Seafloor Geomorphic Features of the Australian Margin, 48.9 Million km² Mapped

For the first time, the distribution of 21 seafloor geomorphic feature types was systematically mapped over an area of 48.9 million km² surrounding the Australian mainland and island territories. The mapping used a new 250 m spatial resolution bathymetry model and identified 6,702 individual features, with reefs being the most numerous type. The dataset was published by Geoscience Australia and last updated in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Classifying seafloor habitats based on the 21 mapped geomorphic feature types.
• Analyzing the distribution of continental shelf, slope, and abyssal plain areas relative to global patterns.
• Mapping coral reef locations and density, particularly within the Great Barrier Reef, based on the 4,172 individual reef features.
• Regional seafloor characterization using the 10 defined geomorphic regions and their diagnostic feature assemblages.

Strengths

• Covers a vast mapped area of 48.9 million km², including the Australian mainland and island territories.
• Identifies 6,702 individual geomorphic features across 21 distinct types with quantified surface areas.
• Based on a systematic methodology using a new, 250 m spatial resolution bathymetry model.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for specific analytical methods.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Systematic mapping using a 250 m spatial resolution bathymetry model and supporting literature.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-25 19:13:46.095214; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Seafloor surrounding the Australian mainland and the islands of Christmas, Cocos (Keeling), Macquarie, and Norfolk.