AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
AUV Imagery from Gippsland Basin (GA353 - 'Short-term after' survey)

This dataset is part of the Gippsland Marine Environmental Monitoring (GMEM) project. The GMEM was developed in response to stakeholder concerns from the fisheries industry about a Geoscience Australia seismic survey in the Gippsland Basin (GA352 in April 2015), in addition to a broader need to acquire baseline data to be used to quantify impacts of seismic operations on marine organisms. A component of this study was to acquire images of the seafloor before and after the seismic survey for analysis of potential impacts of seismic operations on scallops.

This dataset contains information collected from the AUV-Phoenix on survey GA-353 conducted 19-25 June 2015. The Phoenix is an Iver AUV operated by Australian Marine Ecology Pty Ltd and the University of Sydney (Australian Centre for Field Robotics). It includes a stereo camera system (i.e. two cameras), a USBL, and a sidescan sonar. Stereo image pairs were collected at a rate of 2 Hz with a target altitude of 2 m above the seabed and speed of 1 m s-1 (2 knots) using high sensitivity CCD cameras (Allied Vision Manta G-145C, resolution of 1388 x 1038 pixels). Illumination was by two strobes mounted in the fore and aft-sections of the vehicle and synchronised with the cameras. The camera lens and stereo orientation properties were calibrated in a pool immediately prior to the survey. The Phoenix returned usable still images at 12 sites, but strong currents resulted in truncated transects due to difficulty diving on Stations 14, 37, and 47, and strobe failure on Stations 40 and 47 resulted in reduced image quality. For each station, this dataset contains post-processed geotiffs acquired from a single AUV camera, track files, and a compressed mosaic of combined images. A Word file provides additional data about the folder structure, file types, and post-processing.

Tags: Data Package, Earth Sciences, HVC_144640, Published_External, marine
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Image Collection - RV Investigator Voyage IN2023_V05 - SEA-MES: Untangling the causes of change over 25 years in the southeast marine ecosystem - Voyage 1

This data set contains the imagery collected on the Marine National Facility (MNF) RV Investigator voyage IN2023_V05, titled "Untangling the causes of change over 25 years in the southeast marine ecosystem (SEA-MES Voyage 1)." The voyage took place between June 28, 2023 and July 30, 2023 (AEST), departing from Hobart and returning to Hobart, collecting imagery of benthic habitats together with oceanographic data.

Instrument(s) used to collect this data:
MNF Deep Towed camera (DTC)

Datasets include: 
Video (oblique forward view)
Stereo stills (oblique forward view)
Navigational data

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Palynostratigraphy of the central west Murray Basin

Palynological analyses have been undertaken on four fully cored boreholes in the central west Murray Basin (Woodlands-1, Manilla-I, Piangil West-2 and Hatfield-1 holes) to provide a biostratigraphic framework for geological factors related to groundwater.  Three of these boreholes penetrated the marine sequence of the Geera Clay and its associated facies, which acts as an aquitard confining groundwater flow within the aquifers of the Renmark Group. This study has been augmented by analysis of cores and cuttings from boreholes in the areas east of the main marine influence, and by reference to previously studied sequences at Oakvale-1, on the western margin of the basin.  Early Cretaceous sediments of non-marine character are present at Manilla-1 and at Mitfords Corner in the Wentworth Trough.  Within the Cainozoic sequence, application of zonal schemes modified from those developed in the Gippsland Basin shows that aquifers in the lower partof the Renmark Group can be assigned to the Middle and Upper Nothofagidites asperus Zones, of mid-Eocene to earliest Oligocene age. They contain dinoflagellates which suggest that the effects of the marine incursion reflected by the Buccleuch Beds in the southwest of the Murray Basin were probably felt over a much wider area of the basin than hitherto believed.  The Geera Clay and its associated facies were deposited during the interval of time represented by the Proteacidites tuberculatus and Triporopollenites bellus Zones or parts thereof, during the Late Oligocene and Early to Middle Miocene.  Resolution of the palynological zones is too poor to identify pulses of marine transgression with those represented on the global sea-level curve; phases of onlap including TB1.4 and TB2.3 (22 Ma and 16 Ma) may both be represented. There is a strong likelihood of condensed sequences in this interval.  Pollen assemblages from the Murray Basin contain a number of taxa, many of them with affinities to modern tropical plant species or groups which are unknown in other southeastern Australian basins. Many of these are of potential stratigraphic value.  Broad scale shifts in vegetation, presumably in response to climatic change, are discernible in the Late Oligocene to earliest Miocene over much of the basin. There is a suggestion that the initiation of this shift, which reflects a change from year-round to seasonal rainfall patterns, was diachronous for west to east, but patterns of change in space and time are complex, so the correlative value of changes in pollen frequencies remains limited.

