Northern Great Barrier Reef Bathymetry Survey 2020

Fifteen geotiff files provide 4m to 32m resolution bathymetric data from a 47-day marine survey aboard the RV Falkor. The dataset, published by Geoscience Australia, maps submarine canyons, drowned reefs, and seabed features in the frontier Cape York Peninsula region and the Swain slide underwater landslide.

Use Cases

• Analyze 4m, 9m, 10m, 16m, and 32m resolution geotiff bathymetry grids to model seafloor morphology around the Saumarez, Frederick, Kenn, Wreck, and Cato Reefs.
• Map the extent of the Swain slide debris field and characterize its headscarp using high-resolution bathymetry data.
• Fill data gaps between existing LIDAR and multibeam surveys by integrating this EM302 bathymetry data for the eastern Coral Sea Marine Park.
• Study backscatter and water column data collected alongside bathymetry to assess seabed composition and marine habitats.

Strengths

• Contains fifteen distinct bathymetric grids at multiple resolutions (4m, 9m, 10m, 16m, 32m).
• Data collected over a 47-day survey voyage using Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar.
• Covers a frontier marine region with previously sparse multibeam data collection.

Limitations

• Dataset explicitly states it is not to be used for navigational purposes.
• EM710 multibeam data from the same survey will be released separately, limiting current scope.
• Sample data and specific file sizes within the ZIP are unavailable for preview.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Geophysical mapping using Kongsberg EM302 and EM710 multibeam sonar systems on RV Falkor, operated in Dual Swath mode.

Time Range

Survey from September 30, 2020 to November 17, 2020.

Freshness

Survey conducted September to November 2020; metadata last updated March 2026.

Geography

Northern Great Barrier Reef, Cape York Peninsula region, Swain Reefs slope, and eastern Coral Sea Marine Park including Saumarez, Frederick, Kenn, Wreck, and Cato Reefs.