AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Wind Generated Tool Marks Resembling Trace Fossils in a Shallow Estuarine Environment

A suite of tool marks were observed in the seaward section of a small estuary on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia. The marks were formed through wind dragging Eucalyptus leaves and Casuarina fronds over the backshore sands that separate the closed estuary from the sea. A number of the more complex marks closely resemble trace fossils left by fish, and differentiation between the two in the sedimentary record could be difficult. If correctly identified as tool marks then they would give a spurious estimate of palaeoflow direction, as they correspond to the orientation of the prevailing winds that generated them. This study highlights the need for judicious interpretation of ambiguous grooves in the sedimentary record.

Tags: AU-NSW, Earth Sciences, External Publication, Published_External, Scientific Journal Paper, marine
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
A compilation of grainsize, biogenic silica and carbonate data from East Antarctic surface sediments

Sediment grainsize and compositional data is presented for the East Antarctic region (30-150ÂºE) south of 60ÂºS to provide insight into the nature of habitats available for benthic communities. This compilation of sedimentary properties incorporates data collected and analysed from the 1950s to 2012. Sediment grainsize data is presented from quantitative analyses (472 samples) and Folk classifications (an additional 192 samples), and composition data is presented for calcium carbonate (255 samples) and biogenic silica (304 samples). 

Sedimentary properties are a key environmental layer for understanding the nature and diversity of benthic habitats. In this report, sediment grainsize and composition data are overlain on maps of bathymetry and geomorphic features, to further illustrate key variations in seabed habitats. The Antarctic shelf is typically dissected by deep troughs and channels, and these form sediment depocenters for fine grained biosiliceous material. Shelf banks, by contrast, are typically composed of coarser sands and gravels due to their exposure to stronger currents and frequent iceberg scouring. The continental slope is heavily eroded into rugged canyons which also contain coarser sediments due to reworking by down slope processes. In several regions, high carbonate content occurs at the shelf break, associated with areas of known hydrocoral occurrence. These variations in physical properties across the Antarctic shelf and slope create distinct habitats for seabed communities. Maps of sediment type, together with broader-scale maps of geomorphic features, can therefore guide understanding of the nature and distribution of seabed habitats in East Antarctica, and particularly within the seven proposed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) within this region. Sedimentary and geomorphic properties are shown to be highly variable within these MPAs, indicating that these areas likely support a wide variety of benthic communities.

Tags: AQ, Environmental Science and Management, GA Publication, Published_External, Record, antarctica, marine, sedimentology
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Logan River 23 M and 135 M tidal barrage sites seismic refraction survey, Queensland 1959

The report describes the results of seismic; refraction surveys at the 2.3M and 13.5M, Logan River tidal barrage site near Beenleigh, Queensland. The maximum depth to bedrock at the 2.3M site is probably 130 ft at a point, about 350 ft from the southern bank. The maximum depth to bedrock at the 13.5M site is about 80ft, near the centre of the stream. At each site test drilling to check the seismic results is recommended, before further development is planned.

Tags: AU-QLD, Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Published_External, Record, marine, seismics
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Geological Framework of the Kerguelen Plateau and Adjacent Ocean Basins

As part of its program to define the extents of the Australian Legal Continental Shelf on the Kerguelen Plateau AGSO acquired over 5500 km of new seismic data including the first regional datasets over Elan Bank and in the Labuan Basin. This report presents results of a geological framework study carried out to underpin the Australias Law of the Sea claim on the Kerguelen Plateau. It provides an up to-date analysis of the stratigraphy, structure, geological evolution and petroleum prospectivity of the Kerguelen Plateau region taking into account recent ODP drilling, geological sampling, seismic reflection and refraction data, as well as potential field data.

