he managed to break through by salt layer recovery and equipment as it was lost." Switched to the piston and recovery increase in sludge at 100%. »

If it is clearly not a simple operation, potential yield information is so vast that the project has attracted interest multinational and includes geologists and Geophysicists Palestinians and Jordanians.

Initially there are 10 years by Israel Mr. Zvi Ben - Avraham of the Dead Sea Research Center at Tel Aviv University, Minerva Award winner Dr. Moti Stein, geological Israel and Mr. Amotz Agnon Institute of sciences of the Earth at the Jerusalem Hebrew University project was blocked by the Palestinian in the first half of the Decade uprising. The improved situation, once the ICPD accepted the dead as one of its two annual business 2010 sea drilling project.

"Delay does not affect the conclusions that we are looking at a record 500,000 years," explains Ben Avraham. He adds that the project is environmentally safe.

"We are drilling within the basin, away from the active faults and also use environmentally friendly materials for drilling", he points out. "In addition, we keep the area very clean."

Despite ITS name, the dead sea is not dead, Lazar continues, "there are bacteria and algae that comprise a fragile ecosystem, and we are very aware." In fact, one of the goals of the research are to study the past, the future of this unique body of water known as the "Sea Salt" (yam, hamelah) Hebrew.

The level is dropping one metre per year due to natural and man-made, "says Lazar." "But it was still lower in the past." If we can understand how the system works may naturally when the level is low, we can understand how to solve the problem. »

The project is being conducted in partnership with the Academy of sciences of the Israel and human sciences and with the cooperation of the kibbutz Ein Gedi, the dead sea and the Regional Council of Tamar in the dead sea.

Sponsors are the Commission geological Israel, Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Institute Lamont-Doherty, Columbia University, New York; the Germany Research Centre Potsdam GFZ international Institute study Japanese in Kyoto, the Japan and the University of Zurich, Switzerland.

A wide range of scientific disciplines are approaching the project a myriad of angles. "Geochemists may be interested in the chemical composition of water, or air bubbles in the sediments, or clay," says Lazar. Tectonic experts study how earthquake disrupts ordered pattern in which underwater mud is deposited, correlation between the evidence of earthquakes and historical events and delve into the mechanics of the rock formation.

Until the completion of drilling operations, samples will be analyzed at the coast Ein Gedi, the provision by Moty pirates sea and diving work research station. Subsequently, they be transferred to you in a laboratory specialist at the University of Bremen, Germany, where all scientists will have access to these.

www.ISRAEL21c.org

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