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Geophysical (gravity and seismic reflection and refraction surveys) and oceanographic measurements in the Ross Sea to study the Ross Sea basin

Entry ID: K101_1980_1981_NZ_1

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Summary

Abstract: Geophysical and oceanographic investigations were conducted in the Ross Sea during a McMurdo Sound to McMurdo Sound charter aboard the MV Benjamin Bowring. The main geophysical program was designed to study three regions in the Ross Sea including the Eastern Ross Sea basin and continental margin, the Western Ross Sea Graben and the Transantarctic Mountains front. The objective for the Eastern ... Ross Sea basin and continental margin was to complete gravity and seismic reflection and refraction data along profiles from the ice shelf to about 73°S along 170°W and 165°W. A link to the Deep Sea Drilling Program sites 270-272 would be made using existing Eltanin or Explora data. For the Western Ross Sea Graben, an east-west profile from 180° to 165°E along latitude 75.5°S was planned. Gravity and seismic reflection and refraction measurements were measured. For the Transantarctic Front, six east-west profiles about 30km apart running westwards from longitude 170°E to as near the Victoria Land coastline as ice conditions permitted was planned. Gravity and seismic reflection and refraction data were measured. The oceanographic program had two objectives, i) to sample the water mass at depths down to 300m to investigate the distribution of hard shelled phytoplankton between New Zealand and the Ross Ice Shelf, and ii) to obtain seafloor sediment samples along the ice front in McMurdo Sound. The plan was to consist of water bottle stations at every degree of latitude from 46°S to the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf, from Lyttelton, New Zealand to McMurdo Sound, and underway marine gravity measurements were planned for between bottle stations. On the voyage to McMurdo Sound, the oceanographic program and gravity measurements were carried out. The program consisted of water sampling to depths of 250m at station intervals of one degree latitude. However, rough sea conditions and violent ship motion curtailed the program and 8 stations were successfully completed. Gravity observations were made for most of the voyage but rough sea conditions shut down the meter for a couple of days and made data at other times marginal. Bathymetric data were recorded until depths of about 4000 m were reached when signal strength was too small and no record obtained. The results for the data collected from Lyttelton to McMurdo Sound includes 3700km of gravity measurements, 1000km of bathymetry measurements and 8 stations for oceanographic measurements. Due to ice conditions in the Ross Sea and equipment problems various measurements were collected for the Eastern Ross Sea basin and continental margin, the Western Ross Sea Graben and the Transantarctic Mountains front. Final results include 4200km of gravity measurements, 3200km seismic reflection profiling measurements, 25 sonobuoy seismic refraction observations and 6 shallow gravity core stations (5 successful).

Related URL

Link: GET DATA

Description: Seismic data collected in Antarctica is required to be lodged with the Seismic Data Librabry system.

Geographic Coverage

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Spatial coordinates

N: -46.0

S: -78.0

E: -150.0

W: 150.0

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1981-01-06

Stop Date: 1981-02-27

Location Keywords

CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA

GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR

OCEAN > SOUTHERN OCEAN > ROSS SEA

Science Keywords

OCEANS > MARINE GEOPHYSICS > MAGNETIC ANOMALIES

OCEANS > MARINE GEOPHYSICS > MARINE GRAVITY FIELD

ISO Topic Category

GEOSCIENTIFIC INFORMATION

Platform

SHIPS

Instrument

GRAVIMETERS

SEISMIC REFLECTION PROFILERS

Quality The data is contained in the publications and with the Seismic Data Library System online. Please contact the investigator for more information.

