Marine Geophysical Levelled Line Data: Gravity, Magnetics, and Bathymetry

Geoscience Australia's compilation provides levelled ship-track line data for gravity, magnetic, and bathymetry measurements across the Australian marine region. The dataset integrates surveys from the 1970s onward, processed to reduce errors between intersecting tracks for continuous surface modeling. Data are stored as time-indexed ASCII files organized by survey, with records spaced approximately every 150 meters.

Use Cases

• Creating integrated gravity anomaly maps based on levelled ship-track data.
• Modeling crustal thickness and structure using combined magnetic and bathymetry measurements.
• Analyzing seafloor morphology and tectonic features from continuous bathymetric profiles.
• Calibrating regional geophysical models with standardized, multi-survey potential field data.

Strengths

• Data has undergone a dedicated levelling process (1998-2001, 2009-2011) to reduce errors between surveys of different vintages.
• Integrates data from multiple institutions, including Geoscience Australia surveys conducted since the 1970s.
• Provides both raw (unlevelled) and processed (levelled) data for each measurement type.

Limitations

• Critical metadata such as row count, file size, specific column names, and license information is missing from all platform entries.
• The dataset does not include shot-indexed data, limiting direct integration with certain seismic reflection surveys.
• The 'last updated' dates (2026-04-20, 2026-03-07) are future dates, indicating potential metadata freshness issues.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia, derived from the 'Mardat' marine geophysical survey database, with contributions from other institutions.

Collection Method

Compiled from ship-track surveys, levelled by Desmond FitzGerald & Associates and Ron Hackney, and reviewed by Yvette Poudjom Djomani.

Time Range

1970s to present (surveys acquired since the 1970s).

Freshness

2026-04-20 02:30:18.721414

Geography

Australian marine region.