Tags: Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Published_External, Record, continental margins, geology, marine, marine jurisdiction, plate tectonics
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
The marine geological imprint of Antarctic ice shelves

Widespread reductions in the thickness and extent of Antarctic ice shelves are triggering retreat, acceleration and increased discharge of marine-terminating glaciers. However, while the impacts of recent ice-shelf changes are now well documented, their role in modulating past ice sheet dynamics – especially at a resolution required to identify drivers of change and test ice sheet models - remains poorly constrained. This reflects two persistent issues: (i) the effective discrimination between sediments and landforms deposited in a sub-ice-shelf setting from other glacimarine environments, and (ii) challenges associated with dating these records. Here we summarise recent progress in deciphering the ‘geological imprint’ of Antarctic ice shelves, including important advances in dating methods and the proxies required to reconstruct the drivers of change. Despite this improved ‘toolbox’ for establishing ice shelf presence and absence, we recognise several challenges that need to be overcome if we are to fully exploit the palaeo record.

<b>Citation:</b> Smith, J.A., Graham, A.G.C., Post, A.L. et al. The marine geological imprint of Antarctic ice shelves. <i>Nat Commun</i> <b>10</b>, 5635 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-13496-5

Tags: Antarctic, Antarctica, EARTH SCIENCES, Published_External, atmospheric warming, dating methods, geological imprint, ice shelves
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Late Cambrian trilobites from the Mariner Group, northern Victoria Land, Antarctica

This paper describes the youngest Late Cambrian trilobite assemblage so far discovered in the Mariner Group (Bowers Supergroup) northern Victoria Land, Antarctica. It occurs near the base of the Limestone Unit in the middle of the Eureka Formation, at Eureka Spurs, at the head of Mariner Glacier. The assemblage contains seven determined trilobite taxa: Homagnostus cf. ultraobesus Lermontova, 1940, Pseudagnostus (P.) ex gr. communis (Hall and Whitfield, 1877), Olentella cf. shidertensis Ivshin, 1956, Notoaphelaspis sp. undet., Apheloides? depressa sp. nov" Elviraspis? sp. undet., and Proceratopyge (P.) cf. liaotungensis Kobayashi and Ichikawa, 1955. This fauna is related to material previously described from Kazakhstan or southern Siberia, north China; Australia, and North America. Russian relationships appear to be dominant, but palaeogeographically difficult to explain. The present fauna is younger than that earlier described from the underlying Spurs Formation, which was considered to be late Idamean (late Dresbachian). The Eureka material is likely to be immediately post-Idamean (early Franconian), but its exact biochronological position is not yet finally established.

Tags: AAT, Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Journal, Published_External
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Geological evolution, tectonic style, and economic potential of the lawn hill platform cover, northwest Queensland

The Lawn Hill Platform Cover comprises a sequence of mildly deformed Proterozoic sediments and volcanics that crop out northwest of Mount Isa. Three subdivisions are recognised in the sequence: basal coarse clastics and acid and basic volcanics - the Bigie Formation and Fiery Creek Volcanics. They are overlain unconformably by fine to coarse fluvial and shallow marine clastics (the Surprise Creek Formation). The third, uppermost, and major subdivision of the platform cover, the McNamara Group, overlies the Surprise Creek Formation with minor unconformity. It consists of basal clastics, a thick sequence of carbonates, and an upper deep-water clastic sequence. The Lawn Hill Platform Cover is deformed into basins and domes, commonly intersected by major northeast and northwest-trending faults. Economic Cu, Pb and Zn sulphide deposits within the Lawn Hill Platform Cover are concentrated at two main stratigraphic horizons in the lower middle McNamara Group. The main deposits are associated with carbonaceous shales or laminated algal dolomite, suggesting that they may be formed by reduction of base metal rich solutions at an early diagenetic stage by the action of decaying algal material.

Tags: Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Journal, Published_External, QLD
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Australian Maritime Zones in the Torres Strait

This map depicts the various maritime boundaries and zones in the Torres Strait. These include Australia`s jurisdictional maritime boundaries, as well as, the seabed and fisheries jurisdiction line established under the Treaty between Australia and the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. This Treaty entered into force on 15 February 1985. 

The map also depicts a protected zone established under the Treaty to acknowledge and protect the traditional way of life and livelihood of the traditional inhabitants including their traditional fishing and free movement, as well as, to protect and preserve the marine environment and indigenous fauna and flora. 

