AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
2021 SoE Marine Chapter - Expert Assessments and Case Studies

Every five years the Australian Government conducts a comprehensive review of the state of the Australian environment. National State of the Environment (SoE) reports provide information about environmental and heritage conditions, trends and pressures for the Australian continent, surrounding seas and Australia's external territories. The 2021 SoE report encompasses Air quality, Antarctica, Biodiversity, Climate, Coasts, Extreme events, Heritage, Indigenous, Inland water, Land, Marine and Urban.

This parent metadata record links to all Expert Assessments and Case Studies (including data streams, where available) that have contributed to the Marine Chapter of the 2021 State of the Environment report.

Tags: State of the Environment (SoE), expert assessment
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
2021 State of the Environment Report Marine Chapter – Expert Assessment – State and Trend – Seabed, upper slope (200-700 m)

The Marine chapter of the 2021 State of the Environment (SoE) report incorporates multiple expert templates developed from streams of marine data. This metadata record describes the Expert Assessment "State and Trend of Seabed, upper slope (200-700 m)". 
<strong><em>A PDF of the full Expert Assessment, including figures and tables (where provided) is downloadable in the "On-line Resources" section of this record as "EXPERT ASSESSMENT 2021 - Seabed, upper slope (200-700 m)"</em></strong>



DESCRIPTION OF HABITAT/COMMUNITY FOR EXPERT ASSESSMENT
This specified depth range (200 m to 700 m) defines the upper continental slope. This habitat is mostly an extremely narrow and typically steep ribbon of seabed beyond the shelf-break (Figure 1), but wider in places (GBR/Coral Sea and North-west Regions) (Table 1). Where it is narrowest and steepest in the Temperate East and South-east Regions, it is typified by sediment draped slopes interspersed with deep reefs and canyons (assessed separately).
The narrow ribbon of upper slope is the core habitat to many demersal fish species including many commercially targeted species, as well as threatened or management dependent species such as many deepwater sharks including gulper sharks (Centrophorus spp.) (Williams et al. 2012). In addition, it harbours a highly diverse benthic fauna (Schlacher et al. 2007, Williams et al. 2010, McEnnulty et al. 2011, Dunstan et al. 2012, McCallum et al. 2013). Off Australia’s west-coast (South-west Region), the upper slope is predominantly sediment-draped with soft coral and sponge dominated communities on the relatively few, small deep reefs (Althaus et al. 2012). In the South-east Region bryozoan communities (assessed separately) dominate the shallower, softer part of the slope (Williams et al. 2009) whereas deep reefs harbour sponge gardens, corals and crinoids. There is little specific knowledge of upper slope habitats and biota in other regions.  

DATA STREAM(S) USED IN EXPERT ASSESSMENT
not supplied



2021 SOE ASSESSMENT SUMMARY [see attached Expert Assessment for full details]

• 2021 •
Assessment grade: Poor- Very good
Assessment trend: Stable
Confidence grade: Limited evidence or limited consensus
Confidence trend: Limited evidence or limited consensus
Comparability: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the 2016 assessment
• 2016 •
Assessment grade: Good-Poor
Assessment trend: Improving
Confidence grade: Limited evidence or limited consensus
Confidence trend: Limited evidence or limited consensus
Comparability: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessment
• 2011 •
Assessment grade: Very good
Assessment trend: Stable
Confidence grade: Limited evidence or limited consensus
Confidence trend: Limited evidence or limited consensus



CHANGES SINCE 2016 SOE ASSESSMENT
not supplied

Tags: communities, continental slope, expert assessment, habitat condition
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
A 2000 year reconstruction of sea surface temperatures and AMOC index using ice cores from Law Dome, East Antarctica

This dataset contains a 2000 year sea surface reconstruction and Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) index reconstruction based on proxy records from the Law Dome ice core record (see https://data.aad.gov.au/metadata/DSS_2k_data_compilation). 

The calibration target for the sea surface reconstruction is the ERSSTv5 reanalysis sea surface temperature anomaly for the period 1854-2015CE, with the anomalies calculated relative to the 1971-2000 climatology. The monthly SSTA data were averaged over the calendar year (January- December) to give an annual value used in the reconstruction. For reconstructing the AMOC, the HadISST reanalysis was used. 