Data Set Progress

COMPLETE

Data Center

Antarctica New Zealand, New Zealand Antarctic Institute, New Zealand

Data Center URL: http://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/

Data Center Personnel
Name: SHULAMIT GORDON Phone: +64 3 358 0200 Fax: +64 3 358 0211 Email: s.gordon at antarcticanz.govt.nz Contact Address: Antarctica New Zealand Private Bag 4745 City: Christchurch Country: New Zealand

Personnel

FRED DAVEY

Role: INVESTIGATOR

Phone: +64 4 473 8208

Fax: +64 4 471 0977

Email: fred.davey at gns.cri.nz

Contact Address:

IGNS

PO Box 1320

Kelburn

City: Wellington

Country: NEW ZEALAND

CEISHA POIROT

Role: DIF AUTHOR

Phone: +64 3 358 0200

Fax: +64 3 358 0211

Email: c.poirot at antarcticanz.govt.nz

Contact Address:

Antarctica New Zealand

Private Bag 4745

City: Christchurch

Country: New Zealand

SHULAMIT GORDON

Role: DIF AUTHOR

Phone: +64 3 358 0200

Fax: +64 3 358 0211

Email: s.gordon at antarcticanz.govt.nz

Contact Address:

Antarctica New Zealand

Private Bag 4745

City: Christchurch

Country: New Zealand

Publications/References

Davey, F.J. 1981 Geophysical studies in the Ross Sea region. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 11(4): 465-479

Davey, F.J. Bennett, D.J. Houtz, R.E. 1982 Sedimentary basins of the Ross Sea, Antarctica. New Zealand journal of geology and geophysics 25(2): 245-255

Davey, F.J. 1983 Sedimentary basins of the Ross Sea, Antarctica. New Zealand Antarctic record 5(1): 25-30

Davey, F.J. Hinz, K. Schroeder, H. 1983 Sedimentary basins of the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Antarctic earth science. Oliver, R.L., James, P.R., Jago, J.B. (eds), Canberra Australian Academy of Science

Davey, F.J. Christoffel, D.A. 1984 The correlation of MSSTS-1 drillhole results with seismic reflection data from McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. New Zealand journal of geology and geophysics 27(4): 405-412

Cooper, A.K. Davey, F.J. 1984 Marine geological and geophysical investigations in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Antarctic journal of the United States 19(5): 80-82

Cooper, A.K. Davey, F.J. 1985 Episodic rifting of Phanerozoic rocks in the Victoria Land basin, western Ross Sea, Antarctica. Science 229(4718): 1085-1087

Cooper, A.K. Davey, F.J. (eds) 1987 The Antarctic continental margin: geology and geophysics of the western Ross Sea. Houston, TX Circum-Pacific Council for Energy and Mineral Resources Earth science series 5B

Cooper, A.K. Davey, F.J. Behrendt, J.C. 1987 Seismic stratigraphy and structure of the Victoria Land Basin, Western Ross Sea, Antarctica. The Antarctic continental margin: geology and geophysics of the western Ross Sea. Cooper, A.K. Davey, F.J. (eds) Houston, TX Circum-Pacific Council for Energy and Mineral Resources Earth science series 5B

Cooper, A.K. Davey, F.J. Cochrane, G.R. 1987 Structure of extensionally rifted crust beneath the Western Ross Sea and Iselin Bank, Antarctica: from sonobouy derived data. The Antarctic continental margin: geology and geophysics of the western Ross Sea. Cooper, A.K. Davey, F.J. (eds) Houston, TX Circum-Pacific Council for Energy and Mineral Resources Earth science series 5B

Cooper, A.K. Davey, F.J. 1987 Gravity studies of the Victoria Land Basin and Iselin Bank. The Antarctic continental margin: geology and geophysics of the western Ross Sea. Cooper, A.K. Davey, F.J. (eds) Houston, TX Circum-Pacific Council for Energy and Mineral Resources Earth science series 5B

Cooper, A.K. Davey, F.J. Hinz, K. 1991 Crustal extension and origin of sedimentary basins beneath the Ross Sea and Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Geological evolution of Antarctica; proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences, Cambridge, 1987. Thomson, M.R.A. Crame, J.A. Thomson, J.W. (eds) Cambridge Cambridge University Press 521372666

Bennett, D.J. Sissons, B.A. 1984 Gravity models across the Transantarctic Mountain Front near New Harbour, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. New Zealand journal of geology and geophysics 27(4): 413-424

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2009-06-22

Last DIF Revision Date: 2009-06-30

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