The depiction of the Territorial Sea Baseline (TSB) and the outer limits of Australia`s maritime zones shown on the map are sourced from the Australian Marine Spatial Information System (AMSIS) maintained by Geoscience Australia. The TSB and zones are established under the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973. 

Product Specifications:

Coverage: 9S to 11S; 141 15E to 144 30E
Currency: 2002
Scale: 1:300,000
Projection: Mercator
Coordinates: Geographic (latitude/longitude)
Datum: AGD66
Medium: Flat

Tags: AU-QLD, Administrative Boundary, Earth Sciences, Published_External, Thematic Map, boundaries, mapping, marine, marine jurisdiction
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Bathymetry of the Western Margin of Western Australia

Geoscience Australia is providing extensive advice, expertise and support to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). The ATSB is leading a seabed mapping and underwater search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370 in the southern Indian Ocean.

Bathymetry is the study and mapping of the sea floor. It involves obtaining measurements of the depth of the ocean and is equivalent to mapping on land. Before the underwater search for MH370 could begin, it was necessary to accurately map the sea floor to ensure that the search is undertaken safely and effectively. Bathymetry survey vessels spent months at sea, scanning the sea floor with multibeam sonar to gather detailed, high-resolution data. The data has revealed many seabed features for the first time. This computer-animated 'flythrough' shows a visualisation of some of the sea floor terrain in the search area.

Tags: Earth Sciences, Movie, Multimedia, Published_External, marine
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Late Cretaceous-Palaeogene nannofossil biostratigraphy of Challenger No. 1 well (Challenger Formation type section), offshore Perth Basin, Western Australia

Late Cretaceous-Palaeogene calcareous nannofossil assemblages from the mainly carbonate section in Challenger No. 1 well, above the 780m level, have some similarities with the recently described succession of carbonates in the Perth Canyon, south Perth Basin. The continuity of the marine Palaeogene in these two sections contrasts with the single marine unit (the hemipelagic Kings Park Formation) known in the onshore Perth Basin. In both offshore sections, it is impracticable to subdivide the Palaeogene carbonates into mappable lithostratigraphic units, and identification of known Paleocene and Eocene hemipelagic rock units is evidently not possible although their age equivalents (or partial equivalents) can be detected biostratigraphically.  Marine Oligocene sediments, recently identified (for the first time in the Perth Basin) in the Perth Canyon, are shown to occur in Challenger No. 1. The age of the type section of the Challenger Formation is revised (from Late Eocene) to Middle Eocene-Oligocene. Sediments immediately underlying the type Challenger Formation in Challenger No. 1 are Middle Eocene in age, and consequently are not the Kings Park Formation as previously reported. They probably equate with the basal type section of the hemipelagic Porpoise Bay Formation, suggesting a possibly significant age overlap between the type sections of the Challenger and Porpoise Bay Formations; the latter is probably a more terrigenous facies of part of the former. Lower Eocene beds similar to those discovered recently in the Perth Canyon also occur in Challenger No. 1. The Late Cretaceous assemblages identified in Challenger No. 1 are probably representatives of both the upper Campanian Lancelin beds (lower part) and the upper Santonian-lower Campanian Gingin Chalk.  Three major disconformities (or condensed sections) are detected in Challenger No. 1: at the Eocene/Oligocene boundary (lowermost Oligocene is missing) within the upper part of the Challenger Formation; at the Cretaceousrrertiary  boundary (Maastrichtian and Lower Paleocene are missing), and within the Campanian section. The Late Cretaceous-Palaeogene section in Challenger No. 1 is more complete than coeval sections at nearby Deep Sea Drilling Project sites in the Perth Abyssal Plain and on the Naturaliste Plateau.

Tags: Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Journal, Published_External, WA, marine
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Seabed Geomorphology Vocabularies

The International Seabed Geomorphology Mapping Working Group (ISGM-WG) developed a two-part seabed geomorphology classification scheme to facilitate standardised global seabed mapping efforts (Part 1 Morphology – Dove et al., 2020; Part 2 Geomorphology – Nanson et al., 2023). This product includes four linked vocabularies that were developed by the ISGM-WG to support the implementation of the scheme: 



Vocabulary 1. Seabed geomorphology - Method Terms. A vocabulary of general terms.



