Ocean drilling programs

Ocean drilling programs involve scientific efforts to explore and study the Earth's subsurface beneath the ocean floor. Using specialized drilling ships and equipment, researchers extract core samples from beneath the seabed to understand geological processes, Earth's history, and natural resources. These programs provide insights into plate tectonics, earthquake risks, climate change over millions of years, and potential for oil and gas. Managed internationally by organizations like the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), ocean drilling advances our knowledge of Earth's structure and helps assess environmental and resource-related challenges.