Australian Coastal Topography and Bathymetry Grid

2009 bathymetry and topography data for Australia and its Exclusive Economic Zone, compiled by Geoscience Australia. The dataset combines multibeam, single beam, digitized chart, and satellite-derived bathymetry with onshore topographic grids. It provides a 0.0025-degree resolution grid where direct observations are sufficiently dense.

Use Cases

• Modeling seafloor terrain for navigation safety using the high-resolution bathymetry grid.
• Analyzing coastal erosion or flood risk by integrating the onshore topography grid with nearshore bathymetry.
• Studying seabed habitat distribution by correlating bathymetric features with biological survey data.
• Creating 3D visualizations of the Australian continental shelf using the compiled multibeam and single beam data.

Strengths

• High-resolution 0.0025-degree grid where direct bathymetric observations exist.
• Integrates data from multiple authoritative sources including Geoscience Australia and SRTM DEM.

Limitations

• Resolution is lower in offshore shelf areas where the grid relies on 1-2 arc minute satellite-derived bathymetry.
• Excludes data from Australia's marine jurisdiction near Heard and McDonald Islands and the Australian Antarctic Territory.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia, Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Compiled from multibeam, single beam, digitized chart data, and satellite-derived bathymetry (ETOPO).

Time Range

Bathymetry data compiled in 2009; referenced topographic grids from 2008.

Freshness

Primary bathymetry compilation is from 2009, with topographic references from 2008.

Geography

Australia's onshore topography and the bathymetry of the adjoining Australian Exclusive Economic Zone.