Tectonic Geomorphology and Holocene Uplift Rates for Lae, Papua New Guinea

Australian Ocean Data Network hosts a dataset on the tectonic geomorphology and Holocene uplift rates of the Lae Urban Area in Papua New Guinea. The data relates to the Ramu-Markham Fault Zone, where a convergence rate of ~50 mm/yr is accommodated, and includes analysis of river terraces indicating past seismic events. The work was presented at the 2023 Australian Earthquake Engineering Society Conference.

Use Cases

• Modeling seismic hazard and risk for Lae city based on fault zone geometry and convergence rates.
• Estimating earthquake recurrence intervals based on dated river terrace flights.
• Mapping active fault traces and assessing single-event displacements for the Ramu-Markham Fault Zone.
• Analyzing the relationship between tectonic uplift and regional geomorphology from riverine and marine processes.

Strengths

• Focuses on a specific, high-convergence-rate tectonic boundary (~50 mm/yr).
• Analysis is grounded in concrete geomorphic features like river terraces with typical riser heights of 3 m.
• Explicitly aims to inform a seismic hazard and risk assessment for a major urban area.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data freshness should be verified; last metadata update was 2026-06-05.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Likely contains field measurements, geomorphic mapping, and terrace dating.

Time Range

Holocene (approximately last 11,700 years)

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-05 06:37:57.114717; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Lae Urban Area and surrounding region, Papua New Guinea