Geomorphometry of the Australian Marine Parks

This dataset provides geomorphic features of the Australian Marine Parks (2022). The data was generated by Seamap Australia as part of an Our Marine Parks (Parks Australia) project with funding from the Australian Government to improve knowledge relating to classification of the Australian Marine Parks real estate.

Bathymetry data was collated from existing AusSeabed data holdings and compiled into multi-resolution bathymetry mosaics for each Park (see https://metadata.imas.utas.edu.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/fb451be4-9de1-4bc2-8fd6-0f285f90916f). All publicly available bathymetry data as at 30th June 2022 was included. Macquarie Island was updated on 25/08/2023 to reflect the new AMP boundaries.

The Whitebox tools package in R was used to calculate geomorphometry using the geomorphron function. Processing for each Park was addressed manually, with search distances and slope thresholds adjusted between Parks depending on quality and resolution of bathymetry data, and characteristics of the seafloor. Geomorphons were classified into geomorphic features using the Dove et al (2020) Seabed Morphology Features Glossary. These geomorphic units provide a consistent way to classify the seabed and may be used in combination with visual validation methods to develop benthic habitat maps.

Data is supplied as a Web Map Service of geomorphic features overlaid on hillshade for the mapped regions. Data is available for download as a zipped package of geotiffs with accompanying hillshade. ESRI .lyr file and QGIS .sld files are supplied for display in desktop GIS.

All Parks with 25% or more bathymetry coverage were included in processing.
The table below indicates the Parks included in this data package, and the percent coverage of geomorphic data for each, based on the bathymetry coverage available at the time of processing. Note that the current coverage of bathymetry may be greater than that expressed below and contained within this data package, for areas in which more recent surveys have been published.

PARK                    % COVERAGE
Abrolhos                    36%
Apollo                  52%
Beagle                  35%
Boags                   31%
Bremer                  70%
Carnarvon Canyon            72%
Central Eastern<em>            47% (41%)
Christmas Island</em>           31% (28%)
Cod Grounds             97%
Coral Sea<em>              100% (30%)
East Gippsland          96%
Eastern Recherche           29%
Flinders                    30%
Franklin                    51%
Freycinet                   40%
Gascoyne                53%
Geographe               25%
Gifford                 100%
Great Australian Bight      36%
Heard &amp; McDonald Islands</em>†  100% (0%)
Hunter                  90%
Huon                    94%
Jervis                  99%
Macquarie Island            40%
Mermaid Reef                72%
Murray                  47%
Nelson                  58%
Ningaloo                    54%
Norfolk                 38%
Perth Canyon                98%
Solitary Islands            34%
South Tasman Rise           59%
South-west Corner           46%
Tasman Fracture         99%
Two Rocks               27%
Western Eyre                25%
Zeehan                  74%
<ul>
<li>indicates Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data was included in analysis. Coverage of surveyed (non-modelled) bathymetry is shown in parentheses ()
† has been included in analysis but is not an Australian Marine Park</li>
</ul>

For glossary of features, see:
Dove et al. (2020) A two-part seabed geomorphology classification scheme (v.2); Part 1: morphology features glossary. http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.4075248

Tags: geomorphology, geomorphometry, mapping, seafloor features, seafloor morphology
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network