Australian Continental EEZ Seabed Mud Content, 2011

A 2011 raster dataset provides spatially continuous seabed mud content (sediment fraction < 63 µm) as a weight percentage (0-100%) at 0.01 decimal degree resolution. It covers the Australian continental Exclusive Economic Zone, including Tasmania, but excludes several offshore territories and islands. The dataset supersedes previous predictions with improved accuracy, though artifacts occur in regions with insufficient samples.

Use Cases

• Model seabed habitat suitability based on sediment mud content.
• Analyze sediment distribution patterns at a national scale.
• Assess regional seabed complexity and sediment variability.
• Plan marine infrastructure projects considering seabed substrate.
• Identify areas requiring additional sediment sampling for local-scale accuracy.

Strengths

• Spatially continuous coverage of the Australian continental EEZ at 0.01-degree resolution.
• Supersedes previous predictions with demonstrated improvements in accuracy.
• Provides mud content as a precise weight percentage ranging from 0 to 100%.

Limitations

• Contains artifacts due to insufficient samples in relevant regions.
• Not appropriate for local-scale use in areas with low sample density.
• Excludes seabed around Macquarie Island, Norfolk Island, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Heard and McDonald Islands, and the Australian Antarctic Territory.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Prediction based on underlying sample data; supersedes previous predictions.

Time Range

2011

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-05 01:00:14.892899; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Australian continental Exclusive Economic Zone, including Tasmania.