Arafura Marine Park Seafloor Backscatter Mosaics

Geoscience Australia and the Australian Institute of Marine Science collected backscatter data for the Arafura Marine Park in November 2020. The dataset comprises two 32-bit geotiff mosaic files covering the Money Shoal and Pillar Bank survey areas. This baseline information supports environmental monitoring under the park's 10-year management plan.

Use Cases

• Classifying benthic habitat types from backscatter intensity values in the geotiff mosaics.
• Analyzing seafloor texture and hardness for geological studies using the backscatter data.
• Integrating backscatter mosaics with multibeam bathymetry to create detailed seabed models.
• Monitoring changes in seabed characteristics over time by comparing with future backscatter surveys.

Strengths

• Data collected using a processed EM2040C Dual Head multibeam system.
• Mosaics processed with specialized CMST-GA MB Process software co-developed by Curtin University and Geoscience Australia.
• Survey conducted as part of a funded National Environmental Science Program project with a detailed published report.

Limitations

• Spatial coverage is limited to two specific areas (Money Shoal and Pillar Bank) within the marine park.
• Dataset consists of only two primary raster files, offering limited feature diversity.
• Temporal coverage is a single snapshot from a two-week survey in November 2020.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia and the Australian Institute of Marine Science, via the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Multibeam sonar data acquisition from the RV Solander, processed into backscatter mosaics.

Time Range

2 – 15 November 2020.

Freshness

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Geography

Arafura Marine Park, specifically Money Shoal and Pillar Bank areas in the Arafura Sea.