Hunter Marine Park Bathymetry Grids From Multi-Beam Surveys

2015 and 2018-2019 surveys collected gridded multi-beam echosounder bathymetry data within Australia's Hunter Marine Park. The dataset was acquired by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment aboard the RV Bombora, funded by the National Environmental Science Program. It supports mapping of seabed habitats and key ecological features like the Continental Shelf Reef.

Use Cases

• Model seafloor terrain and slope from gridded bathymetry data to identify reef structures.
• Characterize seabed habitats by correlating bathymetric features with towed video and BRUV survey data.
• Map the extent of the Key Ecological Feature 'Continental Shelf Reef' using focused 2018-2019 survey coverage.
• Analyze bathymetric variability across three specific survey sites near Seal Rocks and Broughton Island.

Strengths

• Data from two distinct survey periods (2015 exploratory and 2018-2019 focused) provides temporal context.
• Includes 100% coverage mapping over areas previously identified as containing key ecological features.
• Linked to published technical reports detailing survey methodology and ecological findings.

Limitations

• Specific row count, column details, and spatial resolution of the gridded data are unknown.
• Geographic coverage is limited to three specific sites within the Hunter Marine Park.
• Data is not intended for navigational purposes, indicating potential positional or completeness limitations for operational use.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network via the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Biodiversity Hub.

Collection Method

Acquired using a multi-beam echosounder (MBES) system aboard the RV Bombora.

Time Range

2015 and 2018-2019.

Freshness

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Geography

Hunter Marine Park, specifically sites east of Seal Rocks and Broughton Island in the Tasman Sea.