Geomorphology of the Australian Margin and Adjacent Seafloor, 48.9 Million km²

For the first time, the distribution of seafloor geomorphic features has been systematically mapped over 48.9 million km² of the Australian margin and adjacent seafloor. The dataset, produced by Geoscience Australia, identifies 21 feature types and 6,702 individual features using a 250-meter resolution bathymetry model. It divides the mapped area into 10 geomorphic regions and provides statistics on the coverage of shelves, slopes, abyssal plains, plateaus, basins, terraces, and reefs.

Use Cases

• Classifying seafloor habitats based on the mapped geomorphic features and regional assemblages.
• Analyzing the distribution and area of specific geomorphic features like coral reefs, plateaus, and submarine canyons.
• Comparing the geomorphic structure of the Australian margin to global seafloor patterns.
• Modeling broad-scale marine ecosystems using the 10 defined geomorphic regions as a baseline.

Strengths

• Covers a total mapped area of 48.9 million km², including the seafloor around the Australian mainland and island territories.
• Identifies 21 distinct geomorphic feature types and catalogs 6,702 individual features.
• Uses a systematic mapping approach with a new, 250-meter spatial resolution bathymetry model.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The dataset is provided in HTML format, which may require parsing to extract structured data for analysis.
• Last updated 2026-05-14 04:59:57.748267; freshness should be verified.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-14 04:59:57.748267

Geography

Australian margin and adjacent seafloor, including areas surrounding Christmas, Cocos (Keeling), Macquarie, and Norfolk Islands.