Arafura Marine Park Backscatter Mosaics from 2020 Survey

November 2020 backscatter data for the Arafura Marine Park, collected by Geoscience Australia and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. The dataset consists of two 32-bit geotiff mosaic files covering the Money Shoal and Pillar Bank areas, produced from processed multibeam sonar data. This survey was funded to build baseline information for benthic habitats to support a 10-year marine park management plan.

Use Cases

• Map seafloor composition and texture based on backscatter intensity data
• Establish baseline benthic habitat models for environmental monitoring as mentioned in the management plan
• Integrate backscatter data with seabed samples and underwater imagery for holistic habitat analysis
• Support marine spatial planning within the North Marine Park Network based on the collected geophysical data

Strengths

• Data collected during a dedicated scientific survey from 2–15 November 2020
• Processed using a specific, co-developed software toolbox (CMST-GA MB Process v15.04.04.0)
• Associated with a detailed, publicly available post-survey report

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Collected via multibeam sonar (EM2040C Dual Head system) from the RV Solander

Time Range

2 – 15 November 2020

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 16:49:53.467879; freshness should be verified

Geography

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