Mediterranean–Atlantic Gateway Exchange
International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP)
Expedition 401
Post-cruise Meeting
20 – 22 April 2026
The International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 401 Post-cruise Meeting will be in Granada (Andalucía, Spain) on the 20th, 21st and 22nd April 2026. Its main aims are to share, discuss and integrate post-cruise research results, foster collaboration, plan work required to finalize publications, and define additional research required to meet expedition science objectives and future research projects.
The schedule for the meeting includes three days for presentations and discussions. The main objectives of the Mediterranean-Atlantic Gateway Exchange expedition will be covered, which were:
- To recover a complete record of Atlantic-Mediterranean exchange before, during, and after the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC; 5.97-5.33 Ma),
- To evaluate the environmental causes and consequences of this extreme oceanographic event locally, regionally, and globally,
- To test our quantitative understanding of the behaviour of ocean overflow plumes during the most extreme exchange in Earth’s history.
Venuee and Scientific program
The meeting will be held at the Parque de las Ciencias (Science Park) in the Tecnoforo Hall (https://www.parqueciencias.com/).
Presentations will be organized into thematic science blocks corresponding to the results from the following drilling sites: Southwest Portugal (U1609, U1385), the Gulf of Cádiz (U1610), and the Alborán Sea (U1611). These sessions will include research updates in the areas of sedimentology and lithostratigraphy; paleontology, biostratigraphy, and paleoceanography; geochemistry; paleomagnetism; physical properties; downhole logging; stratigraphic correlation; and seismic interpretation and site-to-site correlation. In addition, dedicated blocks will be included for integrative work and for focused discussions within working groups.
Attendees
- Shipboard and shore-based scientists associated to the IODP Expedition 401.
- Researchers from the IMMAGE (Investigating Miocene Mediterranean-Atlantic Exchange) Land-2-Sea partnership.
- Students and collaborators linked to the above groups.
Oral & Poster presentations
Participants will have the opportunity to present their work in both oral and poster formats. To encourage active discussion and interaction, the time allocated for oral presentations will be limited. Each talk will be scheduled in a 15-minute time slot.
Map indicating IODP Expedition 401 post-cruise Meeting locations, including the fieldtrip days.
Special Keynotes
Four invited talks of 30’ are scheduled for the meeting, and will address the following themes:
- A bluffers guide to the Mediterranean Outflow, by Michael Rogerson (Northumbria Univ., UK).
- Looking for clues to paleo-overflows imprints: A diagnosis of the Gulf of Cadiz Messinian contourite depositional systems, by F. Javier Hernández-Molina (IACT-CSIC, Spain).
- What is driving the Mediterranean Outflow Water in the Messinian?, by Francisco J. Sierro (Salamanca Univ., Spain).
- Late Miocene to Pliocene sedimentation in the Alboran Sea, Gulf of Cadiz and West Portugal, by Emmanuele Ducassou (Bordeaux Univ., France).
Abstract submission
The final deadline for abstract submission is 20 February 2026. Abstracts must be written in English and should be approximately 500 words in length. Authors are required to submit their manuscripts in single-spaced text, using 10-point Arial font.
Please, send to fj.h@csic.es
Field Trip (Optional)
Hosting the meeting in Granada, in southern Spain, provides an excellent opportunity for a field trip to observe late Miocene and early Pliocene deposits that exhibit sedimentary facies comparable to those recovered during IODP Expedition 401. The field excursion will include visits to the following locations:
Pre-meeting field day (19th April)
Pre-MSC deposits of the Guadalquivir Basin (Porcuna outcrops) and the Betic Corridor (Zagra-Fuentes de Cesna outcrops). These sites provide Late Miocene pre-MSC examples of hemipelagic, gravity-driven and bottom-current deposits.
Post-meeting field days (22nd, 23rd & 24th April) 22nd afternoon
The field trip will then continue toward Agua Amarga (Almería), with planned stops at the pre- and post-MSC deposits exposed in La Lancha (Dehesas de Guadix).
