Illuminating the Biodiversity of the Cape Range and Cloates Canyons (FK200308/GA4859)

High-resolution 16m and 64m bathymetry data was collected for the Cape Range and Cloates Canyons using Kongsberg EM302 and EM710 multibeam sonar systems. The survey was led by Dr. Rachel Przeslawski from Geoscience Australia aboard the RV Falkor from March 8 to April 8, 2020. This data underpins research on canyon geometry and species diversity for marine park management in Australia's Gascoyne Marine Park.

Use Cases

• Modeling seafloor terrain and canyon geometry based on high-resolution bathymetry data.
• Identifying potential habitats for marine biota based on depth and slope features.
• Supporting marine park boundary planning and management based on detailed seafloor maps.
• Conducting geological research on submarine canyon formation based on geotiff data.

Strengths

• Data includes two high-resolution products: a 16m and a 64m resolution geotiff.
• Survey conducted by a team from Geoscience Australia, Curtin University, Western Australian Museum, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
• Explicitly states primary objective: mapping unexplored submarine canyons in the Gascoyne Marine Park.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is not to be used for navigational purposes, limiting its application scope.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia, via the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Data acquired using Kongsberg EM302 and EM710 multibeam sonar systems during a dedicated marine survey.

Time Range

Survey conducted from March 8 to April 8, 2020.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-23 04:15:58.327717; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Cape Range and Cloates Canyons area within the Gascoyne Marine Park, Australia.