AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Successive marine heatwaves cause significant coral bleaching impacts during a fast phase transition from El Niño to La Niña

The frequency and intensity of marine heatwaves resulting in thermal bleaching events have increased over recent decades leading to catastrophic losses of reef-building corals in many regions. Successive annual bleaching events are also becoming more frequent, limiting the capacity of susceptible coral species to recover. Following an unusual fast phase transition of the record-breaking 2009–2010 warm pool El Niño event in the Central Pacific to a strong La Niña event the following year, high-latitude coral reef assemblages around Lord Howe Island were exposed to unprecedented successive thermal anomalies causing severe bleaching. Coral health surveys completed between March 2010 and September 2012 quantified the response and resilience of approximately 42,000 coral colonies from different taxa to the successive bleaching events. Changes in benthic community composition before, during and after the thermal stress events were also assessed. In March 2010, severe coral bleaching ranged between 99% at some shallow lagoon sites to 17% at deeper reef slope sites. Significant coral tissue mortality was evident during March and May 2010, with increased pigmentation and colour returning to surviving colonies by September 2010, indicating recovery of symbiotic function in living coral colonies. Pocillopora, Stylophora, Porites and Montipora species were the most affected taxa, with minimal mortality observed in merulinid and Acropora species. During the second thermal anomaly in 2011, significant bleaching occurred in susceptible coral taxa, demonstrating limited resilience and acclimation capacity of these high-latitude corals to future-ocean warming. Repeated bleaching stress resulted in a shift at some sites from a coral-dominated reef assemblage to one comprising a higher cover of macroalgae and other invertebrate taxa. These findings demonstrate that future-ocean warming and extreme heatwave events are likely to lead to significant shifts in reef assemblages and potential local extinction of some dominant but vulnerable reef-building corals at this world heritage listed site.

Citation: Steven J. Dalton, Andrew G. Carroll, Eugenia Sampayo, George Roff, Peter L. Harrison, Kristina Entwistle, Zhi Huang, Anya Salih, Sandra L. Diamond, Successive marine heatwaves cause disproportionate coral bleaching during a fast phase transition from El Niño to La Niña, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 715, 2020, 136951, ISSN 0048-9697, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136951.

Tags: Coral bleaching, EARTH SCIENCES, El Nino, La Nina, Published_External, marine heatwaves
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
A New Coral Reef Province in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia: Colonisation, Growth and Submergence During the Early Holocene

Multibeam sonar mapping, drill cores and underwater video data have confirmed the existence of a previously unknown reef province in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia.  Seven reefs, comprised of coral limestone that support living corals have been mapped so far and as many as 50 other reefs may exist in the region.  U/Th ages show that reef growth commenced shortly after limestone pedestals were submerged by rising sea level around 10.5 kyr BP, making them the oldest reefs known in Australia. Reef growth persisted for ~2.0 kyr but it had ceased at most locations by ~8.0 kyr BP. Measurements of reef growth rates (0.95 to 4 m kyr-1), indicate that the reefs were unable to keep pace with contemporaneous rapid sea level rise (&gt;10 m kyr-1), which is consistent with a 'give up' reef growth history.  Core samples from reef platforms demonstrate that Pleistocene limestone is exposed in depths of 27 and 30 m below present mean sea level. These depths represent regionally significant phases of reef growth during a prolonged sea level still stand. We conclude that the reefs are therefore mostly relict features, whose major phase of growth and development relates to an earlier, pre-Holocene sea level stillstand.

Tags: AU-NT, AU-QLD, Earth Sciences, External Publication, Published_External, Scientific Journal Paper, carbonate, continental shelf, geochronology, marine, palaeogeography
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Summary Of Data And Results Gippsland Basin, Victoria Southwest Bairnsdale No. 1 Well Duck Bay No. 1 Well Of Woodside (Lakes Entrance) Oil Company N.L. And Arco Limited

Southwest Bairnsdale No. 1 Well was located about 15 miles west-south-west of Bairnsdale, in the Gippsland Basin of Victoria. The well was drilled by Reading and Bates (Australia) pty Ltd for Woodside (Lakes Entrance) Oil Company No Liability and Arco Limited, to total depth of 3926 feet. Drilling commenced on 8th January, 1963 and was completed on 14th February, 1963. A full programme of coring and logging was undertaken.

