Seismic refraction - a tool for studying coral reef growth  

Authors / CoAuthors

Harvey, N. | Davies, P.J. | Marshall, J.F.

Abstract

Seismic refraction studies have been conducted in close proximity to shallow boreholes previously drilled at Bewick (Northern Great Barrier Reef), Hayman (Central Great Barrier Reef) and Heron Islands (Southern Great Barrier Reef). Results show a seismic discontinuity at depths similar to the unconformity separating Holocene and pre-Holocene carbonates in the boreholes. Extensive seismic refraction studies have been conducted in the Capricorn/Bunker Reefs to assess the effects of substrate on modern reef growth, and the classification of modern reefs in the area. One hundred and twenty-four profiles were completed on six reefs. A marked seismic discontinuity, detected at depths ranging from 8-23 m, is equated with the Holocene/ pre-Holocene unconformity identified in the boreholes. Results show that the pre-Holocene surface forms a central depression with a raised rim around the perimeter beneath those reefs which have lagoons. This also appears to be the case beneath those reefs which presently have small or no lagoons, the inference being that Holocene sedimentation and growth have infilled the original depressions. The geophysical evidence does not support the claim that reefs of the southern Great Barrier Reef follow a latitudinal genetic sequence, but rather that the varied growth forms of the Holocene reefs have been determined to a considerable extent by the shape of the pre-Holocene surface.

Product Type

document

eCat Id

80995

Contact for the resource

Keywords

• GA PublicationJournal

( Theme )

• marine

• QLD

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

• Earth Sciences

• Published_External

Publication Date

1979-01-01T00:00:00

Creation Date

Security Constraints

Australian Government Security ClassificationSystem    

Classification - unclassified

Legal Constraints

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence    

Access - license

Use - license

Status

Purpose

Maintenance Information

unknown

Topic Category

geoscientificInformation

Series Information

BMR Journal of Australian Geology and Geophysics 4:2:141-147

Lineage

Unknown

Parent Information

Extents

[-24.0, -23.0, 151.5, 152.5]

Reference System

Spatial Resolution

Service Information

Associations

Downloads and Links

Journal article (pdf)  

Source Information

Source data not available.