Vocabulary 2. Seabed geomorphology - Physiography. A vocabulary of physiographic terms used by Harris et al (2014) to map the macroscale shape and geology of the global seabed. 

Many of these terms have been retained in this PHYISOGRAPHY vocabulary; some terms have been shifted into either Part 1 Morphology or Part 2 Geomorphology vocabularies.



Vocabulary 3. Seabed geomorphology - Part 1 Morphology. A vocabulary of MORPHOLOGY FEATURE terms used to describe the shape of the seabed.



Vocabulary 4. Seabed geomorphology - Part 2 Geomorphology. A vocabulary of GEOMORPHIC UNIT terms that can be used to classify MORPHOLOGY FEATURES (Part 1) with their process interpretation. These UNIT terms are structured within a consistent framework design that is replicated between eleven SETTING and PROCESS categories.



These vocabularies were published by Geoscience Australia (GA) with the permission of ISGM-WG.



Dove, D., Nanson, R., Bjarnadóttir, L. R., Guinan, J., Gafeira, J., Post, A., Dolan, M. F. J., Stewart, H., Arosio, R., &amp; Scott, G. (2020). A two-part Seabed Geomorphology classification scheme (v.2); Part 1: Morphology Features Glossary. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4071940 



Nanson, R., Arosio, R., Gafeira, J., McNeil, M., Dove, D., Bjarnadóttir, L., Dolan, M., Guinan, J., Post, A., Webb, J., &amp; 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&nbsp;&nbsp;





Tags: Geomorphology and earth surface processes, International Seabed Geomorphology Mapping Working Group, geomorphology, mapping, marine, seabed, standards, vocabulary
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
2004 Indian Ocean tsunami explanatory animations and illustrations

A selection of images and short animations explaining key aspects of the 2004 Indian Ocean/ Sumatra tsunami, revised and issued for release to the media and other interested organisations on the tenth anniversary of the disaster.
This selection updates existing resources previously released by Geoscience Australia.

Tags: Movie, Multimedia, Natural Hazards, Published_External, geohazards, marine, tsunamis
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Quantifying fish behaviour and commercial catch rates in relation to a marine seismic survey

The impact of seismic surveys on the catchability of marine fish is a contentious issue, with claims that seismic surveys may negatively affect catch rates. However little empirical evidence exists to quantify the impacts or determine potential causes. In this study, we used a 2-D seismic survey in the Gippsland Basin, Bass Strait, Australia in April 2015 as an opportunity to quantify fish behaviour (field-based) and commercial fisheries catch (desktop study) across the region before and after airgun operations. Three species found in abundance (gummy shark, swell shark, tiger flathead) were acoustically tagged and released within one of two acoustic arrays (experimental and control zone) and monitored before, during and after the seismic survey. In the field study, only 35% of the gummy sharks and 30% of the swell sharks were subsequently detected two days after release, although various individuals returned sporadically over the period of monitoring including during the seismic survey operations. Behaviour consistent with a possible response to the seismic survey operations was restricted to flathead which increased their swimming speed during the seismic survey period and changed their diel movement patterns after the survey. We also investigated the potential impacts of the seismic survey on catch rates using Commonwealth fisheries logbook data from Jan 2012 – Oct 2015. Fifteen species and two gear types (Danish seine, gillnet) were modelled to examine differences in catch rates before and after the seismic survey. The catch rates in the six months following the seismic survey were different than predicted in nine out of the 15 species examined, with six species (tiger flathead, goatfish, elephantfish, boarfish, broadnose shark and school shark) showing increases in catch following to the seismic survey, and three species (gummy shark, red gurnard, sawshark) showing reductions. Overall, we found little evidence consistent with behavioural or catch rate changes induced by the seismic survey in the targeted species, although behavioural data were limited because many sharks left the acoustic receiver array prior to the commencement of the seismic survey.

