Arafura Marine Park Bathymetry and Backscatter Survey

A 6-meter resolution bathymetry dataset covers two areas within the Arafura Marine Park. Geoscience Australia and the Australian Institute of Marine Science collected the data in November 2020 using an EM2040C Dual Head multibeam system. The survey establishes baseline information for benthic habitats to support a 10-year marine park management plan.

Use Cases

• Model seafloor terrain and rugosity from the 6 m resolution bathymetry geotiff for habitat suitability analysis.
• Classify seabed composition by analyzing backscatter data alongside the bathymetry raster.
• Establish baseline depth profiles for the Money Shoal and Pillar Bank areas to track geomorphological changes.
• Integrate bathymetry data with accompanying seabed samples and underwater imagery for ground-truthing habitat maps.

Strengths

• High-resolution 6 m bathymetry grid derived from processed multibeam data.
• Data collection targeted two specific benthic features (Money Shoal and Pillar Bank) for focused analysis.
• Survey was conducted as part of a formal 10-year management plan (2018-2028) for the North Marine Park Network.

Limitations

• Dataset spatial coverage is limited to two specific areas within the larger marine park.
• Sample data and column details for seabed samples and imagery are unavailable for review.
• The underlying raw multibeam data files are not directly accessible, only the processed 6 m geotiff.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Collection Method

Multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data acquired using an EM2040C Dual Head system on the RV Solander, processed with CARIS HIPS and SIPS software.

Time Range

2 – 15 November 2020.

Freshness

Data was collected over a two-week period in November 2020.

Geography

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