Descr: The principal objectives of this project are to obtain deep crustal structure profiles along two transects crossing the young, ctive convergent plate margin between the oceanic Pacific and the continental Australian plates beneath the North Island of New Zealand. This is a superb area for investigationg processes at a convergent margin. The two transects, across the central and southern parts of North Island, are through tectonic environments at different stages of development of the subduction system. Both transects cross all the way from the Pacific oceanic plate, through the active accretionary prism and on to the continental crust of the Australian plate. The geographic setting means that both sides of the convergent margin can be approached at sea, with huge advantages of being able to use marine seismic airgun sources and ocean bottom seismometer receivers, together wit the ability to deploy a dense (1 km spacing) array of 3-component seismometers on land in the intervening sections of North Island.
