This industry sponsored 4-year research project will investigate the deep structure of the Faroe-Shetland, Rockall-Hatton and Porcupine trough regions using deep seismic reflection and refraction profiling, integrated with potential field studies. The research will provide constraints on thickness of basement, depth to Moho, top and base Cretaceous, the distribution and thickness of basaltic lavas and underplated igneous rock, on a regional scale. Its primary scientific objective is to test the theory that magmatic underplating is directly responsible for the early Tertiary epeirogenic uplift observed on the continental shelf of the eastern North Atlantic. The data will also provide new constraints for basin modelling and analysis.During the first 3 years of the project 3000 km of deep reflection and refraction seismic data and potential field data have been acquired. The new profiles extend the existing grid of deep seismic data acquired by BIRPS out to the continental margin to tie with previously acquired academic data.
After an initial period of confidentiality, the new data may be made available to academic research groups for further work to develop its full potential. During the first 18 months of the project over 1500 km of new deep reflection and refraction data has been acquired over the Faroe-Shetland and Rockall, Hatton and Porcupine troughs.
The AMP research team at Cambridge comprises Richard Hobbs, Richard England, Rose Edwards and Frauke Klingelhoefer.