Seabed Mud Content Raster for Australian Continental EEZ

Spatially continuous raster data of seabed mud content, expressed as a weight percentage from 0 to 100%. The dataset covers the Australian continental Exclusive Economic Zone at a 0.01 decimal degree resolution, superseding previous predictions with improved accuracy.

Use Cases

• Model seabed sediment distribution using the mud content percentage raster for regional marine habitat studies
• Assess prediction accuracy variations across the EEZ based on underlying sample density and seabed complexity
• Identify regions with potential data artefacts due to insufficient samples for local-scale analysis
• Integrate the 0.01-degree resolution mud content layer with other marine GIS datasets for national-scale mapping

Strengths

• National-scale coverage of the Australian continental EEZ, including waters around Tasmania
• 0.01 decimal degree spatial resolution providing detailed continuous data
• Supersedes previous sediment predictions with demonstrated improvements in accuracy

Limitations

• Contains artefacts in regions with insufficient underlying sample data
• Accuracy varies based on local sample density and seabed complexity, limiting suitability for local-scale analysis in some areas
• Excludes several Australian territories and Antarctic marine jurisdictions

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Predicted raster data from spatial interpolation of sediment samples, superseding previous models.

Time Range

2011

Freshness

Last updated March 2026.

Geography

Australian continental Exclusive Economic Zone, including seabed surrounding Tasmania. Excludes territories like Norfolk Island, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Heard and McDonald Islands, and the Australian Antarctic Territory.