Lord Howe Rise Seismic Data: East-West Profile and Multi-Channel Surveys

March–May 2016 marine geophysical data acquired by JAMSTEC and Geoscience Australia to study the Lord Howe Rise. The dataset includes a 680 km long east-west seismic refraction profile, approximately 600 km of high-resolution 2D seismic reflection data, and multibeam bathymetry, gravity, and magnetic data. Preliminary results from the 2016 Seismological Society of Japan Fall Meeting suggest variations in crustal nature from oceanic to continental.

Use Cases

• Modeling crustal structure based on wide-angle seismic refraction data from ocean-bottom seismometers.
• Interpreting rift-fill sedimentary deposits and acoustic basement using multi-channel seismic reflection profiles.
• Planning International Ocean Discovery Program drilling sites based on high-resolution 2D seismic data.
• Analyzing geophysical properties of the Tasman Sea region using combined gravity and magnetic data.

Strengths

• Includes a 680 km long east-west oriented seismic profile with data from approximately 100 ocean-bottom seismometers.
• Contains approximately 600 km of high-resolution 2D seismic reflection data for seven potential drilling sites.
• Presents preliminary combined interpretation of seismic refraction and reflection data, including mantle arrivals recorded at offsets up to 250 km.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data freshness should be verified; the last metadata update is listed as 2026-06-23.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network via data_gov_au, involving Geoscience Australia and JAMSTEC.

Collection Method

Acquired onboard the JAMSTEC vessel R/V Kairei using marine geophysical instruments.

Time Range

March–May 2016

Freshness

Data acquired in 2016; metadata last updated 2026-06-23.

Geography

Lord Howe Rise, east of Australia, in water depths up to 3,000 m.