Marine Swath-Mapping Survey of Tasmanian Continental Margin

A 35-day marine survey in early 1994 used the SIMRAD EM12D multibeam sonar system aboard R.V. L'Atalante to map 200,000 square kilometers of seafloor off Tasmania. The Australian Geological Survey Organisation conducted the cruise to collect bathymetric maps, acoustic imagery, and 6-channel seismic, magnetic, and gravity profiles. Data aimed to clarify structural patterns and tectonic history related to the separation of Australia and Antarctica.

Use Cases

• Analyze bathymetric maps and acoustic imagery to define seafloor surface texture and morphology for continental shelf delineation.
• Correlate 6-channel seismic reflection profiles with magnetic and gravity data to interpret deep geological structures along the margin.
• Map fault patterns visible in swath-mapping imagery to model the geometry of NNW to NW trending strike-slip systems.
• Use bathymetric profiles to identify fracture zone trends on the abyssal plain for planning basalt sampling sites.

Strengths

• Covers a 200,000 square kilometer area, approximately three times the size of Tasmania.
• Data collected over a 35-day dedicated cruise using the SIMRAD EM12D system, capable of mapping a 20 km wide swath.
• Includes multiple complementary data types: bathymetry, acoustic imagery, seismic reflection, magnetic, and gravity profiles.

Limitations

• Data is from a single survey in early 1994 and may be temporally stale for contemporary geological or oceanographic modeling.
• Primary data formats are HTML and PDF reports, not raw, machine-readable tabular or gridded data files.
• Sample data and specific row/column counts for analytical features are unavailable.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Marine survey using the multibeam sonar system SIMRAD EM12D aboard the French research vessel R.V. L'Atalante.

Time Range

Survey conducted from 16 January to 27 February 1994.

Freshness

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Geography

Southern Otway Basin, Sorell Basin, South Tasman Rise, and adjacent abyssal plain off Tasmania, Australia.