Tags: Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Journal, NSW, Published_External, VIC
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
The Nature and Origin of the Submarine Albany Canyons Off Southwest Australia

The Albany Canyon complex off southwest Australia extends 700 km from Cape Leeuwin to east of Esperance. The Canyons head on the uppermost continental slope and extend up to 90 km offshore, to the lowermost slope and onto the abyssal plain. The largest have cut down 1500-2000 m in places. In general, on the upper slope they have cut down into harder, older rocks: Canyon walls are steep, thalwegs slope at up to 15?, and ancient structures control their orientation. On the lower slope the Canyons generally have not reached harder rocks, Canyon walls are less steep, thalweg slopes are less, and they are generally oriented down slope. The Canyons have exposed Jurassic and younger sequences: their nature and information from seismic profiles, have helped us build an understanding of Canyon history. Flood plain deposition rather than erosion occurred during Australia-Antarctic rifting in the Late Jurassic, not supporting cutting of river Canyons.  Shallow marine sedimentation characterised the Early Cretaceous, when gradients were low and Canyon cutting unlikely. Deep river Canyons were probably cut during uplift and erosion immediately before the Santonian break-up from Antarctica, and their paths controlled later marine Canyons. Only with the onset of rapid seafloor spreading and subsidence in the Middle Eocene (~43 Ma) did gradients steepen and major marine Canyon cutting become possible. The major sea level fall at the Middle/Late Eocene boundary (~40 Ma) brought sediment to the edge of the continental shelf, which may have initiated the Canyons. Carbonate sedimentation replaced siliciclastic sedimentation in the Late Middle Eocene, but carbonate grains from the outer shelf could cut the Canyons, largely during periods of low sea level.

Tags: AU-WA, Article, Earth Sciences, External Publication, Published_External, bathymetry, marine
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Including biogeochemical factors and a temporal component in benthic habitat maps: Influences on infaunal diversity in a temperate embayment

Mapping of benthic habitats seldom considers biogeochemical variables or changes across time. We aimed to: (i) develop winter and summer benthic habitat maps for a sandy embayment; and (ii) compare the effectiveness of various maps for differentiating infauna. Patch-types (internally homogeneous areas of seafloor) were constructed using combinations of abiotic parameters, and are presented in sediment-based, biogeochemistry-based and combined sediment/biogeochemistry-based habitat maps. August and February surveys were undertaken in Jervis Bay, Australia, to collect samples for physical (%mud, sorting, %carbonate), biogeochemical (chlorophyll a, sulfur, sediment metabolism, bio-available elements) and infaunal analyses. Boosted Decision Tree and cokriging models generated spatially continuous data-layers. Habitat maps were made from classified layers using GIS overlays, and were interpreted from a biophysical-process perspective. Biogeochemistry and %mud varied spatially and temporally, even in visually homogeneous sediments. Species turnover across patch-types was important for diversity, and the utility of habitat maps for differentiating biological communities varied across months. Diversity patterns were broadly related to reactive carbon and redox which varied temporally. Inclusion of biogeochemical factors and time in habitat maps provides a better framework for differentiating species and interpreting biodiversity patterns than once-off studies based solely on sedimentology or video-analysis.

