Publications

Newly acquired high resolution bathymetry data acquired as part of the TGS-NOPEC IndoDeep project reveals a detailed landscape an active convergent deformation system in the Seram Trough. The Seram Trough is a zone of convergent deformation along the southwest margin of the Birds Head region of west Papua. The nature of the deformation can generally be described as zone of young thrusting within an Australian continental crustal block between the Birds Head and Seram Island. The Birds Head is located along the northern edge of the Australian Plate where the plate margin is subjected to transpressional tectonics associated with oblique convergence between the Australia and Pacific Plates. The transform component of the plate boundary is attributed to the Sorong and Terera-Aiduna fault zones.The newly acquired bathymetry data provides a continuous has been processed to create a bathymetric image that covers the majority of the Seram Trough. Fault lineaments and fold axes are identified from the image and divided into structural domains providing new insight into active tectonic processes in the region.The eastern portion of the Seram trough is characterized by a complex pattern of folds with severe changes in fold axis orientations along the margins. These orientation changes are considered to be a result of distributed transpressional deformation. The transform component increases in dominance to the north. The offshore extension of the deformation accommodated by the Terera-Aiduna fault zone is readily apparent, though not discretely connected to the onshore fault system. South of this major tectonic boundary, the Seram Trough appears to be purely convergent, with no indications of strike slip faulting.