Arafura Marine Park Bathymetry Survey from November 2020

Geoscience Australia and the Australian Institute of Marine Science collected bathymetry data for the Arafura Marine Park from November 2 to 15, 2020. The survey aimed to build baseline information on benthic habitats to support a 10-year environmental monitoring plan. Data includes a 6-meter resolution geotiff of multibeam bathymetry for Money Shoal and Pillar Bank areas.

Use Cases

• Modeling seafloor topography and habitat suitability based on 6-meter resolution bathymetry data.
• Analyzing benthic community distribution patterns based on seabed samples and underwater imagery.
• Establishing environmental baselines for marine park monitoring based on the survey's stated purpose.
• Mapping specific underwater features like Money Shoal and Pillar Bank based on the described survey areas.

Strengths

• Data collected by authoritative institutions Geoscience Australia and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
• Includes a 6-meter resolution geospatial product, suggesting a high level of detail for the survey area.
• Survey purpose and methodology are documented in a referenced 2021 post-survey report.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and total spatial coverage are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic and temporal bias inherent to the specific November 2020 survey period.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data collected via RV Solander, processed with CARIS HIPS and SIPS software.

Time Range

November 2–15, 2020

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 17:26:51.417956; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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