Tags: AU-NSW, CERF, Earth Sciences, External Publication, Published_External, abiotic surrogates, environmental, geochemistry, marine, marine survey, seabed
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Suspended-sediment transport and water movement at One Tree Reef, southern Great Barrier Reef

One Tree Reef, in the southern Great Barrier Reef, is roughly triangular, with the southeast corner forming the windward margin, and the northwest side the leeward margin. In March/April 1979, water circulation and sediment flux were monitored over the reef margins. Generally, water moving from the ocean across the perimeters decreases in velocity when it reaches the lagoon. Over the windward margin coral and algal flats, water movement patterns are similar; i.e., in both environments flow reversal characterises the spring tide flood/ebb change, whereas on neaps, flow is continually towards the lagoon. On the southern prograding sand sheet, between the coral flat and the lagoon, flow is continually towards the lagoon. On the leeward margin, the flood/ ebb flow reversal is again a dominant feature. Sediment flux for the different reef zones reflects the water flows. On the windward algal and coral flats, twice as much sediment leaves the reef towards the ocean on spring tides as is transported to the sand sheets, where there is a net loss; on neaps however, suspended sediment movement is continually towards the sand sheets. On the sand sheets, all sediment flux is towards the lagoon, with twice as much arriving in the springs compared with neaps. Spring tide sediment losses over the leeward margin are greater than neap tide gains made by the lagoon over the same margin. The distribution of mud in the lagoon, its concentration at the leeward margin, and its absence on the sand sheets can be explained by the observed energy pattern. Sediment is lost from the system mainly by spring tide flushing of the lagoon, most sediment leaving over the leeward margin.

Tags: Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Journal, Published_External, QLD, marine
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
What lies beneath the Antarctic Ice?

During the summer of 2003-2004, six scientists and technicians spent over a month camped on the Amery Ice Shelf in eastern Antarctica. The aim of their stay was to drill through several hundreds of metres of ice beneath their feet to reach the ocean cavity below.  Through this drill hole they were then able to lower instruments through the ice shelf, to study a part of the ocean which never sees the light of day.  This activity explores what they found and enables students to use real data to establish what really does lie beneath the ice.  Teacher answers provided.

Tags: AQ, Antarctic data, Earth Sciences, Educational Product, Other, Published_External, marine
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Using Inherent Optical Properties to Investigate Biogeochemical Dynamics in a Tropical Macrotidal Coastal System

The variability in the inherent optical properties along an estuary-coast-ocean continuum in tropical Australia has been studied. The study area, the Fitzroy Estuary and Keppel Bay system, is a shallow coastal environment (depth &lt; 30 m) with highly turbid waters in the estuary and blue oceanic waters in the bay and subject to macrotides. Biogeochemical and inherent optical properties (IOPs) were sampled in the near-surface layer spatially and across the tidal phase during the dry season. These determinations included continuous measurements of spectral absorption, scattering and backscattering coefficients, together with discrete measurements of spectral absorption coefficients of phytoplankton, nonalgal particles and colored dissolved organic matter, and concentrations of phytoplankton pigments and suspended matter. Because of a large variability in the characteristics of the water components on short spatial and temporal scales, we observe a large variability in the associated optical properties. From the estuary to the bay, particle scattering and dissolved absorption decreased by 2 orders of magnitude, and nonalgal particle absorption decreased by 3 orders of magnitude. We also observed a strong variability in particle single scattering albedo and backscattering efficiency (by a factor of 6) and in specific IOPs (IOPs normalized by the relevant constituent concentration) such as suspended matter-specific particle scattering and chlorophyll-specific phytoplankton absorption. Superimposed on this strong spatial variability is the effect of the semidiurnal tide, which affects the spatial distribution of all measured properties. These results emphasize the need for spatially and temporally adjusted algorithms for remote sensing in complex coastal systems.

