Torres Strait Bathymetry and Topography at 30-Meter Resolution

2023 regional-scale depth model provides a 30-meter resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for the Torres Strait. Compiled by the Australian Ocean Data Network, it integrates multibeam surveys, LiDAR, and satellite data. The dataset underpins marine habitat mapping and hydrodynamic modeling for the Great Barrier Reef region.

Use Cases

• Model water mixing and currents for the Great Barrier Reef using the 30m DEM in hydrodynamic simulations.
• Map marine habitats and coral reef structures by analyzing depth and elevation gradients from the grid.
• Analyze the extent of Fly River delta deposits and continental slope canyons using the integrated bathymetric data.
• Supplement intertidal zone mapping by integrating this dataset with the National Intertidal Digital Elevation Model (NIDEM).

Strengths

• 30-meter spatial resolution provides detailed terrain modeling.
• Integrates data from multiple sources including multibeam surveys, airborne LiDAR, and satellite-derived bathymetry.
• Covers the ecologically and geologically significant Torres Strait region, bounded by Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.

Limitations

• Dataset explicitly states it is not to be used for navigational purposes, limiting certain applications.
• Coverage gaps in source data were supplemented with satellite-derived bathymetry, which may have lower accuracy than direct surveys.
• Specific row count, file size, and total temporal range of source data are not provided.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, incorporating data from the CSIRO Marine National Facility and the Australian Hydrographic Office.

Collection Method

Compilation and editing of point clouds from multibeam surveys, airborne LiDAR bathymetry, and satellite data, given consistent WGS84 horizontal and approximate MSL vertical datums.

Time Range

Source data collected over the past ten years, culminating in the 2023 model.

Freshness

Published in 2023, with metadata last updated in April 2026.

Geography

Torres Strait region, at the northern end of the Great Barrier Reef, straddling the Arafura and Coral Seas.