Seamounts, Canyons and Reefs of the Coral Sea bathymetry survey (FK200802/GA0365)

This resource includes bathymetry data acquired during the Seamounts, Canyons and Reefs of the Coral Sea bathymetry survey using Kongsberg EM302 and EM710 multibeam sonar systems. The Seamounts, Canyons and Reefs of the Coral Sea bathymetry survey was led by Dr. Brendan Brooke and Dr. Scott Nichol (Geoscience Australia) with a team of scientists from Geoscience Australia, James Cook University, The University of Sydney, University of Tasmania, University of Wollongong, Queensland Museum and Parks Australia aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI) RV Falkor from the 2nd to the 30th of August 2020. The primary objective of the survey to collect and analyze geological and biological data of the outer, deep-water edge of the Great Barrier Reef and platform reefs in the adjacent Coral Sea Marine Park. R/V Falkor’s multibeam systems were used to map the structure of the reefs, canyons, and seamounts, illuminating their formative processes. The datasets acquired will greatly improve understanding of the sedimentary processes that influence biodiversity patterns, including how canyons and platform reefs may provide a pathway for sediment to travel from coastal and shelf water to deep filter feeders. The deep and irregular canyon and platform-reef topography likely leads to direct upwelling of nutrient-rich deep waters. This dataset contains a 64m and a 16m, for water depths shallower than 2560m, resolution 32-bit geotiff of the Seamounts, Canyons and Reefs of the Coral Sea survey area produced from the processed EM302 and EM710 bathymetry data combined. This dataset is not to be used for navigational purposes. This dataset is published with the permission of the CEO, Geoscience Australia.