Tags: AU-QLD, Earth Sciences, External Publication, Published_External, Scientific Journal Paper, coasts, marine
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Carnarvon Basin hydrogeological inventory

This Carnarvon Basin dataset contains descriptive attribute information for the areas bounded by the relevant spatial groundwater feature in the associated Hydrogeology Index map. Descriptive topics are grouped into the following themes: Location and administration; Demographics; Physical geography; Surface water; Geology; Hydrogeology; Groundwater; Groundwater management and use; Environment; Land use and industry types; and Scientific stimulus.

The Carnarvon Basin is a large sedimentary basin covering the western and north-western coast of Western Australia, stretching over 1,000 km from Geraldton to Karratha. It is predominantly offshore, with over 80% of the basin located in water depths of up to 4,500 m. The basin is elongated north to south and connects to the Perth Basin in the south and the offshore Canning Basin in the north-east. It is underlain by Precambrian crystalline basement rocks.

The Carnarvon Basin consists of two distinct parts. The southern portion comprises onshore sub-basins with mainly Paleozoic sedimentary rocks extending up to 300 km inland, while the northern section consists of offshore sub-basins containing Mesozoic, Cenozoic, and Paleozoic sequences.

The geological evolution of the Southern Carnarvon Basin was shaped by multiple extensional episodes related to the breakup of Gondwana and reactivation of Archean and Proterozoic structures. The collision between Australia and Eurasia in the Mid-Miocene caused significant fault reactivation and inversion. The onshore region experienced arid conditions, leading to the formation of calcrete, followed by alluvial and eolian deposition and continued calcareous deposition offshore.

The Northern Carnarvon Basin contains up to 15,000 m of sedimentary infill, primarily composed of siliciclastic deltaic to marine sediments from the Triassic to Early Cretaceous and shelf carbonates from the Mid-Cretaceous to Cenozoic. The basin is a significant hydrocarbon province, with most of the resources found within Upper Triassic, Jurassic, and Lower Cretaceous sandstone reservoirs. The basin's development occurred during four successive periods of extension and thermal subsidence, resulting in the formation of various sub-basins and structural highs.

Overall, the Carnarvon Basin is a geologically complex region with a rich sedimentary history and significant hydrocarbon resources. Exploration drilling has been ongoing since 1953, with numerous wells drilled to unlock its hydrocarbon potential.

Tags: Basin Analysis, EARTH SCIENCES, ECOLOGY, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, Environmental Management, Exploring for the Future, GEOLOGY, Groundwater, Hydrogeology, Land Use and Environmental Planning, National Groundwater Sytems, National Hydrogeological Inventory, PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOSCIENCE, Published_External, Sedimentology, Stratigraphy (incl. Biostratigraphy and Sequence Stratigraphy)
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Upper Cambrian (Mindyallan) trilobites and stratigraphy of the Kayrunnera Group, western New South Wales

Nine species of trilobites are recorded from three localities within a restricted stratigraphic interval near the base of the newly defined Kayrunnera Group (previously Kayrunnera Beds) on Kayrunnera station, western New South Wales. These occurrences come from the Boshy Formation of the Kayrunnera Group. The trilobites described include species of Ammagnostus, Meteoraspis, Biaverta, Blackwelderia, Bergeronites, and Placosema. This assemblage is early Late Cambrian (Mindyallan), and most closely referable to the late Mindyallan zone of Glyptagnostus stolidotus. The steeply dipping,weakly cleaved Upper Cambrian-basal Ordovician Kayrunnera Group overlies, with a well-defined angular unconformity, a more deformed tightly folded and strongly cleaved, graded, turbidite sandstone sequence. The turbidite succession is considered to be Early to Middle Cambrian, by lithological correlation with similar rocks containing sponge spicules and trace fossils elsewhere in the Wonominta Block. The upright isoclinal folds of this sequence and the angular unconformity were produced during a major orogenic phase, probably an early expression of the Delamerian Orogeny, in late Middle Cambrian time. After uplift and erosion there followed a period of early-middle Late Cambrian marine transgression, during which the lower part of the Kayrunnera Group was deposited. The beds include the trilobite-bearing Boshy Formation, of shallow marine origin.

