GA4848: Bathymetry Survey of Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs, 2020

Geoscience Australia collected bathymetry data for Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs within the Lord Howe Marine Park from January 31 to February 6, 2020. The survey provides two 5-meter resolution bathymetry grids covering a combined area of 312 km², including transit, to establish baseline information for benthic habitats. This collaborative project was funded by the National Environmental Science Program Marine Biodiversity Hub and involved multiple research institutions.

Use Cases

• Modeling benthic habitat distribution based on high-resolution bathymetry data.
• Establishing environmental baselines for marine park management plans.
• Analyzing seafloor morphology and structure for geological research.
• Supporting ongoing monitoring efforts within the Temperate East Marine Park Network.

Strengths

• High spatial resolution of 5 meters for bathymetry grids.
• Covers a combined area of 312 square kilometers.
• Data collected using Kongsberg EM 2040C HD multibeam sonar and AUV Sirius for seabed imagery.
• Associated with a detailed post-survey report providing context.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and sample data are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is explicitly not to be used for navigational purposes.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia, via the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Seabed mapping using multibeam sonar, AUV imagery, sediment grabs, and baited remote underwater video (BRUV).

Time Range

Survey conducted from 31 January to 6 February 2020.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 21:50:48.691616; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs within the Lord Howe Marine Park, Australia.