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Controlled Source Seismology

• Gas Hydrates
• Marine Geophysics
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• Reflection Seismology
• Refraction Seismology

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» Home > Research > Geophysics >

Controlled-Source Seismology

Our research is primarily in applied controlled-source seismology (acquisition, processing and interpretation) for both terrestrial and marine seismic data. Please use the links on the side of this page to explore our current topics of interest and to investigate opportunities to join us as a postgraduate student.

Staff

Dr. Andrew Gorman - Senior Lecturer BSc (Geophysics) 1987, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Chevron Canada Resources, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 1987-92 Big OE by bicycle 1993 Suncor Inc. Resources Group, Calgary, Alberta 1994 PhD (Geophysics) - October 2000, University of British Columbia, Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences. Post-doctoral Researcher - July 2000 - January 2003 University of Wyoming, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Laramie, Wyoming Lecturer - January 2003 - present University of Otago, Department of Geology, Dunedin, New Zealand

Hamish Bowman – Research Assistant MSc (Marine Science) pending University of Otago Role: research support for marine geophysical operations and seismic analysis lab

Current Students

	James Ashley – MSc BSc (Geophysics, VUW) - 2010 Research topic: New Zealand surface heat flow and its tectonic implications (Co-supervised by Dr. Rob Funnell, GNS Science, Lower Hutt)
	Callum Bruce – MSc Research topic: Seismic imaging of natural gas occurrences and migration pathways in the seafloor of the Reinga Basin, west of Northland.
	Joanna Cooper - PhD BSc (Geology, Calgary) – 2006, BSc (Geophysics, Calgary) – 2006 MSc (Geophysics, Calgary) - 2010 Research topic: Seismic oceanographic imaging of water masses associated with the Sub-tropical Front off the SE coast of the South Island (Co-supervisor: Dr. Ross Vennell, Marine Science.)
	Claudine Curran - PhD (on hold) BSc Hons. (Geology, NUI Galway) - 2006 Research topic:Waihemo Fault / Shag River Valley tectonics (Co-supervised by Prof. Richard Norris and Prof. Dave Craw.)
	Douglas Fraser - PhD BSc (Physics, Otago) - 1993 MSc (Geophysics, VUW) - 2001 Research Topic: Seismic characterisation of hydrate / shallow gas systems associated with active margin sediments in the Pegasus Sub-basin, Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand (Co-supervised by Ingo Pecher, University of Auckland)
	Jeremy Kilner - MSc (on hold) BSc Hons. (Geology, Otago) - 2005 Research topic: Seismic imaging of eastern Otago active fault structures (Co-supervised by Prof. Richard Norris.) Presently at Xstrata Nickel in Quebec; thesis submission pending
	Angus King - MSc (on hold) BSc (Geology, Otago) – 2009 Research topic: Quaternary paleoclimatic and paleoseismic signatures from South Westland, New Zealand Presently at IMC Mining Solutions, Brisbane; thesis submission pending. Primary Supervisor: Gary Wilson
	Adrienn Kovacs - PhD Diploma (MSc) (Engineering Earth Sciences, University of Miskolc, Hungary) - 2008 Research topic: Seismic characterisation of the Alpine Fault at Whataroa, Westland
	Tim Lennon – MSc (on hold) BSc Hons. (Applied Physics and Electronics, NUI Galway) - 2005 Research Topic: Geophysical exploration offshore Stewart Island (supported by a TEC Enterprise Scholarship sponsored by GeoSphere Ltd., Lower Hutt.) Presently at IMC Mining Solutions, Brisbane; thesis submission pending.

