Great Barrier Reef Surficial Cover Facies Maps with Bathymetric Zones

The Bureau of Mineral Resources developed reconnaissance-style maps of surficial cover facies on the Great Barrier Reef. The maps apply a simple bathymetric classification differentiating supratidal, intertidal, and subtidal zones, with variable resolution across the reef. The work was compiled in 1982 and edited in 1983 by B.M. Radke and G.W. D'Addario, with cartography by G.A. Young and R.A. Swoboda.

Use Cases

• Classifying reef surface cover types based on the described surficial facies mapping.
• Analyzing coastal zone distribution based on the supratidal, intertidal, and subtidal bathymetric classification.
• Studying historical reef morphology and mapping techniques from the 1980s.
• Providing a geospatial reference for locating features on the Great Barrier Reef.

Strengths

• Maps include a defined bathymetric classification for supratidal, intertidal, and subtidal zones.
• Intertidal zone boundaries are tied to specific tidal datums (highest astronomical tide and low water datum at Townsville).
• Maximum resolution was retained where possible to aid user location on the reefs.

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.
• Map resolution is variable and decreases with increasing water depth.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data, originally from the Bureau of Mineral Resources.

Collection Method

Reconnaissance-style mapping technique developed for documenting reef surficial cover.

Time Range

Compiled 1982, edited 1983.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-30 12:31:35.996757; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Great Barrier Reef, Australia.