This award will support a sidescan sonar and marine geophysical survey of the western Woodlark Basin to study the structural and volcanic processes, and the dynamics of the upper mantle that are associated with the splitting of continents. The lateral variation from continental rifting to seafloor spreading within the Woodlark Basin makes it an ideal area to investigate the active process of rifting and spreading center propagation into a continent. Previous detailed seismic reflection work in the area will provide excellent control on the deeper expression of the rifting process and will be integrated with results from the present project. The results of this study will provide necessary site survey data with which to plan drilling in the Woodlark Basin.
