Offshore Sydney Basin Sediment Geochemistry and Environmental Baseline Survey

A 28-day marine survey conducted in 1992 aboard the BMR vessel Rig Seismic on the NSW continental margin between Wollongong, Sydney, and Newcastle. The project collected baseline environmental data on sediment distribution and composition, involving personnel from the Sydney Water Board, Sydney University, and the Geological Survey of New South Wales. Its primary objectives were to monitor anthropogenic contributions and assess non-renewable resources in the offshore Sydney Basin.

Use Cases

• Analyze sediment chemical composition for baseline environmental monitoring of anthropogenic contaminants.
• Characterize continental shelf sediments with reference to specific nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus.
• Study the record of Quaternary climate change preserved in sediments on the continental slope.
• Investigate the distribution of non-renewable resources such as hydrocarbons and seafloor minerals in the offshore Sydney Basin.
• Conduct continuous geochemical tracer studies focused on light hydrocarbons from ocean outfalls and estuary exchanges.

Strengths

• Multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary survey involving six distinct scientific projects.
• 28-day dedicated marine survey providing focused temporal data collection.
• Explicit focus on both natural processes and anthropogenic contributions in a major population center.

Limitations

• Data is from a single survey in 1992, representing a historical snapshot with no recent updates.
• Specific sample size, row count, and column details are unknown.
• Data formats are PDF and HTML, which may require extraction for quantitative analysis.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, originating from a BMR research vessel survey.

Collection Method

Marine survey involving sediment collection and geochemical analysis conducted aboard the RV Rig Seismic.

Time Range

Survey conducted September-October 1992.

Freshness

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Geography

NSW continental margin, Australia, between Wollongong, Sydney, and Newcastle, including the offshore Sydney Basin.