The sea surface temperature reconstruction for each two degree of longitude and latitude cell has been calculated using a multi-variate linear regression including sea salt and snow accumulation records from the Law Dome ice core. The 95% confidence interval was constructed using a circular bootstrapping method. The SST dataset comprises the reconstructed SSTA value, and upper and lower confidence interval values over the last 2000 years for each two degree by two degree cell. The AMOC reconstruction dataset consists of the calculated AMOC index with a 2-year and 50-year Gaussian smooth applied over the 2000 years 

More information on the reconstructions can be found in the accompanying publication: L.M. Jong, J. L. Roberts, A. D. Moy, M. A. J. Curran,: Reconstructing 2000 years of sea surface temperatures from an East Antarctic ice core: A volcanic end to the Medieval Climate Anomaly Law Dome, East Antarctica [submitted], Geophysical Research Letters 

The two files in this dataset are:
sst_reconstruction_2000years.nc 
AMOC_reconstruction_2000years.csv

Tags: AMD, AMD/AU, AMOC, CEOS, CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA > LAW DOME, Computer > Computer, EARTH SCIENCE > CLIMATE INDICATORS > PALEOCLIMATE INDICATORS > ICE CORE RECORDS, EARTH SCIENCE > CLIMATE INDICATORS > PALEOCLIMATE INDICATORS > PALEOCLIMATE RECONSTRUCTIONS > SEA SU, EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN TEMPERATURE > SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE, EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN TEMPERATURE > SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE > SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE ANOMA, GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR, ICE CORES, LAW DOME, EAST ANTARCTICA, NOT APPLICABLE
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Ongoing data collection for Mooring for Epipelagic Echosounding of Krill (MEEK) deployments

This dataset contains all data collected from Mooring for Epipelagic Echo-sounding of Krill (MEEK) platforms.

MEEK moorings are tethered by a mooring string in deep water, with the top float at approximately 400m depth. The minimum depth of a mooring is 350m to avoid collision with icebergs and the maximum depth is 1500m. Moorings are typically deployed in summer months from vessels and are left to collect data for one year (at least).

Active acoustic (ADCP and echosounder) data, passive acoustic data, CTD data and video camera footage are available from various instruments installed on the moorings. Active acoustic deployment files, compass calibrations and echosounder calibration files are included. Echosounders were calibrated in a 10,000L tank of temperature-controlled seawater at the Australian Antarctic Division in Kingston, using a 23mm tungsten carbide sphere and a paired Simrad EK80 333kHz echosounder to map the beam. Calibration raw data and code is included to produce Nortek SONAR equation CalibrationOffsetSv for each frequency. Calibration is only available for narrowband frequencies.

Data collection began in 2024 and is ongoing.

The MEEK moorings are long-line oceanographic moorings designed for year-round observation of krill and associated ecosystem processes in the Antarctic epipelagic zone. Each mooring carries an upward-looking echosounder and ADCP mounted on a top float at ~400 m to monitor krill biomass, vertical migration, and water-column dynamics. A sediment trap positioned below the acoustic package collects sinking particulate material to quantify carbon flux and link pelagic processes with export production. MEEK moorings provide high-resolution, multi-season records that support studies of krill ecology, biogeochemical cycling, and Southern Ocean change. The time series is ongoing and data will be continuously added upon platform retrieval.

Tags: ADCP > Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, AMD, AMD/AU, CEOS, CTD > Conductivity, Temperature, Depth, EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN ACOUSTICS > ACOUSTIC SCATTERING, EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN CIRCULATION > OCEAN CURRENTS > CURRENT PROFILES, EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN PRESSURE, EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN TEMPERATURE, EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > SALINITY/DENSITY > SALINITY, ECHO SOUNDERS > ECHO SOUNDERS, GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR, MEEK, MOORINGS, OCEAN > SOUTHERN OCEAN, OCEAN > SOUTHERN OCEAN > EAST ANTARCTIC CONTINENTAL SHELF, OCEAN > SOUTHERN OCEAN > KERGUELEN PLATEAU, VIDEO CAMERA > VIDEO CAMERA
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
2021 State of the Environment Report Marine Chapter – Case Study – Marine restoration in a changing climate

The Marine chapter of the 2021 State of the Environment (SoE) report incorporates multiple expert templates developed from streams of marine data. This metadata record describes the Case Study "Marine restoration in a changing climate". 
<strong><em>A PDF of the full Case Study, including figures and tables (where provided) is downloadable in the "On-line Resources" section of this record as "CASE STUDY 2021 – Marine restoration in a changing climate"</em></strong>



DESCRIPTION OF THE CASE STUDY
Until recently, marine conservation and management have primarily focused on reducing the drivers that cause biodiversity and habitat loss. While actions such as managing overfishing and reducing pollution have led to some improvements, marine ecosystems continue to decline. Habitat restoration is increasingly seen as a viable tool to slow and even reverse these declines. However, since ongoing climate change is a driver of habitat loss in many instances, restoration can be a complex and multifaceted challenge often requiring novel ‘engineering’ solutions; especially when coupled with a need to sustain the provision of ecosystem services and support Australia’s rapidly growing Blue Economy.



[see attached Case Study for more]

DATA STREAM(S) USED IN CASE STUDY
Synthesis of literature published, and expert knowledge of the case study authors.

