Funds are being provided to study the seismicity of an active continental breakup in the western Woodlark Basin, offshore Papua New Guinea. Low-angle normal detachment is a fundamental process in passive margin evolution but conflicts with basic Andersonian tenet of frictional slip on faults. 24 to 35 degree low-angle slip planes are known in the continental crust of the Woodlark Basin and provides an opportunity to test the ideas of low-angle seismicity. A marine-land passive seismic experiment will be undertaken, focused on a region of high-localized strain. Seafloor instruments will be arrayed to record microseismicity and PASSCAL instruments will be deployed on surrounding islands to record regional seismicity. ODP drilling will provide additional constraints on faulting.