23 April – Sorbas Basin
The field excursion will focus on Messinian Salinity Crisis deposits of the Sorbas Basin, including pre-evaporitic marls, evaporitic gypsum, and Lago Mare deposits. These outcrops provide an opportunity to examine Tortonian and Messinian sedimentation — including the full MSC interval — in a marginal basin setting, and to discuss correlations with both the Atlantic and Mediterranean basins.
24 April – Níjar Basin and Miocene–Pliocene boundary
The final day will feature visits to MSC and post-MSC deposits of the Níjar Basin, including the Miocene–Pliocene boundary at Los Feos / Gafares. On the return route toward Málaga, additional stops will be made to observe Lago Mare and Pliocene deposits. One of the outcrops is located only a few kilometres north of Site U1611 and documents the termination of the Messinian Salinity Crisis, offering a unique opportunity to directly relate field observations to the drilling record.
Accommodation in Almería
Accommodation in Almería (22nd & 23rd April) – Accommodation will be provided in apartments in the village of Agua Amarga on 22 and 23 April (CostaAmarga Apartments, http://costamarga2002.es ). The location is approximately 30 minutes from the Sorbas Basin outcrops and 15 minutes from the Níjar Basin outcrops. The facility offers a group meeting room with projection equipment, as well as on-site catering, including breakfast, packed field lunches, and dinner.
Social Events
– 20th April. Reception – Carmen de la Victoria / https://carmendelavictoria.ugr.es
– 21st April. Alhambra night tour
– 23rd April (Field Trip). Dinner (seafood & vegetarian paella) at Agua Amarga (Almería)
Registration and Fees
Registration and fees will be different for the Granada meeting and the field trip.
| Granada meeting | Field trip | |
| Senior researchers | 350 € | 350 € |
| Students/PhDs/postdocs | 250 € | 250 € |
Registration for the meeting and field trip must be completed through the technical secretariat by 27 February 2026.
Certificates
In its commitment to maintain an ecological and sustainable model in the issuance of certificates, the organization will implement in this edition that all certificates of attendance at this meeting are sent in digital format by e-mail once the meeting is finished.
Insurances
The Organizers and Starplanning, S.L. decline all responsibility in case of accident, illness, loss or damage of personal objects that may occur during the celebration of the course, before and after the trip. It is recommended that attendees contract the appropriate insurances they consider.
Cancellation policy
- No refunds will be made for cancellations of registrations.
- Those refunds or reimbursements, in case they are authorized due to exceptional circumstances, will be made once the course is finished.
- Cancellations must be made in writing and communicated to the Technical Secretariat by e-mail: eventos@starplanning.es
Way of payment
Bank transfer (it is compulsory to attach a copy of the bank transfer or send it to eventos@starplanning.es).
Once the payment is verified on the bank statement, the confirmation of registration will be notified by e-mail.
- Bank account title: STAR PLANNING, S.L.U.
- Bank name: ABANCA Corporación Bancaria, S.A.
- IBAN: ES18 2080 5162 2730 4001 2682
- BIC/SWIFT CODE: CAGLESMMXXX
- Concept: “IODP Expedition 401 Post-cruise Meeting”
Credit Card: Fill in the corresponding section of the registration form.
In this case you will be redirected to a securely enabled bank page. Visa and MasterCard are accepted.
IMPORTANT: The expenses of exchange of currency and bank transfers will be on the responsibility of the attendees.
Invoice details
Fill in the corresponding information in the registration form just in case the invoice is not in the name of the attendee.
Contact starplanning
Meeting hosts & organizers
Francisco Javier Hernández-Molina (IACT-CSIC, Granada, Spain), fj.h@csic.es
Francisco Javier Sierro Sánchez (Univ. Salamanca, Spain), sierro@usal.es
Francisco Javier Rodríguez Tovar (Univ. Granada, Spain), fjrtovar@ugr.es
