Group 1 - The "Weihe Basin Deep Drilling Project" is part of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) and aims to conduct environmental drilling to study the co-evolution of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, potentially revealing the evolution of East Asian climate and environmental changes during the Cenozoic era [1][2] - The project is a collaboration initiated by Chinese Academy of Sciences Academician An Zhisheng and international scientists, aligning with China's "Three Deep" strategy and supported by multiple national and international funding bodies [2] - The Weihe Basin is strategically located between the Loess Plateau and the Qinling mountain range, making it sensitive to East Asian monsoon climate changes and providing a unique terrestrial record for studying climate history [2][3] Group 2 - The project is divided into two phases, with the first phase focusing on obtaining 3,000 meters of sedimentary strata to reconstruct East Asia's multi-scale hydrological climate variability since the Late Miocene [3] - The second phase aims to acquire over 10,000 meters of complete sedimentary records to reveal the evolution of monsoons and their coupling with the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and Qinling Mountains, while also assessing the potential of geothermal and helium resources [3]

Core Viewpoint - The "Weihe Basin Deep Drilling Project" has officially commenced, aiming to conduct environmental drilling to study the co-evolution of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, and to assess geothermal and helium resource potential in response to national deep earth strategic needs [1][3][4]. Group 1: Project Overview - The project is a collaboration initiated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences with international scientists from the USA, Switzerland, and Australia [3]. - It consists of two phases: the first phase aims to obtain 3,000 meters of sedimentary strata, while the second phase will target over 10,000 meters of complete sediment records [3][4]. - The Weihe Basin is recognized for its thick sedimentary deposits, making it an ideal location for studying climate and environmental changes over the Cenozoic era [3][4]. Group 2: Scientific Goals - The project seeks to reconstruct hydrological and climatic variations in East Asia since the Late Miocene and to explore the coupling relationship between monsoon evolution and the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and Qinling Mountains [3][4]. - It aims to establish a "golden nail" for terrestrial climate global environmental changes during the Cenozoic [3]. Group 3: Support and Implementation - The project has received strong support from various local government and scientific institutions, including the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Natural Resources and the Weinan Municipal Government [6]. - The first phase of drilling will be jointly implemented by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Shandong Third Geological and Mineral Exploration Institute [6].