Processed multichannel seismic data off the Exmouth and Cuvier margin, northwestern Australia, acquired during the R/V Maurice Ewing survey EW0113 (2001)

The Exmouth and Cuvier margin system represents one of the best locales to study the differences between wide versus narrow rifts and to define the interplay between strain partitioning, volcanism, segmentation, and the continent-ocean transition. This geophysical investigation of the Exmouth and Cuvier margins was designed to test alternate models for continental margin development, and when these results are integrated with those from other margin studies, will lead to a better overall understanding and appreciation of: the strain partitioning across margins between the brittle upper crust and the ductile lower crust and lithospheric mantle (e.g., the upper plate paradox); the interplay between extensional style (rift architecture), magmatism and detachments; the continent-ocean transition, and the origin of magnetic anomalies observed off the Exmouth and Cuvier margin; the formation of seaward-dipping reflectors along the continent-ocean boundaries and the importance of faults in their formation. Funded by NSF grants OCE99-11877, OCE99-12007, OCE99-11962.

埃克斯茅斯（Exmouth）与居维叶（Cuvier）边缘系统是研究宽裂谷与窄裂谷差异、厘清应变分配、火山作用、分段现象及陆洋过渡相互作用的最优区域之一。本次针对埃克斯茅斯与居维叶边缘开展的地球物理调查，旨在验证大陆边缘发育的替代模型；将这些结果与其他边缘研究成果整合后，将有助于更全面地理解与认识以下内容：脆性上地壳与韧性下地壳及岩石圈地幔之间的边缘应变分配（如“上板块悖论”）；伸展样式（裂谷结构）、岩浆作用与拆离断层的相互作用；陆洋过渡及埃克斯茅斯与居维叶边缘外观测到的磁异常的起源；陆洋边界处向海倾斜反射体的形成及其形成过程中断层的重要性。本研究由美国国家科学基金会（NSF）资助，项目编号为OCE99-11877、OCE99-12007、OCE99-11962。