Brief description
This data product contains geospatial seabed morphology and geomorphology information for Flinders Reefs and Cairns Seamount (Coral Sea Marine Park). These maps are intended for use by marine park managers, regulators, the general public and other stakeholders. A nationally consistent two-part (two-step) seabed geomorphology classification system was used to map and classify the distribution of key seabed features.
In step 1, semi-automated GIS mapping tools (GA-SaMMT; Huang et al., 2022; eCat Record 146832) were applied to a bathymetry digital elevation model (DEM) in a GIS environment (ESRI ArcGIS Pro) to map polygon extents (topographic high, low, and planar) and to quantitatively characterise their geometries. Their geometric attributes were then used to classify each shape into discrete Morphology Feature types (Part 1: Dove et al., 2020; eCat Record 144305). In step 2, the seabed geomorphology was interpreted by applying additional datasets and domain knowledge to inform their geomorphic characterisation (Part 2: Nanson et al., 2023; eCat Record 147818). Where available, backscatter intensity, seabed imagery, seabed sediment samples and sub-bottom profiles supplemented the bathymetry DEM and morphology classifications to inform the geomorphic interpretations.
The Flinders Reefs seabed morphology and geomorphology maps were derived from an 8 m horizontal resolution bathymetry DEM compiled from multibeam surveys (FK200429/GA4861: Beaman et al., 2020; FK200802/GA0365: Brooke et al, 2020), Laser Airborne Depth Sounder (LADS), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and bathymetry supplied by the Australian Hydrographic Office.
A subset of the FK200802/GA0365 multibeam survey was gridded at 1 m horizontal resolution to derive the key morphology and geomorphology features at the top of Cairns Seamount (-35 to -66 m; within the upper mesophotic zone).
The data product and application schema are fully described in the accompanying Data Product Specification.
Beaman, R., Duncan, P., Smith, D., Rais, K., Siwabessy, P.J.W., Spinoccia, M. 2020. Visioning the Coral Sea Marine Park bathymetry survey (FK200429/GA4861). Geoscience Australia, Canberra. https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/140048; GA eCat record 140048
Brooke, B., Nichol, S., Beaman, R. 2020. Seamounts, Canyons and Reefs of the Coral Sea bathymetry survey (FK200802/GA0365). Geoscience Australia, Canberra. https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/144385; GA eCat record 144385
Dove, D., Nanson, R., Bjarnadóttir, L. R., Guinan, J., Gafeira, J., Post, A., Dolan, Margaret F.J., Stewart, H., Arosio, R., Scott, G. (2020). A two-part seabed geomorphology classification scheme (v.2); Part 1: morphology features glossary. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4075248; GA eCat Record 144305
Huang, Z., Nanson, R. and Nichol, S. (2022). Geoscience Australia's Semi-automated Morphological Mapping Tools (GA-SaMMT) for Seabed Characterisation. Geoscience Australia, Canberra. https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/146832; GA eCat Record 146832
Nanson, R., Arosio, R., Gafeira, J., McNeil, M., Dove, D., Bjarnadóttir, L., Dolan, M., Guinan, J., Post, A., Webb, J., Nichol, S. (2023). A two-part seabed geomorphology classification scheme; Part 2: Geomorphology classification framework and glossary (Version 1.0) (1.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7804019; GA eCat Record 147818
Lineage
Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Statement:
Underlying source bathymetric data were obtained from Beaman et al., 2020 (FK200429/GA4861) and Brooke et al., 2020 (FK200802/GA0365). Morphology and geomorphology data layers were produced by applying semi-automated mapping tools to bathymetry digital elevation models (DEMs) in a GIS environment (ESRI ArcGIS Pro) using a two-step approach.
In step 1, seabed morphology features were defined by generating polygons around topographic high, low, and planar features using the TPI (topographic position index) tool in GA-SaMMT (Geoscience Australia semi-automated morphology mapping tools: Huang et al., 2022). Where appropriate, manual editing was also employed to modify the polygon boundaries of some features. Features were then classified by computing a set of quantitative geometric attributes and applying published Morphology Features glossary terms (Dove et al., 2020) using the GA-SaMMT. It should be noted that features of a certain size threshold or height (determined by the horizontal and vertical resolution of the underlying bathymetry grid) may not be captured by the semi-automated mapping tools. In addition, features that fall outside of the optimal user-defined parameters for the input data are not captured in the output.
