Drowned Dolines: Blue Hole Dimensions and Features in the Pompey Reefs

Two blue holes at Cockatoo and Molar Reefs in the Pompey Reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. The holes are roughly circular, between 240-295 m in diameter and 30-40 m deep, with detailed descriptions of their slopes, sediment fans, and biological associations. The dataset, hosted by the Australian Ocean Data Network, includes seismic refraction studies suggesting the holes represent collapsed dolines formed over multiple low sea-level periods.

Use Cases

• Modeling karst formation processes based on the described collapsed dolines and subaerial solution history.
• Analyzing coral reef habitat zonation based on the distinct biological/sedimentary associations described for each hole.
• Studying sediment transport and deposition based on the described sediment fans and terraces within the holes.
• Mapping geomorphological features using the precise diameter (240-295 m) and depth (30-40 m) measurements.
• Investigating sea-level change impacts based on the evidence linking hole formation to multiple low sea-level periods.

Strengths

• Provides precise physical dimensions: diameters of 240-295 m and depths of 30-40 m.
• Includes detailed geomorphological descriptions of slopes (60-70°, 45°) and sediment structures.
• Contains evidence from seismic refraction studies showing a shallow (8.5-11 m) pre-Holocene surface.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to data_gov_au, focusing on two specific reef sites.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-16 15:23:50.991641; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Cockatoo and Molar Reefs, Pompey Reefs, Great Barrier Reef