Seabed Sand Content Across the Australian Continental EEZ, 2011

Australian Ocean Data Network provides a spatially continuous raster dataset of seabed sand content (63-2000 mm sediment fraction) as a weight percentage (0-100%) for the Australian continental EEZ at 0.01 decimal degree resolution. The dataset supersedes previous predictions with demonstrated improvements in accuracy, though accuracy varies with underlying data density and seabed complexity. It is intended for use at national and regional scales, with noted artefacts in areas of insufficient sampling.

Use Cases

• Modeling seabed sediment distribution based on the spatially continuous raster data of sand content.
• Assessing benthic habitat suitability based on sediment grain size (63-2000 mm fraction).
• Planning marine infrastructure projects based on regional-scale seabed composition maps.
• Validating or updating regional sediment transport models based on the superseded predictions.

Strengths

• Spatially continuous coverage of the Australian continental EEZ, including Tasmania.
• Data supersedes previous predictions with demonstrated improvements in accuracy.
• High-resolution raster data at 0.01 decimal degree resolution.

Limitations

• Artefacts occur in regions with insufficient underlying samples.
• Accuracy varies based on sample density and seabed complexity.
• Not recommended for local-scale use where sample density is insufficient to detect variation.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Predicted from underlying sample data, presented as a raster interpolation.

Time Range

2011

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-16 09:53:14.356568

Geography

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