Satellite-Derived Bathymetry and Benthic Habitat Maps for Ashmore and Cartier Reefs

Parks Australia's grant project produced satellite-derived bathymetry and benthic habitat maps at 2-meter horizontal resolution for shallow waters (0-25 m) of the Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island Marine Parks. These geospatial data layers provide an environmental baseline for long-term monitoring and management of the parks. The data is hosted by the Australian Ocean Data Network and was last updated in July 2026.

Use Cases

• Navigation planning based on high-resolution bathymetry maps.
• Ecological research on benthic habitats using satellite-derived habitat classifications.
• Environmental modeling and climate change impact monitoring based on baseline geospatial layers.
• Marine conservation management and planning based on detailed habitat and depth data.

Strengths

• 2-meter horizontal spatial resolution provides detailed mapping.
• Covers shallow waters from approximately 0 to 25 meters depth.
• Data is georeferenced and digital, facilitating integration with GIS tools.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Freshness should be verified despite a 2026 update date.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing and processing, likely as part of a Parks Australia grant project.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-10 01:43:57.993640

Geography

Ashmore Reef and Cartier Island Marine Parks