Lord Howe Rise Seismic and Bathymetry Data for Crustal Analysis

March–May 2016 data acquisition campaign collected marine geophysical data from the Lord Howe Rise region. The dataset includes a 680 km east-west seismic refraction profile with ~100 ocean-bottom seismometers, ~600 km of 2D seismic reflection data, and multibeam bathymetry, gravity, and magnetic data. It was acquired by JAMSTEC and Geoscience Australia and presented at a 2016 scientific meeting.

Use Cases

• Model crustal thickness and composition by analyzing Moho reflections (PmP) and mantle arrivals (Pn) from OBS data.
• Map sedimentary basin geometry and acoustic basement structure using the 680 km multi-channel seismic (MCS) reflection profile.
• Correlate basement type (oceanic vs. continental crust) with gravity and magnetic anomaly data across the survey area.
• Identify potential drill sites for IODP proposals using high-resolution 2D seismic reflection data from seven locations.
• Study seafloor morphology and water depths up to 3,000 m using the collected multibeam bathymetry data.

Strengths

• Includes a 680 km long seismic refraction profile with ~100 ocean-bottom seismometers.
• Covers ~600 km of high-resolution 2D seismic reflection data at seven distinct sites.
• Multimodal dataset combines seismic, bathymetry, gravity, and magnetic measurements.

Limitations

• Data rows, sample size, and file sizes are unspecified.
• Dataset consists of preliminary results from 2016, potentially lacking final processed models.
• Spatial coverage is limited to specific transects and sites within the Lord Howe Rise region.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, from a collaboration between JAMSTEC and Geoscience Australia.

Collection Method

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

Time Range

March–May 2016.

Freshness

Data was acquired in 2016 and metadata was last updated in 2026, but the core dataset reflects a single campaign.

Geography

Lord Howe Rise region east of Australia, spanning approximately 600 km by 1,600 km.