Crustal Structure Data from Gulf of Papua Seismic Survey

Interpretation of seismic refraction data from the southwestern Papuan Peninsula and northwest Coral Sea provides insights into crustal composition and thickness. The dataset includes sediment thickness, P-wave velocities, and Moho depth measurements across key geological features like the Moresby Trough and Eastern Plateau. It was published by the Australian Ocean Data Network, with a record last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Modeling sediment thickness distribution (e.g., 5 km over Papuan Plateau, 10 km along Moresby Trough axes) to understand basin deposition history.
• Analyzing P-wave velocity layers (6.07 km s^-1 upper crust, 6.9 km s^-1 lower crust) to infer crustal type and composition.
• Mapping Moho depth variations (27-29 km under peninsula, 19 km under Moresby Trough) to constrain crustal thinning and tectonic models.
• Correlating inferred crustal layers (continental vs. oceanic) with tectonic stress patterns proposed for the region's formation.

Strengths

• Data interpretation uses several seismic inversion techniques, providing consistent results.
• Includes specific quantitative measurements like sediment thickness (1-10 km) and P-wave velocities (6.07-6.9 km s^-1).
• Defines Moho depth across multiple regions with precise ranges (19-29 km).

Limitations

• The sample size or number of specific seismic data points is not provided.
• Data coverage is insufficient to determine lower crustal layer presence in some offshore areas like under the Moresby Trough.
• Original raw seismic data files or a structured data table are not directly available, only interpretations in document format.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Interpretation of seismic refraction data.

Time Range

null

Freshness

Record metadata indicates an update in April 2026, suggesting maintained accessibility.

Geography

Gulf of Papua, northwestern Coral Sea, southwestern coast of the Papuan Peninsula, including the Moresby Trough, Aure Trough, and Eastern Plateau.