The Lithosphere

Seismological and geomagnetic observations

Principal Investigator: Stephen Bannister
Organisation: IGNS

Seismological and geomagnetic observations are recorded at Scott Base and surrounding locations and constitute a significant contribution to New Zealand and global earthquake studies and provide a record of long-term changes in the Earth's geomagnetic field.

Seismological data collected by this programme helps to improve understanding of the crustal and mantle structure of the Transantarctic Mountains, and of the neotectonics of the region.

Recent publications:
Bannister, S. Yu, J. Leitner, B. Kennett, B. L. N. Variations in crustal structure across the transition from West to East Antarctica, Southern Victoria Land. Geophysical Journal International 155: 870-884, 2003.

Bannister, S. and Kennett, B. Seismic activity in the central Transantarctic Mountains: results from a broadband array deployment. Terra Antartica 9(1): 41-46, 2002.

Bannister, S. Sneider, R.K. Passier, M.L. Shear-wave velocities under the Transantarctic Mountains and Terror Rift from surface wave inversion. Geophysical research letters 27(2): 281-284, 2000.