BGR Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe

Marine seismic survey area: Antarctic Ocean - Reflection seismic data

Refraction seismic data

Working area: ANTARCTIC OCEAN
(1) Weddel Sea(2) Ross Sea
BGR78 (Explora) 1978BGR80 (Explora) 1980
BGR96 (Ak. Nemchinov) 1996
ANT.IV (Polarstern) 1986
ANT.VIII (Polarstern) 1990

Antarctic OceanAntarctic Ocean Source: BGR

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Cruise BGR78 1978

Vessel Explora

Weddel Sea

Multichannel seismic data acquisition parameters:
Total length of lines12.063 km 
Sampling rate4 ms
Record length6 000 ms
Streamerdigital - 48 channels

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Cruise BGR96 1996

Vessel Akademik Nemchinov

Weddel Sea

Multichannel seismic data acquisition parameters:
Total length of lines3600 km 
Sampling rate4 ms
Record length14 000 ms
Streamer

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Cruise ANT.IV/3 1986

Vessel Polarstern

Weddel Sea

Multichannel seismic data acquisition parameters:
Total length of lines5756 km 
Sampling rate4 ms
Record length10 000 ms
Streamerdigital - 48 channels

Summary 

On the "F.S. POLARSTERN" cruise ANT-IV/3 (6th December, 1985 - 13th March, 1986) multichannel seismic measurements were carried out in parallel with magnetic and gravimetric measurements on 33 lines with a total length of 6,263 km . 3,350 km of the multichannel seismic lines have been processed aboard. The geophysical studies were designed to investigate the structure and geological development of the Weddell Sea continental margin from meridians zero to 60°W, and to define suitable and safe drilling locations for Leg 113 of the Ocean Drilling Program.

The main results of the geophysical studies are:

  • the discovery of an approximately N50°E trending failed drift basin, following the trend of a negative magnetic anomaly and a positive gravity anomaly; - the discovery of two extensive wedge-shaped and symmetric basement units around a failed drift basin between longitudes 40°W and 20°W. The seismic characteristics, i.e. seismic velocities of > 4 km/s and an internally divergent pattern of reflectors suggest that both wedges are formed from extrusive/intrusive volcanic rocks;
  • the confirmation of a major plate tectonic boundary trending approximately N80°E to N60°E, i.e. the EXPLORA-ANDENES escarpment;
  • the confirmation of a glaciogenic progradational wedge beneath the shelf of the Weddell Sea Embayment, made up of several thousand metres of sediments;
  • the definition of 13 suitable and safe drilling locations for ODP-Leg 113.

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Cruise ANT.VIII 1990

Vessel Polarstern

Weddel Sea

Multichannel seismic data acquisition parameters:
Total length of lines3.970 km 
Sampling rate4 ms
Record length12 000 ms
Streamerdigital - 48 channels

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Cruise BGR80 1980

Vessel Explora

Ross Sea

Multichannel seismic data acquisition parameters:
Total length of lines6.743 km 
Sampling rate4 ms
Record length10 000 ms
Streamerdigital - 48 channels

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