Seabed sediment data were extracted from Geoscience Australia's MARine Sediment database (MARS - http://www.ga.gov.au/oracle/mars/). They include the percentage of carbonate in the sediment, and the percentage of mud, sand, or gravel size material found in seabed sediment samples, throughout the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone. The data grids were created using ArcGIS Inverse Distance Squared Weighted methodology.

Seabed sediment data were extracted from Geoscience Australia's MARine Sediment database (MARS - http://www.ga.gov.au/oracle/mars/). They include the percentage of carbonate in the sediment, and the percentage of mud, sand, or gravel size material found in seabed sediment samples, throughout the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone. The data grids were created using ArcGIS Inverse Distance Squared Weighted methodology.

Seabed sediment data were extracted from Geoscience Australia's MARine Sediment database (MARS - http://www.ga.gov.au/oracle/mars/). They include the percentage of carbonate in the sediment, and the percentage of mud, sand, or gravel size material found in seabed sediment samples, throughout the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone. The data grids were created using ArcGIS Inverse Distance Squared Weighted methodology.

Geoscience Australia maintains a national collection of marine geological samples and analytical data from across the Australian region. Digital records of these datasets are held within the Marine Sediment Database (MARS), available as an online resource of c. 2.6 million entries. Here we have extracted data from MARS to collate sediment properties for over 15,000 seabed samples for use as a standalone dataset. Analytical data includes textural composition (mud, sand, gravel), summary statistics for particle size distributions, textural class and calcium carbonate values (where available). Information on sample water depth, location and marine survey is also provided. The sample set spans the coast, continental shelf, slope and deep ocean locations across the Australian marine region (covering the extent of the AusBathyTopo 250m 2023 grid). This dataset has utility for a broad range of purposes including seabed characterisation, sediment transport modelling, habitat characterisation, seabed engineering studies and fundamental geological and sedimentological research. Additional metadata of this dataset are provided in the word document accompanied with the dataset. The metadata document describes the attribute table, the sediment carbonate classification and the sediment facies.

Geoscience Australia maintains a national collection of marine geological samples and analytical data from across the Australian region. Digital records of these datasets are held within the Marine Sediment Database (MARS), available as an online resource of c. 2.6 million entries. Here we have extracted data from MARS to collate sediment properties for over 15,000 seabed samples for use as a standalone dataset. Analytical data includes textural composition (mud, sand, gravel), summary statistics for particle size distributions, textural class and calcium carbonate values (where available). Information on sample water depth, location and marine survey is also provided. The sample set spans the coast, continental shelf, slope and deep ocean locations across the Australian marine region (covering the extent of the AusBathyTopo 250m 2023 grid). This dataset has utility for a broad range of purposes including seabed characterisation, sediment transport modelling, habitat characterisation, seabed engineering studies and fundamental geological and sedimentological research. Additional metadata of this dataset are provided in the word document accompanied with the dataset. The metadata document describes the attribute table, the sediment carbonate classification and the sediment facies.

Geoscience Australia maintains a national collection of marine geological samples and analytical data from across the Australian region. Digital records of these datasets are held within the Marine Sediment Database (MARS), available as an online resource of c. 2.6 million entries. Here we have extracted data from MARS to collate sediment properties for over 15,000 seabed samples for use as a standalone dataset. Analytical data includes textural composition (mud, sand, gravel), summary statistics for particle size distributions, textural class and calcium carbonate values (where available). Information on sample water depth, location and marine survey is also provided. The sample set spans the coast, continental shelf, slope and deep ocean locations across the Australian marine region (covering the extent of the AusBathyTopo 250m 2023 grid). This dataset has utility for a broad range of purposes including seabed characterisation, sediment transport modelling, habitat characterisation, seabed engineering studies and fundamental geological and sedimentological research. Additional metadata of this dataset are provided in the word document accompanied with the dataset. The metadata document describes the attribute table, the sediment carbonate classification and the sediment facies.

