Project 121.30: Seismic Survey of Southern Lord Howe Rise Geology

3191 km of multichannel seismic data were acquired in November 1992 to investigate the geological framework of the southern Lord Howe Rise and West Norfolk Ridge. The Australian Ocean Data Network published this post-cruise report to support understanding of basin development, crustal characteristics, and resource potential in the Australia/New Zealand seabed boundary zone. Data collection aimed to assist in defining Australia's legal continental shelf, an area estimated at about 1.65 million km² in the region.

Use Cases

• Modeling basin development and stratigraphy based on deep crustal seismic lines
• Assessing hydrocarbon or mineral resource potential based on major structural features
• Reconstructing tectonic framework and crustal evolution to understand 'ribbon continent' formation
• Supporting legal continental shelf definition based on acquired geophysical data

Strengths

• Acquired 3191 km of multichannel seismic data with 30-fold coverage and 16-second records
• Data quality was reported as very good, with noise levels within specifications during key long lines
• Survey targeted a specific, geopolitically relevant region concerning a 1.65 million km² continental shelf area

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• Data is from a single survey in 1992; freshness should be verified for contemporary applications

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Marine survey acquiring multichannel seismic data using a 3000 m streamer and 49 litre sleeve gun arrays

Time Range

Survey conducted from 6 November to 3 December 1992

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 19:33:44.837508; freshness should be verified

Geography

Southern Lord Howe Rise, southern New Caledonia Basin, and West Norfolk Ridge region