The objectives of the drilling operation were to obtain stratigraphic data, and to test the hydrocarbon potential of the pre-Tertiary sediments by a well favourably situated to intersect pinch-out zones in the expected Upper Devonian-Lower Carboniferous sequence occurring below a thin Tertiary cover.

The well achieved its objectives; Tertiary sediments were penetrated from surface to 1408 feet, Lower Carboniferous-Upper Davonian non-marine sediments to 3806 feet, and pre-Upper Devonian biotite granite to total depth at 3926 feet.

Middle Devonian marine sediments, which are exposed in the highlands 25 miles north of the well, were not encountered. Basal Tertiary gravels, although having good porosity and permeability, contained only freshwater. The Lower Carboniferous-Upper Devonian sandstones are well cemented and have very little porosity or permeability. No shows of hydrocarbons were found in the well.

One formation test was made over the interval 2522 to 2559 feet after a small quantity of gas was recorded by the gas detector. The test recovered only 120 feet of drilling mud anl;i the flowing pressures recorded were very low. The well was later plugged and abandoned as a dry hole.

The off-structure drilling operation at SouthwestBairnsdale No. 1 was subsidized under the Petroleum search Subsidy Act 1959-1961, from surface to total depth.

Tags: AU-VIC, Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Other Publication, Published_External, petroleum exploration
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Seabed exposure and ecological disturbance on Australia's continental shelf: Potential surrogates for marine biodiversity

Disturbances characterise many natural environments - on land, a forest fire that removes a patch of old-growth trees is an example.  The trees that first colonise the vacant patch may be a different species to the surrounding old-growth forest and hence, taken together, the disturbed and undisturbed forest has a higher biodiversity than the original undisturbed forest.  This simple example demonstrates the intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH) that has applications in many natural environments.  The application of IDH is significant for managers tasked with managing and conserving the biodiversity that exists in a given area.

In this report we have used models of seabed sediment mobilisation to examine IDH for Australia's continental shelf environment.  Although other disturbance processes may occur (eg. biological, temperature, salinity, anthropogenic, etc.) our study addresses only the physical disturbance of the seabed by waves and currents.  Our study has shown that it is feasible to model the frequency and magnitude of seabed disturbance in relation to the dominant energy source (wave-dominated shelf, tide-dominated shelf or tropical cyclone dominated shelf).  We focussed our attention on high-energy, patch-clearing events defined as exceeding the Shields parameter value of 0.25.  Based on what is known about rates of ecological succession for different substrate types (gravel, sand, mud) we derive maps predicting the spatial distribution of a dimensionless ecological disturbance index (ED).

Only a small portion of the shelf (perhaps ~10%) is characterised by a disturbance regime as defined here.  Within these areas, the recurrence interval of disturbance events is comparable to the rate of ecological succession and meets our defined criteria for a disturbance regime. To our knowledge, this is the first time such an analysis has been attempted for any continental shelf on the earth.

Tags: AU, CERF, Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Published_External, Record, bathymetry, continental shelf, marine, marine biodiversity, seabed, sedimentology
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Australia's Maritime Jurisdiction - wall map - A0 size

Map showing all of Australia's Maritime Jurisdiction including external Territories and the AAT.
One of the 27 constituent maps of the "Australia's Maritime Jurisdiction Map Series" (GeoCat 71789).  Depicting Australia's extended continental shelf approved by the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in April 2008. Background bathymetry image is derived from a combination of the 2009 9 arc second bathymetry and topographic grid by Geoscience Australia and a grid by W.H.F. Smith and D.T. Sandwell, 1997. Background land imagery derived from Blue Marble, NASA's Earth
Observatory.
A0 sized .pdf downloadable from the web.