Former Students and Researchers

	Betina Flemming BSc(Hons) 2012 Research Topic: Characterisation of the modern sand wedge on the South Otago shelf (Co-supervised by Dr. Chris Moy).
	Matt Smillie - MSc -2012 BSc (Geology, Otago) – 2008 Research topic: Reprocessing marine multi-channel seismic data to image water masses in the Great South Basin.
	Daniel Jones - MSc 2011 BSc (Geology, Otago) – 2009 Research topic: The Geophysical Characterisation of the Foulden Hill Maar, Central Otago, New Zealand Primary Supervisor: Gary Wilson

Paul Viskovic - MSc 2010

• BSc (Geology, Otago) - 2006
• Research Topic: Fluid flux through the seafloor of the Great South Basin (supported by a TEC Enterprise Scholarship sponsored by OMV New Zealand Ltd., Wellington.)
• Presently at GNS Science in Lower Hutt

Kirsty Tinto – PhD - 2010

• BSc Hons. (Geology, Oxford) - 2003
• Research topic: Marshall Paraconformity
• Primary Supervisor: Gary Wilson
• Presently at Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, New York

Amy Shears - MSc (Environmental Science) - 2010

• BSc Hons.
• Research topic: Characterisation of the sediment budget of Otago Harbour. (Co-supervised by Abby Smith, Department of Marine Science.)

Callum Bruce – BSc Hons -2010

• Research topic: Shallow marine seismic characterisation of coast-parallel faulting south of Dunedin

Miko Fohrmann - PhD - 2009

• Diplom (Geology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich) - 2003
• Research topic: New Zealand Gas Hydrates (Co-supervised by Dr. Ingo Pecher, Heriot-Watt University and GNS Science.)
• Presently at GNS Science, Lower Hutt

Gareth Crutchley - PhD - 2009

• BSc Hons. (Geology, Otago) - 2004
• Research topic: Seismic analysis of gas hydrate "sweet spots" on the Hikurangi Margin. (Co-supervised by Dr. Ingo Pecher, Heriot-Watt University and GNS Science)
• Presently at Geomar, Kiel, Germany

Matt Hill - MSc - 2007

• Research topic: Geophysical and Geomorphological mapping of present and past landscapes, Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes. (Co-supervised by Prof. Gary Wilson.)
• Presently at GNS Science, Lower Hutt

Kim Senger - BSc Hons - 2006

• Research topic: Seismic interpretation of the Canterbury slope to identify links between gas hydrate occurrences and slope stability.

Lisa Johnston - MSc - 2006

• Research topic: McMurdo Ice Shelf Seismic Reflection Experiment, Antarctica. (Co-supervised by Dr. Gary Wilson.)

Hamish Blakemore - MSc - 2006

• Research topic: Shallow seismic investigation of the Oreti River aquifer, Southland.

Anna Leslie - MSc - 2006

• Research topic: Seismic characterisation of mineralisation at the Oceana Gold Ltd Gold Mine at Macraes, Otago.

Resources

• Seismic analysis facilities comprised of:

  • Linux-based networked PC environment.
  • GLOBE Claritas seismic processing software.
  • Kingdom Suite seismic / geological interpretation package.
  • Schlumberger's GeoFrame seismic interpretation package.
  • A 48-channel Seistronix RAS-24 seismograph system.
  • RV Polaris II equipped with state-of-the-art navigation capabilities is used for sedimentological, structural and oceanographic research in coastal waters.
  • Marine geophysical equipment maintained by the Geology Department and used on board RV Polaris II includes:
    • Teledyne-Benthos integrated towfish containing
      • C3D bathymetric sidescan system
      • 2 – 20 kHz CHIRP sub-bottom profiling system
    • Ferranti 5210A boomer sub-bottom profiler

  Additional geophysical equipment including a Worden gravimeter, a Geometrics G-856AX proton precession magnetometer, electrical exploration equipment, a shallow penetration seismic unit, short- and long-period seismographs, and GPS equipment.

  Software Documentation

  INV1D - 1-D Waveform Inversion Code - J. Korenaga

  PLOTSEC - Refraction Plotting Software (and More) - J. Amor

  RAYINVR - Documentation and Related Programs - C.A. Zelt

  RAYINVR 2.0 - Radial Earth Modifications to RAYINVR - A.R. Gorman

  SNERTC - Reflectivity Theory Synthetic Seismogram Package - B.L.N. Kennett

  Tau-P Processing of Seismic Refraction Data - A.R. Gorman

  VE2D22 - 2-D Visco-elastic Finite Difference Modelling - A.R. Levander et al.

  WKBJ - Ray Theory Synthetic Seismogram Package - C. Chapman

  Andrew Gorman