The Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 202 Science Party thanks the many people who contributed to an exceptionally successful expedition. We particularly appreciate the efforts of the JOIDES Resolution crew under the supervision of Captain Pete Mowat and Drilling Superintendent Scott Pedersen. ODP Operations Manager Ron Grout contributed greatly to our scientific success, working with Transocean drilling personnel to optimize recovery with a record number of drill-over APC operations, creative use of nonmagnetic core barrels, and a host of other details. Schlumberger logger Steve Kittredge provided superb downhole logs of great value. The ODP science technicians, led by Burney Hamlin and Tim Bronk, did a great job handling more than 7 km of core and complex core logging operations. Given time and materials constraints on Leg 202, some of the core logging and describing operations extended into Leg 203, which Tom Davies and Ralph Moberly kindly took on in addition to their normal leg activities. We were impressed with how the entire crew and scientific staff worked as a single team toward a common goal of successful science.

A large number of scientists participated in site survey operations and other regional studies that led to Leg 202. We particularly thank Larry Mayer, Dave Anderson, David Lea, Steve Bloomer, Chris Goldfinger, Gary Klinkhammer, Jim McManus, Ann Morey-Ross, Mysti Weber, Bill Rugh, Debbie Colbert, Jennifer McKay, Jorge Ruben Valdes Saavedra, Hernán Vergara, Carlos Jose Orbegoso Pandal, Federico Velasco Castillo, Brian West, Dave Hulett, Mitch Lyle, Lee Liberty, Aleksandra Janik, Peter Kalk, Chris Moser, Maziet Cheseby, Adolfo Molina-Cruz, Stacy Kish, Nicklas G. Pisias, Melissa Feldberg, Brit Perlet, Elizabeth Kujawinski, Stephanie Kienast, Tara Ivanochko, Peter Eiler, Anthony Hager, Kenji Wright, Jennifer Taylor, Natalie Speck, Ignacio Martinez, Ligia L. Perez-Cruz, Carlos Gutierrez, Steve Hovan, Gene Pollard, Seth Mogk, Bob Wilson, Dierk Hebbeln, and Gerold Wefer.

We also appreciate the efforts of the JOIDES organization, ODP management at Texas A&M University, and the many participants in the JOIDES advisory structure that nurtured our drilling proposal over nearly a decade prior to drilling. We thank the governments of Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Costa Rica for facilitating the work of Leg 202 within each country’s exclusive economic zone. Finally, we acknowledge the efforts of the ODP Publication Services Department staff members, who helped with the presentation of results in this volume.