Tags: AU-EEZ, Administrative Boundary, Earth Sciences, Published_External, Thematic Map, administrative boundaries, bathymetry, marine, marine jurisdiction
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Responses of Southern Ocean Seafloor Habitats and Communities to Global and Local Drivers of Change

Our knowledge of life at the Antarctic sea-bed has increased in the past decades with increasing ship-based surveys and monitoring sites, new technologies and data sharing. However, seafloor habitats and their communities exhibit high spatial variability and heterogeneity that limits our ability to assess the state of the Southern Ocean benthos on larger scales. The seafloor communities that inhabit the Antarctic shelf are often diversity hotspots. These habitats are important in the generation of ‘blue carbon’ and habitat for commercial fish species, for this reason we focus on these habitats. Many Southern Ocean seafloor habitats and their communities seem to be especially vulnerable to certain drivers of change including increasing ocean temperatures, iceberg scour, sea-ice melt, ocean acidification, fishing pressures, pollution and non-indigenous species. Some of the most vulnerable areas include those experiencing rapid regional warming and increased iceberg-scouring e.g. the West Antarctic Peninsula; where human activities and environmental conditions increase the potential for the establishment of non-indigenous species e.g. sub-Antarctic islands and tourist destinations and areas with fishing activities e.g. around South Georgia, Heard and MacDonald Islands.  Vulnerable species include calcifying species susceptible to increasing ocean acidity as well as slow-growing habitat forming species that can be damaged by fishing gears e.g. sponges, bryozoan and coral species. Management regimes can protect seafloor habitats and key species from fishing activities but only if they consider specific traits, such as longevity, food availability, their physiological adaptation and rare or common occurrences. Ecosystem-based management practices and long-term protected areas may be the most effective in the preservation of vulnerable seafloor habitats. However, action is needed to reduce carbon emissions to limit the impact of increasing ocean temperatures and ocean acidification. We focus on outlining seafloor responses to drivers of change observed to date and projections for the future. We discuss the need for action to preserve seafloor habitats under climate change and fishing pressures.

Citation: Brasier MJ, Barnes D, Bax N, Brandt A, Christianson AB, Constable AJ, Downey R, Figuerola B, Griffiths H, Gutt J, Lockhart S, Morley SA, Post AL, Van de Putte A, Saeedi H, Stark JS, Sumner M and Waller CL (2021) Responses of Southern Ocean Seafloor Habitats and Communities to Global and Local Drivers of Change. Front. Mar. Sci. 8:622721. 
doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.622721

Tags: Antarctica, BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, EARTH SCIENCES, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, Ecological Impacts of Climate Change, Published_External, Southern Ocean, benthos, fishing, marine protected areas, vulnerable marine ecosystems
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
SI 1001 Approaches to Newcastle, NSW (HIPP) Bathymetry Acquisition (20200023S)

The Approaches to Newcastle bathymetry survey was acquired for the Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO) onboard the MV Offshore Guardian during the period 4 Dec 2020 – 15 Jan 2021. This was a contracted survey conducted for the Australian Hydrographic Office by Guardian Geomatics as part of the Hydroscheme Industry Partnership Program. The survey area encompases an area east of Approaches to Newcastle NSW. Bathymetry data was acquired using a  Kongsberg EM 2040-07, and processed using Caris Hips &amp; Sips processing software. The dataset was then exported as a 30m resolution, 32 bit floating point GeoTIFF grid of the survey area.

This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.

Tags: AusSeabed, EARTH SCIENCES, Earth Science | Oceans | Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography | Bathymetry, HVC_144641, Oceans, Published_External, bathymetric grids, bathymetry, marine, multibeam
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
pmd*CRC 40Ar/39Ar Geochronology and Halogen/Noble Gas Geochemistry of Mineralising Systems H4 Project. Final Project Report

The principal objective of the H4 Project was to evaluate existing techniques and develop new enabling technologies in geochronology and isotope geoscience to significantly improve our ability to constrain the timing of ore formation and, therefore, expand predictive capabilities. 

