Benthic Sediment Geochemistry Surveys in Darwin and Bynoe Harbours

2017 surveys collected total sediment metabolism, carbonate, and organic isotope measurements from seabed sediments in two Australian harbours. Sampling was conducted over three weeks by Geoscience Australia, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and the Northern Territory Government. This data supports a four-year science program from 2014-2018 aimed at creating baseline habitat maps for marine resource management.

Use Cases

• Model sediment metabolism rates using organic isotope and inorganic element measurements to assess carbon cycling.
• Analyze carbonate content and organic element data to classify seabed sediment types for habitat mapping.
• Correlate organic isotope measurements with inorganic element data to study pollutant sources or natural geochemical gradients.
• Use total sediment metabolism and geochemistry features as baseline data for monitoring environmental change over time.

Strengths

• Data collection involved multiple authoritative partners including Geoscience Australia and AIMS.
• Surveys cover two distinct harbour regions, providing comparative geospatial context.
• Measurements include multiple sediment properties like metabolism, carbonate, and isotopes for integrated analysis.

Limitations

• Exact sample size (row count) and number of measured features (columns) are unspecified.
• Data is from a single sampling period in 2017, limiting analysis of temporal trends.
• Geographic coverage is restricted to two harbours in Northern Australia, which may not be representative.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, aggregating data from Geoscience Australia, AIMS, and the Northern Territory Government.

Collection Method

Benthic sediment sampling conducted via marine survey.

Time Range

Sampling occurred between May 29 and June 19, 2017.

Freshness

Data reflects a 2017 survey, with metadata last updated in 2026.

Geography

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