Seafloor Mapping Survey of Southeast Australian Waters

January 2000 data from a 25-day marine survey covering 11,000 km and mapping approximately 120,000 km² of seabed. The Australian Geological Survey Organisation conducted the AUSTREA-1 cruise using the vessel L'Atalante for marine zone planning and resource assessment. Data includes swath-bathymetry, seismic profiles, magnetics, gravity, and oceanographic measurements.

Use Cases

• Analyze seabed living resources using backscatter imagery and bathymetry data to identify rugged volcanic terrain and canyon systems.
• Assess non-living petroleum and mineral resources by interpreting 6-channel GI-gun seismic profiles and sub-bottom profiles for basin structures.
• Model oceanographic conditions by integrating underway ADCP current data, XBT temperature profiles, and sea surface salinity measurements.
• Map marine protected area boundaries and terrain using swath-bathymetry data revealing volcanic cones, flows, and seamounts.
• Study sediment transport and canyon morphology using 3.5 kHz sub-bottom profiles and bathymetry data of tributary canyons up to 1000m deep.

Strengths

• Extensive spatial coverage mapping approximately 120,000 km² of seabed, an area 1.5 times the size of Tasmania.
• Multimodal data collection including bathymetry, seismic, magnetics, gravity, and oceanographic measurements.
• Survey covered 11,000 km track over a 25-day dedicated cruise with generally favourable weather conditions.

Limitations

• Single temporal snapshot from January 2000, lacking time-series data for change analysis.
• Data quality, while noted as 'mostly excellent', may be inconsistent in areas with reported stormy conditions and 30-35 knot winds.
• Primary data formats are HTML and PDF reports, which may require extraction for quantitative analysis.

Provenance

Source

Australian Geological Survey Organisation (AGSO) Cruise 222, conducted for the National Oceans Office and Environment Australia.

Collection Method

Ship-based survey using Simrad EM 12D swath-bathymetry, GI-gun seismic, sub-bottom profilers, magnetometer, gravimeter, and oceanographic sensors.

Time Range

Survey conducted from 18 December 1999 to 11 January 2000.

Freshness

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Geography

Southeast Australian margin, including Lord Howe Island, NSW South Coast, Bass Canyon, Tasmania, Otway Basin, and central Great Australian Bight.