Seafloor Morphology and Tectonics of the Christmas Island Area, Indian Ocean

Seismic and bathymetric data collected in 1992 for seabed assessment around Christmas Island. The dataset includes eight seismic profiles totalling about 2000 km and bathymetric data, enabling the compilation of a new 1:1,000,000 scale bathymetric map and the first sediment thickness map for the area. It was compiled by AGSO using data from the RAT 'Rig Seismic' survey and digital water depths from the USA National Geophysical Data Bank.

Use Cases

• Compiling high-resolution bathymetric maps based on the 1:1,000,000 scale map mentioned in the description.
• Analyzing sediment thickness for offshore mineral resource assessment as referenced in the survey objectives.
• Studying tectonic features like the Java Trench and seamount distribution using the newly detailed bathymetric data.
• Comparing historical bathymetric maps from the 1970s-80s with modern digital survey data to identify mapping improvements.

Strengths

• Includes about 2000 km of seismic profiles from a dedicated 1992 survey.
• Enables compilation of a 1:1,000,000 scale bathymetric map, providing more detail than previous 1:5,000,000 or 1:10,000,000 maps.
• Integrates data from multiple sources, including 'Rig Seismic' and the USA National Geophysical Data Bank, for improved area coverage.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Last updated 2026-06-27 16:46:24.165264; freshness should be verified as the core data is from 1992.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, likely originating from AGSO (Australian Geological Survey Organisation).

Collection Method

Data acquired via seismic and bathymetric survey by RAT 'Rig Seismic' in February 1992, supplemented by digital data from the USA National Geophysical Data Bank.

Time Range

Primary data collection in February 1992; report references time scales from 1974 and 1993.

Freshness

Metadata last updated 2026-06-27 16:46:24.165264; core data collection occurred in February 1992.

Geography

Christmas Island area in the Wharton basin, Indian Ocean, approximately 350 km south of Java and 1600 km north-northwest of Australia's Northwest Cape.