Summary
Currently a major Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) campaign south of Australia
is being carried out, comprising nine drilling legs. We propose to
create a tectonic and paleogeographic framework for interpreting, modelling
and synthesising these data. A joint analysis of Arctic and Antarctic
regions will bring together a group of researchers from the Universities
of Ottawa/Canada, California at San Diego/USA and Sydney to integrate data
and models for the evolution of polar ocean basins and margins. The
project will strengthen our ties with centres of excellence in polar geoscience
and help to maximise the return for Australia's investment in ODP.
Outcomes
1) Revised plate tectonic reconstructions for polar regions
2) Revised digital grid of the age of the ocean floor in these regions
3) Tectonic base maps to be used for synthesis of ODP data
4) Computer animations of plate motions, based on gravity grid reconstructions,
illustrating plate breakup, passive margin formation and separation.
5) Strengthening of Australian ties with centres of excellence in polar
geoscience
6) Maximise the return for Australia's, Canada’s and the USA’s investment
in ODP
Most importantly, for Australia this project will provide a tectonic
data base and framework for the combined analysis of all ODP data collected
south of Australia and around Antarctica. Our work will provide a
key element to ensure that data from individual ODP legs are synthesised
with all other relevant data, to work towards an integrated understanding
of paleoceanography, climate and sea-level change and glaciation through
time.
Participants
Dr. R. D. Müller, The University of Sydney
Dr. W.R. Roest, Geological Survey of Canada
Prof. S.C. Cande, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Dr. Takemi Ishihara, Geological Survey of Japan
Dr. Carmen Gaina, The University of Sydney, Research Fellow
Ivan Teliatnikov, The University of Sydney, Ph.D. student
Belinda Brown, The University of Sydney, Ph.D. student