AGSO Marine Seismic and Navigation Data Format Specifications

AGSO digital seismic data adheres to standards from Barry et al. (1975) with specific trace header variations. The format includes optional entries for acquisition and processing, such as SHOT or SPN numbers, with a key change in annotation conventions occurring in 1993. Data sets may also incorporate corrected bathymetry, magnetics, and gravity measurements.

Use Cases

• Interpret seismic trace headers based on defined mnemonics and byte positions.
• Relate vintage pre 1993 data to original field data using SPN or time header values.
• Correct navigation data to the mid point between source and first active channel.
• Maintain field data polarity conventions where a compression wave is plotted as negative.
• Integrate supplementary geophysical data like bathymetry, magnetics, and gravity corrected to a common midpoint.

Strengths

• Format adheres to a cited geophysical standard (Barry et al., 1975).
• Documentation details historical changes in shot point numbering conventions, specifically the shift from SPN to SHOT in 1993.
• Describes corrections applied to integrate navigation and supplementary geophysical data.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect temporal bias inherent to AGSO's historical data collection periods.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Format description for assisting users of AGSO digital seismic data.

Time Range

References data released prior to and after 1993.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 17:07:48.340677; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Likely covers marine areas surveyed by AGSO (Australian Geological Survey Organisation).