In step 1, seabed morphology features were defined by generating polygons around topographic high, low, and planar features using the TPI (topographic position index) tool in GA-SaMMT (Geoscience Australia semi-automated morphology mapping tools: Huang et al., 2022). Where appropriate, manual editing was also employed to modify the polygon boundaries of some features. Features were then classified by computing a set of quantitative geometric attributes and applying published Morphology Features glossary terms (Dove et al., 2020) using the GA-SaMMT. It should be noted that features of a certain size threshold or height (determined by the horizontal and vertical resolution of the underlying bathymetry grid) may not be captured by the semi-automated mapping tools. In addition, features that fall outside of the optimal user-defined parameters for the input data are not captured in the output.
In step 2, seabed geomorphology was interpreted by applying additional datasets and domain knowledge to inform the geomorphic characterisation of the seabed following Nanson et al., (2023). Where available, additional datasets include backscatter intensity data, seabed imagery (AUV and ROV), seabed samples, sub-bottom profiles and survey reports. Where a geomorphology classification has not been attributed, the following notation was applied:
NA: Classification at this level is not appropriate/applicable to the Setting/Process, or the level of detail is out of scope and has not been attempted;
Unknown: There is insufficient data available to determine a geomorphology classification for a mapped Morphology Feature.
A full list of GIS layers that comprise this data product, and their descriptions, is included in the accompanying Data Product Specification.
Notes
PurposeThis product provides users with information to understand the geodiversity of seabed features and substrates that characterise Flinders Reefs and Cairns Seamount within the Coral Sea Marine Park. It can be used to inform benthic habitat mapping and to better predict and understand biodiversity distributions. The product contributes to a nationally consistent seabed morphology and geomorphology mapping schema that can be implemented to inform other regional and national seabed data products.
Created: 08 06 2023
Issued: 26 06 2023
text: westlimit=147.17; southlimit=-17.95; eastlimit=148.70; northlimit=-16.52; projection=WGS 84 / geographic 2D (EPSG: 4326)
Subjects
Geomorphology and earth surface processes |
Parks Australia |
Published_External |
geomorphology |
geoscientificInformation |
mapping |
morphology |
seabed |
spatial |
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Other Information
Download the data - shapefile format (zip) [27.63 MB]
uri :
https://d28rz98at9flks.cloudfront.net/147998/147998_00_1.zip
Download the data - OGC Geopackage format (zip) [28.43 MB]
uri :
https://d28rz98at9flks.cloudfront.net/147998/147998_01_1.zip
Download the data - ArcGIS File Geodatabase format (zip) [9.06 MB]
uri :
https://d28rz98at9flks.cloudfront.net/147998/147998_02_1.zip
Geoscience Australia's Semi-automated Morphological Mapping Tools (GA-SaMMT) for Seabed Characterisation
local : 146832
Visioning the Coral Sea Marine Park bathymetry survey (FK200429/GA4861)
local : 140048
Seamounts, Canyons and Reefs of the Coral Sea bathymetry survey (FK200802/GA0365)
local : 144385
A two-part seabed geomorphology classification scheme; Part 1: Morphology features glossary (Version 2)
local : 144305
A two-part seabed geomorphology classification scheme; Part 2: Geomorphology classification framework and glossary (Version 1.0)
local : 147818
Seabed morphology and geomorphology of Cairns Seamount within the Coral Sea Marine Park, north-eastern Australia, Version 1 WMS
local : 149253
Seabed morphology and geomorphology of Cairns Seamount within the Coral Sea Marine Park, north-eastern Australia, Version 1 WFS
local : 149254
Seabed morphology and geomorphology of Cairns Seamount within the Coral Sea Marine Park, north-eastern Australia, Version 1 ESRI MapServer
local : 149252
Seabed morphology and geomorphology of Flinders Reefs within the Coral Sea Marine Park, north-eastern Australia, Version 1 ESRI MapServer
local : 149243
Seabed morphology and geomorphology of Flinders Reefs within the Coral Sea Marine Park, north-eastern Australia, Version 1 WFS
local : 149245
Seabed morphology and geomorphology of Flinders Reefs within the Coral Sea Marine Park, north-eastern Australia, Version 1 WMS
local : 149251
Identifiers
- DOI : 10.26186/147998
- URI : pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/147998
- global : 30892ff0-9859-46f5-849e-0ac2aeb5b8c7