A fundamental goal was the evaluation of existing dating methods and interpretations, particularly with respect to gold deposits in low grade terrains, and to investigate potential new dating methods such as 40Ar/39Ar laser probe analyses of mica-bearing pyrite linked to gold mineralisation. A second major goal of the H4 project was to initiate development of halogen/noble gas geochemistry technology and expertise within the pmd CRC to enable this unique geochemical method to be applied to ore deposits in the flagship terrains in the second stage programme of pmd CRC.

Tags: Earth Sciences, Published_External, Report, economic geology, marine, mineral exploration, pmd*CRC
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Australia's Maritime Jurisdiction off South Australia

Map showing Australia's Maritime Jurisdiction off South Australia.
One of the 27 constituent maps of the "Australia's Maritime Jurisdiction Map Series" (GeoCat 71789).
Depicting Australia's extended continental shelf approved by the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in April 2008 and various maritime zones.  Background bathymetric image is derived from a combination of the 2009 9 arc second bathymetric and topographic grid by GA and a grid by Smith and Sandwell, 1997. Background land imagery derived from Blue Marble, NASA's Earth Observatory.
A0 sized .pdf downloadable from the web.

Tags: AU-SA, Administrative Boundary, Earth Sciences, Published_External, Thematic Map, administrative boundaries, bathymetry, continental shelf, marine, marine jurisdiction
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Marine Zone Management and the EPBC ACT: How Environmental Marine Geological Information Provides Certainty for Petroleum Exploration

In order to protect the diversity of marine life in Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the federal parliament has passed the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999. The Act is being implemented through the design of a national representative system of marine protected areas (MPAs) that will place under protection a representative portion of Australia's EEZ by 2012.  A total of 13 MPAs have already been nominated for the southeast region in 2006.
Limited biological data in Australia's EEZ has resulted in biophysical information compiled by Geoscience Australia being used as a proxy for seabed biodiversity in support of marine conservation planning.  Information we use to characterise the seabed includes bathymetry, geomorphology, acoustic properties, sediment properties, slope and sediment mobilisation due to waves and tides. To better characterise habitats on the Australian continental shelf, Geoscience Australia is creating 'seascape' maps (similar to geological facies maps) that integrate these multiple layers of spatial data, and are useful for the prediction of the distribution of biodiversity in Australia's EEZ. This information provides 100% spatial coverage based on objective, multivariate statistical methods and offers certainty for managers and stakeholders including the oil and gas industry, who are involved with designing Australia's national MPA system.  Certainty for industries operating in the EEZ is enhanced by a reproducible, science-based approach for identifying conservation priorities and the classification of seafloor types within multiple use areas.

Tags: AU, Article, Earth Sciences, External Publication, Published_External, bathymetry, environmental, geomorphology, habitat, marine
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Elizabeth and Middleton Reef bathymetry survey (GA4848)

This resource includes bathymetry data for Elizabeth and  Middleton Reef within Lord Howe Marine Park collected by Geoscience Australia during the period 31 January to 6 February 2020 on the Australian Maritime College vessel, TV Bluefin. 
The survey was undertaken as a collaborative project funded through the National Environmental Science Program Marine Biodiversity Hub, with the Institute for Marine &amp; Antarctic Studies (University of Tasmania), NSW Department of Primary Industries, University of Sydney (Centre for Field Robotics) and Parks Australia. 
The purpose of the survey was to collect baseline information for benthic habitats within the National Park Zone (Middleton Reef) and Recreational Use Zone (Elizabeth Reef) of the marine park. 
These data will support ongoing environmental monitoring within the Temperate East Marine Park Network as part of the 10-year management plan (2018-2028). 
Data acquisition for the project included seabed mapping using multibeam sonar (Kongsberg EM 2040C HD, 300 kHz), seabed imagery acquisition by Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV Sirius), sediment samples (grab) and imagery of demersal fish communities by baited remote underwater video (BRUV). 
This dataset comprises two bathymetry grids derived from multibeam sonar data gridded at 5 m spatial resolution, covering a combined area of 312 km2 including the transit.
A detailed report on the survey is provided in: Carroll, A et al. 2020. Australian Marine Park Baseline and Monitoring Survey: Post Survey Report, Middleton and Elizabeth Reefs, Lord Howe Marine Park. Report to the National Environmental Science Program, Marine Biodiversity Hub.
This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes.
This dataset is published with the permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia

Tags: AusSeabed, Bathymetric grids, Bathymetry, EARTH SCIENCES, HVC_144641, Marine, Multibeam, Published_Internal
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Marine Seismic Survey Shape and Kml Files - 2014 Version

Geoscience Australia is releasing its 2014 version of the Marine Seismic Surveys Shape and Kml files. These files have been updated to include recent openfile surveys. The spatial files have been created from a cleansed, updated collection of p190 navigation files. This navigation collection has grown from the checking of navigation submitted to the GA Repository under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Regulations, checking of the 2003 SNIP navigation files and the digitisation of old survey track maps as required. Soon the individual p190 files will be available for download through the new NOPIMS delivery system. The collection is based on P190 navigation files which follows the UKOOA standard. Extensive industry standard metadata associated with a seismic survey is preserved in the attribute tables of these datasets. 

The shapefiles have been categorised into 3D exploration, 2D exploration and 2D investigative seismic files. All marine surveys undertaken by Geoscience Australia for exploration or investigative purposes have been included in the collection. Geoscience Australia (email - AusGeodata@ga.gov.au) appreciates being notified of any errors found in the navigation collection.

The data is available in both KML and Shape file formats.

The KML file can be viewed using a range of applications including Google Earth, NASA WorldWind, ESRI ArcGIS Explorer, Adobe PhotoShop, AutoCAD3D or any other earth browser (geobrowser) that accepts KML formatted data.

Alternatively the Shape files can be downloaded and viewed using any application that supports shape files.

Disclaimer: Geoscience Australia gives no warranty regarding the data downloads provided herein nor the data's accuracy, completeness, currency or suitability for any particular purpose. Geoscience Australia disclaims all other liability for all loss, damages, expense and costs incurred by any person as a result of relying on the information in the data downloads.

Tags: AU, Earth Sciences, GIS Dataset, National, Published_External, marine
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Delhi-Santos Gidgealpa No. 1 Well South Australia Of Delhi Australian Petroleum Ltd And Santos Limited

Delhi-Santos Gidgealpa No. 1 Well was drilled in the north-eastern corner of South Australia by Delhi Australian Petroleum Ltd, as operator, and Santos Limited. The well is 60 miles south-west of Innamincka No. 1 and 50 miles west-north-west of Dullingari No. 1. 

Gidgealpa No. 1 was spudded on 28th August, 1963, reached a total depth of 13,114 feet on 27th November, 1963, and was completed as a water well flowing from the Mooga Sandstone on 6th December, 1963. A National 80-B rig, owned and operated by Drilling Contractors (Australia) Pty Ltd, was used to drill the well.

Gidgealpa No. 1 was drilled as an off-structure well on the flank of a prominent closed anticline. The Mesozoic sequence was the thickest yet encountered in wells in the western part of the Great Artesian Basin, and very similar to that found in Innamincka No. 1. The overall lithology of the Permian in Gidgealpa No. 1 resembles that in Dullingari No. 1 although detailed correlation is not possible. Below the regional angular unconformity at the base of the Permian, a thick sequence of Cambrian marine carbonates and tuffaceous sediments was penetrated. This was the first encounter of Cambrian rocks in the subsurface of the Great Artesian Basin.

More hydrocarbon shows were encountered in the Permian sequence in this well than in any other drilled to date in this region. Unfortunately the sandstones exhibited very low porosity. A deep zone of porous dolomite, some 400 feet thick, was also discovered in the Middle Cambrian, and on test, flowed very gassy saltwater. Thus Delhi-Santos Gidgealpa No. I, in addition to providing much new geological information, gave most encouraging indications that, under favourable conditions, the Permian and the newly discovered Middle Cambrian dolomite could produce hydrocarbons.

The off-structure drilling operation at Delhi-Santos Gidgealpa No. 1 was subsidized under the Petroleum Search Subsidy Act 1959-1961, from surface to total depth.

Tags: AU-SA, Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Other Publication, Published_External, petroleum exploration
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network