Geoscience Australia maintains a national collection of marine geological samples and analytical data from across the Australian region. Digital records of these datasets are held within the Marine Sediment Database (MARS), available as an online resource of c. 2.6 million entries. Here we have extracted data from MARS to collate sediment properties for over 15,000 seabed samples for use as a standalone dataset. Analytical data includes textural composition (mud, sand, gravel), summary statistics for particle size distributions, textural class and calcium carbonate values (where available). Information on sample water depth, location and marine survey is also provided. The sample set spans the coast, continental shelf, slope and deep ocean locations across the Australian marine region (covering the extent of the AusBathyTopo 250m 2023 grid). This dataset has utility for a broad range of purposes including seabed characterisation, sediment transport modelling, habitat characterisation, seabed engineering studies and fundamental geological and sedimentological research. Additional metadata of this dataset are provided in the word document accompanied with the dataset. The metadata document describes the attribute table, the sediment carbonate classification and the sediment facies.

Surficial marine sediments are an important source of nutrients for productivity and biodiversity yet the biogeochemistry of these sediments is poorly known in Australia. Seabed samples were collected at >350 locations in Australia’s western, northern and eastern continental margins during federal government surveys (2007-2014). Parameters analysed included measures of organic matter (OM) source (δ13C, δ15N and C:N-ratios), concentration (total organic carbon (%TOC) and surface area normalised TOC (OC:SA)) and bioavailability (chlorin indices, total reactive chlorins, total oxygen uptake, total sediment metabolism (TSM), sediment oxygen demand (SOD) and SOD and TSM normalised to TOC). The aim of this study is to summarise these biogeochemical ‘baseline’ data, and make contextualised inferences about processes that govern the observed concentrations. The OM was mainly from marine sources and OC:SA broadly reflected water column productivity (MODIS). Approximately 40% of sediments were organic-poor by global standards reflecting seawater oligotrophy; ~12% were organic-rich due to benthic production, high water column productivity and pockmark formation. OM freshness varied due to pigment degradation in water columns and dilution with refractory OM in reworked sediments. δ15N values confirmed the importance of N2 fixation to Timor Sea productivity, and point to recycling of fixed nitrogen within food chains in Western Australia. Citation: Radke Lynda, Nicholas Tony, Thompson Peter A., Li Jin, Raes Eric, Carey Matthew, Atkinson Ian, Huang Zhi, Trafford Janice, Nichol Scott (2017) Baseline biogeochemical data from Australia’s continental margin links seabed sediments to water column characteristics. Marine and Freshwater Research 68, 1593-1617. https://doi.org/10.1071/MF16219

Surficial marine sediments are an important source of nutrients for productivity and biodiversity yet the biogeochemistry of these sediments is poorly known in Australia. Seabed samples were collected at >350 locations in Australia’s western, northern and eastern continental margins during federal government surveys (2007-2014). Parameters analysed included measures of organic matter (OM) source (δ13C, δ15N and C:N-ratios), concentration (total organic carbon (%TOC) and surface area normalised TOC (OC:SA)) and bioavailability (chlorin indices, total reactive chlorins, total oxygen uptake, total sediment metabolism (TSM), sediment oxygen demand (SOD) and SOD and TSM normalised to TOC). The aim of this study is to summarise these biogeochemical ‘baseline’ data, and make contextualised inferences about processes that govern the observed concentrations. The OM was mainly from marine sources and OC:SA broadly reflected water column productivity (MODIS). Approximately 40% of sediments were organic-poor by global standards reflecting seawater oligotrophy; ~12% were organic-rich due to benthic production, high water column productivity and pockmark formation. OM freshness varied due to pigment degradation in water columns and dilution with refractory OM in reworked sediments. δ15N values confirmed the importance of N2 fixation to Timor Sea productivity, and point to recycling of fixed nitrogen within food chains in Western Australia. Citation: Radke Lynda, Nicholas Tony, Thompson Peter A., Li Jin, Raes Eric, Carey Matthew, Atkinson Ian, Huang Zhi, Trafford Janice, Nichol Scott (2017) Baseline biogeochemical data from Australia’s continental margin links seabed sediments to water column characteristics. Marine and Freshwater Research 68, 1593-1617. https://doi.org/10.1071/MF16219