Seafloor Bathymetry of the Gascoyne Marine Park Canyon Environments

Schmidt Ocean Institute survey FK200308 collected bathymetry and seafloor imagery for the Cape Range Canyon within the Gascoyne Marine Park offshore northwestern Australia. The data highlights canyon morphology, including steep walls, slumping history, plunge pools, and sparse epibenthos like glass sponges and octocorals. Funding was provided by Schmidt Ocean Institute, Geoscience Australia, the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program, the Director of National Parks, and the Foundation for the WA Museum.

Use Cases

• Analyze submarine canyon morphology and erosion processes based on bathymetric data of steep walls and plunge pools.
• Study benthic community distribution and disturbance regulation based on descriptions of sparse epibenthos and sediment influence.
• Model sediment transport and turbidity current action based on features of deep plunge pools and canyon floor characteristics.
• Map geological features like rock overhangs and slumping history based on the described seafloor imagery and bathymetry.

Strengths

• Data collected by the Schmidt Ocean Institute during a dedicated survey (FK200308).
• Funding and collaboration involved multiple authoritative organizations, including Geoscience Australia and the Australian Government’s NESP.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

Schmidt Ocean Institute, Geoscience Australia, Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Collected during survey FK200308, likely via ship-based sonar and imaging systems.

Time Range

Survey FK200308 suggests a specific collection period, though exact dates are not provided.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-27 17:20:19.029229; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Gascoyne Marine Park, offshore northwestern Australia, focusing on the Cape Range Canyon.