Tags: case study, kelp, marine restoration, state of the environment (SoE)
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
2021 State of the Environment Report Marine Chapter – Expert Assessment – State and Trend – Trophic structures and relationships

The Marine chapter of the 2021 State of the Environment (SoE) report incorporates multiple expert templates developed from streams of marine data. This metadata record describes the Expert Assessment "State and Trend of trophic structures and relationships". 
<strong><em>A PDF of the full Expert Assessment, including figures and tables (where provided) is downloadable in the "On-line Resources" section of this record as "EXPERT ASSESSMENT 2021 - Trophic structures and relationships"</em></strong>



DESCRIPTION OF COMMUNITY/PROCESS FOR EXPERT ASSESSMENT
Trophic relationships indicate linkages between species in food webs – who eats who. Consumers in open-ocean pelagic food webs rely on plankton at their base (Griffiths et al.., 2010; Antoine et al., 2020); inshore, benthic food webs may also have a heavy reliance on plankton (Truong et al., 2017) but can also be based on macrophytes, detritus and many invertebrate prey species (Abrantes et al., 2015). 
Historically, our understanding of these relationships was based on dietary studies (particularly stomach content analysis), which were undertaken sporadically in space and time. More recently, DNA techniques have been applied to stomach contents to detect prey that might not be normally identified from visual analyses, thereby expanding the food web (Berry et al., 2015). These studies may span a large number of species or focus on a subset of interest. Thus, to assemble a food web for a region, and then to assess change, requires many years of sampling, often combining data from different studies. In contrast, diet studies of single species are relatively common, and may be observed through visual observations, imagery, stomach contents, or scat analysis. These studies can reveal geographic, interannual, or long-term change, and indicate wider ecosystem change (e.g. see examples based around little penguins and pinnipeds; Chiaradia et al., 2010; Kirkwood et al., 2008). 

DATA STREAM(S) USED IN EXPERT ASSESSMENT
No raw data analyses were used in this assessment, instead it represents a synthesis of literature published in the last 5 years.



2021 SOE ASSESSMENT SUMMARY [see attached Expert Assessment for full details]

• 2021 •
Assessment grade: Poor-good. Variable. 
Assessment trend: Unclear. Variable.
Confidence grade: Adequate
Confidence trend: Limited
Comparability: Comparable
• 2016 •
Assessment grade: Poor-Good
Assessment trend: Unclear
Confidence grade: Adequate high quality evidence or high level of consensus
Confidence trend: Adequate high quality evidence or high level of consensus
Comparability: Grade and trend are comparable to the 2011 assessment
• 2011 •
Assessment grade: Good
Assessment trend: Stable
Confidence grade: Limited evidence or limited consensus
Confidence trend: Limited evidence or limited consensus



CHANGES SINCE 2016 SOE ASSESSMENT
Assessment is in line with what was found in 2016.

Tags: community dynamics, expert assessment, trophic structure
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Sea Surface Temperature Archive: Australian Bureau of Meteorology

The Bureau of Meteorology provides the Australian and international maritime communities with weather forecasts, warnings and observations for coastal waters areas and high seas around Australia. Generally most of these services are provided routinely throughout the day, while marine weather warnings may be issued at any time when the need becomes apparent. Because of the complex nature of the sea, the Bureau of Meteorology uses advanced computer models to predict the physical characteristics of the ocean. These computer forecasts are used by meteorologists in the preparation of marine forecasts and warnings. The forecasts include wind, weather, sea and swell and are intended to describe the average conditions over specified areas. Marine forecasts have been enhanced by the inclusion of ocean currents and sea-surface temperature forecasts through the BLUElink ocean forecasting initiative.
The Sea Surface Temperature Browse Service provides  access to browse images (1:5 resolution) of satellite derived Daily Sea Surface Temperature data available from 30 December 1998. The Bureau currently uses measurements from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) on board the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) series of polar orbiting satellites to derive SSTs for the Australian region. The data is calibrated and quality controlled against SST data collected from ships and drifting buoys. The SSTs are used in real time operations and also archived as the data as part of Australia's National Climate Record.

This record also provides links to BOM Ocean Analysis data including Daily/Weekly/Monthly records of Australian and Global Sea Surface and Subsurface Temperatures.

Tags: AUSTRALIA INCLUDING EXTERNAL TERRITORIES, Oceans | Ocean Temperature | Sea Surface Temperature, sea_surface_temperature
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
FAD's Australia

The Blue Economy CRC has commissioned a team of experts from CSIRO to support the collation of data and produce sets of maps as inputs to the Futures of Seafood study State of Play (Work Package 1). 

The study team greatly appreciate the efforts taken by jurisdictional governments to supply the data, and the ongoing engagement on the production of these maps. 