<b>Citation:</b> Barry Bruce, Russ Bradford, Scott Foster, Kate Lee, Matt Lansdell, Scott Cooper, Rachel Przeslawski, Quantifying fish behaviour and commercial catch rates in relation to a marine seismic survey,<i> Marine Environmental Research</i>, Volume 140, 2018, Pages 18-30, ISSN 0141-1136. 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.05.005.

Tags: EARTH SCIENCES, Published_External, ecology, fish behaviour, impacts of seismic surveys, marine
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
MODIS Derived Sea Surface Temperature dataset: Seasonal Variations

The dataset measures the long-term seasonal variations of the sea surface temperature (SST) of ocean surface waters. They are derived from MODIS (aqua) images using NASA's SeaDAS image processing software. The monthly SST images between July 2002 and December 2017 are used to calculate the standard deviations of the four austral seasons: winter (June, July, and August), spring (September, October and November), summer (December, January and February) and autumn (March, April and May). The extent of the dataset covers the entire Australian EEZ and surrounding waters (including the southern ocean). The unit of the dataset is Celsius degree.

This research is supported by the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine Biodiversity Hub through Project D1.

Tags: Earth Sciences, MODIS, Marine Biodiversity Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Published_External, SST
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
SI 1037 Dampier Marine Park (South) (HIPP SI 1037) Bathymetry 2024 (20240003S)

The Dampier Marine Park (South) bathymetry survey was acquired for the Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO) during the period 15 Jul 2024 – 31 Jan 2025. This is a contracted survey conducted for the Australian Hydrographic Office by DMAL as part of the Hydroscheme Industry Partnership Program. The survey area is Dampier Marine Park, WA.

This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.

Not to be used for navigational purposes

Tags: AusSeabed, Bathymetry, EARTH SCIENCES, MV Limitless, Marine, Published_External, Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity, Timor Sea (East Indian Archipelago), multi-beam echosounders
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Australian Bathymetry and Topography WMS

The Australian Bathymetry and Topography web service includes the topography of Australia and the bathymetry of the adjoining Australian Exclusive Economic Zone. The area selected does not include data from Australia's marine jurisdiction offshore from the Territory of Heard and McDonald Islands and the Australian Antarctic Territory. The 2009 bathymetry data were compiled by Geoscience Australia from multibeam and single beam data, and along with the topography (onshore) data, was derived from multiple sources. As per the 2005 grid, the 0.0025 dd resolution is only supported where direct bathymetric observations are sufficiently dense (e.g. where swath bathymetry data or digitised chart data exist) (Webster and Petkovic, 2005). In areas where no sounding data are available (in waters off the Australian shelf), the grid is based on the 2 arc minute ETOPO (Smith and Sandwell, 1997) and 1 arc minute ETOPO (Amante and Eakins, 2008) satellite derived bathymetry. The topographic data (onshore data) is based on the revised Australian 0.0025dd topography grid (Geoscience Australia, 2008), the 0.0025dd New Zealand topography grid (Geographx, 2008) and the 90m SRTM DEM (Jarvis et al, 2008).

Tags: Australia, Earth Sciences, Published_External, WMS, baselines, bathymetry, marine, oceans, topography, web service
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Australian Seabed Sediments Collection

This dataset contains point data describing physical properties of marine sediments as held within the Geoscience Australia Marine Sediment database (MARS) for samples acquired by marine surveys that occurred between 1905 and 2017. Samples were collected from within the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone, plus waters within Australian Antarctic Territory, waters around Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) and outside the EEZ within the Timor Sea and waters around Papua New Guinea. Samples are sourced from a range of organisations, with sampling technique, spatial accuracy and sample preservation varying between surveys. Attributes include survey ID and name, sample ID, sampling method, water depth and location information. Sediment properties include %mud, %sand, %gravel, mean grain size and texture (classified using the Folk (1954) nomenclature for sediments). There is no consistent datum and projection due to the time span, differing collecting organisations and method of measurement across the dataset. All data is referenced to WGS 84 unless stated otherwise.

Tags: Published_External, grain size, seabed, sediments, texture
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data