Site survey data evaluation IODP Proposal 633

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IODP drilling proposal (Costa Rica Mud Mounds) aims to enhance the general understanding of complex forearc dewatering processes of the erosive subduction system off Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Scientific evaluation recently resulted in a high ranking of the drilling proposal. Major sites of dewatering planned for drilling are mounds, related to mud diapirism/volcanism and precipitation of authigenic carbonates, and large-scale slides related to the subduction of seamounts. New pre-site survey seismic data was collected during a cruise of R/V Marcus Langseth in 2008 at the proposed sites of Mound Culebra and Mounds 11&12. These new data – together with the reprocessed pre-existing geophysical data – were submitted to the IODP safety panel for a final decision and scheduling of the R/V Joides Resolution leg. The new data are of exceptionally high quality and allow a detailed analysis of the processes that control fluid migration in the Costa Rican margin. Therefore we propose to (1) investigate the role of the acoustic basement for the fluid ascent, (2) understand the effect of mud volcanism on the gas hydrate system and the interactions between gas hydrate formation and dissociation with the fluid ascent from the deep sources, and (3) to invert the seismic data for gas and gas hydrate concentrations. The extension of the project will provide a wealth of geological information and further promote the drilling proposal.