Tags: Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Journal, NSW, Published_External
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
A surrogacy approach to evaluate the habitat potential of Australian submarine canyons

The seascape of the vast Australian continental margin is characterised by numerous submarine canyons (n=753) that represent an equally vast array of geomorphic and oceanographic heterogeneity. Theoretically, this heterogeneity translates into habitats that may vary equally widely in their ecological characteristics. Here we describe the methodology to develop a surrogacy framework to broadly derive estimates of potential habitat condition (¿suitability¿ sensu lato) for pelagic and epibenthic megafauna (including demersal fishes), and benthic infauna in all of Australia¿s known submarine canyons using 22 environmental/ecological variables.  We find that the high geomorphic and oceanographic diversity of submarine canyons creates a multitude of potential habitat types. In general, it appears that canyons may be particularly high-quality for benthic species. Canyons that incise the shelf tend to score higher in habitat potential than those confined to the slope. Canyons with particularly high habitat potential are located mainly off the Great Barrier Reef, the NSW coast, the eastern margin of Tasmania and Bass Strait, and on the southern margin. Many of these canyons have complex bottom topography, are likely to be productive, and have less intense sediment disturbance regimes. The framework presented here can be relevant ¿ once refined and comprehensively validated with ecological data - in a management and conservation context to identify canyons (or groups of canyons) that are likely to represent high-value habitat along a vast continental margin where marine planning decisions may require spatial prioritization decisions.

This abstract was submitted/presented to the 2017 Australian Marine Science Association Conference - AMSA (https://www.amsa.asn.au/2017-darwin)

Tags: Australian Continental margin, EARTH SCIENCES, Published_External, ecological characteristics, submarine canyon, surrogacy framework
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973 - Australian Maritime Boundaries 2020 - Geodatabase

Geoscience Australia has the primary role in the delineation of Australia's domestic and international maritime limits and boundaries. An output of this activity is the development of the Australian Maritime Boundaries (AMB) data. AMB is a GIS data product, replacing Australian Maritime Boundaries 2014a (AMB2014a), providing access to the data for Australia's maritime zones. AMB is a digital representation of Australia's limits and boundaries as established under the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973 and associated proclamations. The data also include a representation of the limits by which the scheduled and offshore areas of each of the States and of the Northern Territory are determined under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (OPGGSA). In the event of an inconsistency between AMB data and the limits under any legislation, the latter prevails. The data have been published by Geoscience Australia in consultation with other relevant Commonwealth Government agencies including the Attorney-General's Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Hydrographic Office. 

This version has been updated to reflect the 2018 Timor Sea Treaty.

AMB data comprise the territorial straight baselines and the outer limits of each zone, together with maritime boundaries determined by treaties between Australia and neighbouring countries. All data coordinates are supplied in the GDA94 datum. The data reflects the location of the coastline within the constraints of available source material at the time of production. AMB Data can also be viewed on-line via AMSIS (http://www.ga.gov.au/marine/jurisdiction/amsis.html). Product Specifications Coverage: Australia including all external territories Currency: August 2019. Coordinates: Geographical Datum: GDA94 (functionally equivalent to WGS84). Format: ESRI Geodatabase and REST web service - free online.
The area of coverage of the AMB data is for the whole of the Australian marine jurisdiction which includes waters adjacent to the mainland, offshore islands and External Territories.  The geographical extent is approximately between the latitude limits of 7 S to 70 S and the longitude limits 40 E to 175 E.
This dataset includes the following disclaimer:
AMB data is a digital representation of the territorial sea baseline and of the outer limits of Australia's maritime zones.  The baseline and zones are established under the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973.  The data also includes a representation of the limits by which the waters adjacent to each of the Australian States and of the Northern Territory are determined under the Coastal Waters (State Powers) Act 1980, Coastal Waters (Northern Territory Powers) Act 1980 and the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006.  In the event of an inconsistency between AMB data and the baselines and limits under the legislation, the latter prevails.

Tags: AU, Geospatial Information Systems, HVC_144653, Published_External, Thematic Data Administrative Data, marine
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network