Geology is the study of the Earth. This includes how the Earth was formed, how the Earth has changed since it was formed, the materials that make up the Earth, and the processes that act on it. Marine geology or geological oceanography is the study of the history and structure of the ocean floor. It involves geophysical, geochemical, sedimentological and paleontological investigations of the ocean floor and coastal zone. Marine geology has strong ties to geophysics and to physical oceanography. Marine Geology focuses on areas affected by our oceans including the deep ocean floor, the shallower slopes and shelves that surround the continents, and coastal areas like beaches and estuaries.

The activity of Geological Oceanography Division (GEOD) started by the mandate of BORI Act, 2015 (article 8) with the starting of BORI. Research activity has been started on 2017-2018 FY with taken a R&D project in the marine area of Saint Martin’s Island. In the nest FY 2018-2019, another R&D project has been taken on the marine area of Teknaf to Maheshkhali Island. The R&D project topic was the sedimentological and mineralogical investigations in the selected study area. Sea bottom sediment sample has been collected in the coastal and nearshore area of north-eastern part of Bay of Bengal covered about 3100 sq. km (See the sampling map). During the field activity of 2018-2019 FY research, a cruise has been operated with the help of Bangladesh Navy R/V Saibal and the survey area was about 900 sq. km, distance 50 km seaward from the coastline.      

In the running 2019-2020 FY, two R&D project have been taken from GEOD where the research topic of first R&D is sedimentological and mineralogical investigations in the marine area from Maheshkhali to Chottagram and the research topic of second R&D is the sea level fluctuations and effects of tectonic activity in the eastern coastal area of Bangladesh.

Besides research activity, GEOD is providing marine geology based analytical service and technical support to different government and non-government institutions. GEOD provided technical support to 16 ECB Office, Bangladesh Army, Cox’s Bazar on Marine Drive Road project.    

Picture of Van Veen Grab sampler operation during field work of GEOD research activity