Project 121.30: Seismic Survey of the Southern Lord Howe Rise

Approximately 3250 km of multichannel seismic data was acquired during Survey 114 to investigate the geological framework of the southern Lord Howe Rise and West Norfolk Ridge region. The project aimed to define Australia's legal continental shelf, assess resource potential, and understand the tectonic evolution of 'ribbon continents'. Data collection began on 6 November 1992, using a 3000 m streamer and 30-fold coverage.

Use Cases

• Mapping subsurface structure and stratigraphy based on multichannel seismic reflection profiles.
• Assessing hydrocarbon or mineral resource potential of structural features in the region.
• Supporting legal definitions of Australia's continental shelf under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• Modeling tectonic evolution and crustal characteristics of extended continental lithosphere.
• Informing maritime boundary negotiations between Australia and New Zealand.

Strengths

• Data covers a specific, strategically important region of approximately 1.65 million km² of claimed continental shelf.
• Survey specifications are detailed, including 3250 km of lines, a 3000 m streamer, and 30-fold coverage.
• Dataset is associated with a formal post-cruise report from a national geological survey (Geoscience Australia).

Limitations

• Critical metadata is missing: column/attribute names, row counts, file sizes, and specific data formats are not listed.
• The dataset's primary documentation is a PDF/HTML report; the underlying raw or processed data files are not described.
• Data is from a single survey in 1992, limiting temporal analysis of modern geological processes.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia

Collection Method

Marine geophysical survey (Survey 114) acquiring multichannel seismic and associated data.

Time Range

1992 (Survey commenced 6 November 1992)

Freshness

Metadata was last updated on 2026-04-30, but the underlying data is from 1992.

Geography

Southern Lord Howe Rise, southern New Caledonia Basin, West Norfolk Ridge, Tasman Basin to Norfolk Basin (Australia/New Zealand seabed boundary zone).