GA4848: Multibeam Sonar Backscatter Survey of Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs

A survey from 31 January to 6 February 2020 collected multibeam sonar backscatter data for Middleton Reef and Elizabeth Reef within Lord Howe Marine Park. Geoscience Australia led the project, funded by the National Environmental Science Program Marine Biodiversity Hub, with collaborators including the University of Tasmania and Parks Australia. The data supports a 10-year environmental monitoring plan (2018-2028) for the Temperate East Marine Park Network.

Use Cases

• Map benthic habitat types based on multibeam sonar backscatter data.
• Establish baseline environmental conditions for marine park management zones.
• Support ongoing seabed monitoring as part of a decadal management plan.
• Integrate sonar data with complementary AUV imagery and sediment samples for habitat analysis.

Strengths

• Data collected during a dedicated survey from 31 January to 6 February 2020.
• Includes two bathymetry grids derived from multibeam sonar data at 4-meter spatial resolution.
• Survey was a collaborative project involving multiple government and research institutions.
• A detailed post-survey report is publicly available from the Marine Biodiversity Hub.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is not to be used for navigational purposes, limiting its application scope.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia, via the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Data acquired via multibeam sonar (Kongsberg EM 2040C HD, 300 kHz) from the vessel TV Bluefin.

Time Range

31 January to 6 February 2020.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-23 04:16:43.501392; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Middleton Reef and Elizabeth Reef within Lord Howe Marine Park, Australia.