The team is now finalising the jurisdictional map sets and is seeking final review of the data. Once reviewed, these maps will be included in the Futures of Seafood outputs that will be available on https://futuresofseafood.com.au/

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Effect of algae, herbivores and nutrients on the settlement and survival of coral

To investigate the effect of fish predators, urchin densities and algal cover on coral recruitment.

Tags: Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Herbivory, Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Species Recruitment, Biosphere | Ecological Dynamics | Survival, Biosphere | Vegetation | Algae, Biosphere | Zoology | Corals, Urchin
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
2021 State of the Environment Report Marine Chapter – Expert Assessment – State and Trend - Water column – deep (>200 m)

The Marine chapter of the 2021 State of the Environment (SoE) report incorporates multiple expert templates developed from streams of marine data. This metadata record describes the Expert Assessment "State and Trend of Water column – deep (&gt;200 m)". 
<strong><em>A PDF of the full Expert Assessment, including figures and tables (where provided) is downloadable in the "On-line Resources" section of this record as "EXPERT ASSESSMENT 2021 - State and Trend - Water column – deep (&gt;200 m)"</em></strong>



DESCRIPTION OF HABITAT/COMMUNITY FOR EXPERT ASSESSMENT
The parts of the water column of the open ocean that lie below the surface 200 m (the epipelagic zone) are widely known as the mesopelagic zone (most commonly defined as 200 to 1000 m), the bathypelagic zone (1000 to 4000 m) and the abyssal zone (&gt; 4000 m). Much of the life found in these deeper waters occurs primarily in the mesopelagic layer, which is also commonly called the ‘ocean twilight zone’. The mesopelagic zone (along with the waters of the bathypelagic and abyss; hereon collectively termed the “deep water column”) is arguably the most under-studied part of the world’s ocean (St John et al 2016; Martin et al 2020), but supports globally important ecosystem services playing a key role in ocean carbon drawdown and supporting important biodiversity values including major prey resources for predators such as tunas and many marine mammals (St John et al 2016; Hidalgo &amp; Browman 2019; Kwong et al. 2020).

DATA STREAM(S) USED IN EXPERT ASSESSMENT
Information for this assessment was drawn from peer-reviewed publications (including other SoE 2021 expert assessments).



2021 SOE ASSESSMENT SUMMARY [see attached Expert Assessment for full details]

• 2021 •
Assessment grade: Good
Assessment trend: Stable
Confidence grade: Limited
Confidence trend: Very limited
Comparability: Somewhat comparable
• 2016 •
Assessment grade: Good
Assessment trend: Unclear
Confidence grade: Limited
Confidence trend: Very limited
Comparability: Somewhat comparable
• 2011 •
Assessment grade: Very good
Assessment trend: Stable
Confidence grade: Limited
Confidence trend: Limited



CHANGES SINCE 2016 SOE ASSESSMENT
The delineation of water column habitats/communities has changed since 2016, but the state and trend were uniform across all water column habitats/communities in 2016, meaning that the 2016 and 2021 assessments are comparable despite the change in delineation.

Tags: abyssal, expert assessment, off shelf, water column
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network
Predictive tools for white syndromes in Northern Australia: targeting monitoring and informing management (MTSRF 2.5i.3, JCU, Uni Melbourne)

Climate change has emerged as the single greatest threat to coral reefs. The climate change threat will take many forms and includes projections that there will be higher abundances of coral diseases. Links have already been made between high temperatures and outbreaks of the disease ‘white syndrome’ in the Indo-Pacific but little is known about the disease due, in part, to not knowing where outbreaks will occur. We present results of a regression model that suggests the most severe outbreaks of white syndrome observed on the Great Barrier Reef, in late 2002, only occurred at sites that experienced high rates of temperature increase during summer months, rates not seen again in the GBR until 2009. We have produced an image for each summer since and including 2002 that colour-grades and maps white syndrome outbreak likelihood for northern Australia as high or low. The images are based on retrospective calculations of summer rates of temperature increase from high-resolution remotely sensed temperature data. The interactive tool produced from the images is the first like it for coral disease and forms the early warning system within a new coral disease outbreak response plan. The tool will help to target research and monitoring that can improve our understanding of white syndrome outbreaks and determine whether actions can be taken by managers to reduce the susceptibility of corals to such diseases (Maynard et al. in review).

The data, presented as images, have no units.  Pixels have been coloured red (~1 km resolution) that experienced heating rates at least as great as was experienced at sites where outbreaks of white syndromes occurred in the southern GBR late in 2002.

This dataset was developed as part of the MTSRF program.

Cite this dataset: Maynard J., Willis B. (2009) Predicting outbreaks of the coral disease white syndrome in northern Australia, eAtlas, https://eatlas.org.au/data/uuid/eaece897-3e9a-47ea-94cb-ee94195dac98

Tags: marine
Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network