HR: 1340h
AN: T13D-0502    [Abstracts]
TI: The Noucaplac-1 Survey, South Fiji Basin: an International Collaboration Combining UNCLOS and Science Objectives
AU: * Roest, W R
EM: walter.roest@ifremer.fr
AF: Marine Geosciences Department, Ifremer, Centre de Brest, BP 70, Plouzane, 29280 France
AU: Herzer, R
EM: r.herzer@gns.cri.nz
AF: GNS Science, PO Box 30-368, Lower Hutt, 1 New Zealand
AU: Barker, D H
EM: d.barker@gns.cri.nz
AF: GNS Science, PO Box 30-368, Lower Hutt, 1 New Zealand
AU: Lafoy, Y
EM: yves.lafoy@gouv.nc
AF: Department of Industry, Mines and Energy of New Caledonia (DIMENC), BP 465, Noumea, 98845 New Caledonia
AB: The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea allows coastal states to claim a legal continental shelf beyond the 200 nautical miles that constitutes the Exclusive Economic Zone. One of the opportunities presented by UNCLOS article 76 is to align essential - and expensive - data acquisition in poorly mapped shelf regions with scientific research interests, thus maximising data value. The Noucaplac-1 survey that took place in August 2004 in the South Fiji Basin is an example of collaboration between neighboring states aiming to address both UNCLOS article 76 requirements and scientific objectives. The Noucaplac-1 survey was designed by the French EXTRAPLAC (reasoned extension of the continental shelf) program to identify the natural prolongation of the New Caledonian territory along the Loyalty Ridge. At the same time, the environs of the potential extended continental shelf claim was identified by the New Zealand collaborators as a key region for study to improve understanding of the regional tectonic evolution and the survey scope was modified accordingly. This contribution describes the data acquired on board the French RV L'Atalante during the Noucaplac-1 cruise. In addition to the multibeam bathymetric data collected with the EM-12 multibeam echo sounder and showing basement tectonic fabric at the sea floor, high-speed seismic data are of particular interest, as they allow the interpretation of basement morphology in this area that is covered by relatively sparse sediments. Regional magnetic data provide additional evidence for distinct morphotectonic regions that may help a New Caledonian extended continental shelf claim
UR: http://www.extraplac.fr
DE: 1517 Magnetic anomalies: modeling and interpretation
DE: 3040 Plate tectonics (8150, 8155, 8157, 8158)
DE: 3045 Seafloor morphology, geology, and geophysics
DE: 8155 Plate motions: general (3040)
SC: Tectonophysics [T]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005