Australia's 250-Meter Resolution Seabed Bathymetry Map 2023

Australia's Seabed Map 2023 is a continental-scale 3D bathymetric grid covering the seafloor from 92°E to 172°E and 8°S to 60°S. The Australian Ocean Data Network compiled it from 1582 individual surveys using multibeam echosounders, LiDAR, seismic data, and satellite-derived bathymetry. This 2023 revision represents a significant update over the previous 2009 version.

Use Cases

• Model seafloor terrain and slope using the 250-meter resolution bathymetry grid for geological studies.
• Analyze coastal geomorphology by examining the seamless land-sea transition data derived from satellite observations.
• Plan offshore infrastructure projects by assessing seabed depth and topography within Australia's marine jurisdiction.
• Conduct regional environmental management using the compiled bathymetric data from multibeam and single-beam echosounder surveys.

Strengths

• Compiled from 1582 individual seabed mapping surveys.
• Covers a vast spatial area from 92°E to 172°E and 8°S to 60°S.
• Integrates multiple data sources including multibeam echosounders, LiDAR, 3D seismic, and satellite-derived bathymetry.

Limitations

• The stated 250-meter resolution is not uniformly supported where direct bathymetric observations are sparse.
• Excludes Australia's marine jurisdiction offshore from Heard and McDonald Islands and the Australian Antarctic Territory.
• Primary available format is a digital PDF, limiting direct geospatial analysis without data extraction.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, based on the AusBathyTopo 250m 2023 grid.

Collection Method

Compilation from 1582 surveys using echosounders, LiDAR, seismic first returns, and satellite data.

Time Range

Data collection spans decades, with a compilation revision in 2023.

Freshness

2023 revision, updated from a 2009 version.

Geography

Australian region including continent, Tasmania, Norfolk Island, Christmas Island, and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.