Great Barrier Reef Surficial Cover Facies Maps with Bathymetric Classification

Reconnaissance-style maps of the Great Barrier Reef's surficial cover facies, compiled in 1982 by the Bureau of Mineral Resources. The maps differentiate supratidal, intertidal, and subtidal zones based on a simple bathymetric classification. Map resolution is variable and generally decreases with increasing water depth.

Use Cases

• Classifying reef surface habitats based on the described surficial facies.
• Analyzing coastal zone distribution based on the supratidal, intertidal, and subtidal classifications.
• Mapping bathymetric influences on reef cover using the variable resolution information.

Strengths

• Maps include a bathymetric classification differentiating three tidal zones.
• Compiled by a recognized geological authority, the Bureau of Mineral Resources.
• Maximum resolution was retained where possible for user location purposes.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The maps exhibit only surficial facies, with subsurface data to be integrated in the future.

Provenance

Source

Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR), compiled by B.M. Radke.

Collection Method

Reconnaissance-style mapping technique for documenting surficial cover on reefs.

Time Range

Compiled 1982, edited 1983.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-20 02:51:09.880976; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Great Barrier Reef, Australia, with tidal datums referenced to Townsville.