Benthic Sediment Geochemistry Measurements from Darwin and Bynoe Harbours 2017

Benthic sediment surveys of inner Darwin Harbour and Bynoe Harbour collected total sediment metabolism, carbonate, organic isotope, and organic and inorganic element measurements on seabed sediments. The surveys were conducted between May 29 and June 19, 2017, as part of a four-year science program led by the Northern Territory Government and supported by Geoscience Australia and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

Use Cases

• Analyze organic isotope measurements to trace sources of organic matter in seabed sediments.
• Model relationships between total sediment metabolism and inorganic element concentrations across sampling sites.
• Map carbonate content distribution to characterize seabed habitats in Darwin and Bynoe Harbours.
• Assess correlations between organic and inorganic element measurements for baseline environmental studies.

Strengths

• Data collected during a dedicated three-week survey window from May 29 to June 19, 2017.
• Part of a four-year (2014-2018) science program aimed at creating thematic habitat maps.
• Collaborative project involving Geoscience Australia, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and the Northern Territory Government.

Limitations

• Sample size and row count are unknown, limiting statistical power assessments.
• Data is geographically focused on two harbours in Northern Australia, not representative of broader regions.
• Temporal coverage is limited to a single sampling period in 2017, lacking time-series data.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Benthic sediment sampling and laboratory analysis for geochemistry.

Time Range

May 29 to June 19, 2017.

Freshness

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Geography

Inner Darwin Harbour (GA0358) and shallow water areas in and around Bynoe Harbour (GA0359), Northern Territory, Australia.