AGSO Marine Seismic and Navigation Data Format Specifications

Format descriptions for digital marine seismic and navigation data from the Australian Geological Survey Organisation. The documentation details standard and optional trace header entries, including SHOT, SPN, and FFID numbers, with conventions for data released before and after 1993. It was published by the Australian Ocean Data Network, with a record last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Interpret seismic trace headers using defined mnemonics like TRACED for unstacked field data.
• Reconcile shot point numbers between vintage (SPN) and modern (SHOT, FFID) data releases for consistent mapping.
• Apply static corrections and delays defined in the header to account for field acquisition system characteristics.
• Correct navigation data by aligning ship antenna positions to the source-channel mid-point convention.
• Process integrated bathymetry, magnetics, and gravity data corrected to the same mid-point location as seismic traces.

Strengths

• Documentation references established geophysical standards from a 1975 Geophysics publication.
• Clearly defines handling for data released across two distinct periods (pre-1993 and post-1993).
• Specifies corrections for integrating multiple geophysical data types (seismic, magnetics, gravity) to a common reference point.

Limitations

• The actual seismic data files are not included, only the format description.
• Sample data and concrete row/column counts for example datasets are unavailable.
• Specific temporal and geographic coverage for the described data is not provided.

Provenance

Source

Australian Geological Survey Organisation (AGSO), via the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Format specification for digitally recorded marine seismic and navigation data.

Time Range

Primarily covers data released prior to 1993, with notes on changes from 1993 onward.

Freshness

Record metadata was last updated in April 2026, but the described formats pertain to data from 1993 and earlier.

Geography

Marine surveys conducted by or for AGSO, location unspecified.