The Surface Waves Sub-Facility, part of the Satellite Remote Sensing Facility, will calibrate, collect and distribute ocean surface wave data from current and next-generation satellite missions. The Sub-Facility will build Australia’s capability in Satellite Remotely Sensed wave data-streams and deliver global validated, processed wave data streams, with a focused effort in the Australian region. Activities will include: • building on the wave measurements obtained from the Bass Strait altimeter calibration sites for calibration of the current satellite missions in the Australian region, • using the Southern Ocean Flux Station to validate wave data in the extreme Southern Ocean wave climate, • delivering historical and near-real-time altimeter-derived significant wave heights to the IMOS OceanCurrent Facility, producing daily maps and animations that will be used by researchers and the broader community, • managing the delivery of wind-wave data derived from altimeter and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite platforms to the Australian marine and coastal science community.

Sentinel-1 A and B satellites are part of Europe's Copernicus Earth Observation program and carry identical C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instruments. This dataset contains 10m neutral stability wind speed and direction derived from Sentinel-1 A and B SARs in the wider Australian coastal regions. In these regions, the satellites normally operate in interferometric wide (IW) swath mode. The winds are derived using a consistent geophysical model function (gmf), CMOD5N, and variational Bayesian inversion approach as proposed in Portabella et al. (2002) and Sentinel-1 Ocean wind (owi) algorithm definition document. The input SAR and model (ECMWF) data used in the inversion are sourced from owi level-2 product, and the resulting derived winds are approximately at 1km horizontal spatial resolution as in the source product but derived using a consistent gmf over time (unlike the source product). Wind speeds are also calibrated against Metop-A and B scatterometer wind database of Ribal and Young, 2020 (JTECH). The data represented by this record, are presented in delayed mode.

Sentinel-1 A, B and C satellites are part of Europe's Copernicus Earth Observation program and carry identical C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instruments. This dataset contains regularly gridded (0.01 x 0.01 deg) daily 10m neutral stability wind speed and direction derived from Sentinel-1 SARs in the wider Australian nearshore regions. In these regions, the satellites normally operate in interferometric wide (IW) swath mode. The winds are derived using a consistent geophysical model function (gmf), CMOD5N, and variational Bayesian inversion approach as proposed in Portabella et al. (2002) and Sentinel-1 Ocean wind (owi) algorithm definition document. The input SAR and model (ECMWF) data used in the inversion are sourced from owi Level-2 product, and the resulting derived winds are approximately at 1km horizontal spatial resolution as in the source product. Wind speeds are also calibrated against Metop-A and B scatterometer wind database of Ribal and Young, 2020 (JTECH). For each day, all available derived wind field swaths (available as separate wind product: IMOS - Satellite Remote Sensing - Surface Waves Sub-Facility - SAR wind - Delayed mode data) are combined and interpolated to a nominal 0.01 x 0.01-degree regular grid. The final data are thus arranged in a rectilinear grid with dimensions defined by TIME, LATITUDE and LONGITUDE. The data represented by this record, are presented in delayed mode.

This database contains global data of wind speed and wind direction obtained from scatterometer missions which have flown since 1992. The data has been calibrated against NDBC buoy data and validated with independent buoy measurements and at cross-over points with other scatterometer and altimeter missions. The performance of the scatterometers at high wind speeds was examined against buoy and platform measurements. Where necessary, corrections were applied to ensure scatterometer data agreed with the insitu wind speed for high wind speeds.

Radial data files contain radial components of sea surface parameters measured by HF ocean radars operated by Ocean Radar (formerly known as the Australian Coastal Ocean Radar Network (ACORN)), a facility of Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS). Regardless of the radar system (WERA or SeaSonde), the primary product is the radial component of the sea surface current along a line between the radar station and a point on the sea surface. By combining radials measured at two stations surface current vectors can be constructed. These surface current vectors can then be used to study tides, wind-driven currents and perform lagrangian particle tracking. A snap-shot of the radial surface current map is produced by a radar station every 10 min (WERA) or 1 h (SeaSonde). These data are uploaded to the IMOS archive in real-time. Real-time data are produced by the manufacturer of the radar station and no quality control flags are assigned by either the manufacturer or the facility at this stage. Each real-time radial file contains a set of standard metadata fields, such as radar system type, operating frequency and bandwidth. Other metadata fields describe radar system type-specific parameters. Radial file metadata fields are described in a separate facility data document. In addition, WERA radar systems provide the real-time heights of left and right bragg peaks, from which the wind direction can be inferred, and an estimate of the significant wave height. These quantities are not quality controlled because they are output from the manufacturer's software without the detail necessary for the facility to assign a quality control label.

Radial data files contain radial components of sea surface parameters measured by HF ocean radars operated by Ocean Radar (formerly known as the Australian Coastal Ocean Radar Network (ACORN)), a facility of Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS). Regardless of the radar system (WERA or SeaSonde), the primary product is the radial component of the sea surface current along a line between the radar station and a point on the sea surface. By combining radials measured at two stations surface current vectors can be constructed. These surface current vectors can then be used to study tides, wind-driven currents and perform lagrangian particle tracking. Raw data collected at each radar site are re-processed by the facility in order to assign quality control flags to data points. This is not possible in real-time because real-time data are produced by proprietary manufacturer software without quality control flags and it is not feasible to transfer the raw data to the facility in real-time. Each radial file contains a set of standard metadata fields, such as radar system type, operating frequency and bandwidth. Other metadata fields describe radar system type-specific parameters. Radial file metadata fields are described in a separate Ocean Radar data document. In addition, for WERA radar systems, the facility provides quality controlled heights of left and right bragg peaks, from which the wind direction can be inferred.

Sentinel-1 A and B satellites are part of Europe’s Copernicus Earth Observation program and carry identical C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instruments. Over open-ocean, they operate in wave mode and collect directional wave measurements globally. This dataset contains Sentinel-1 SAR directional ocean swell wave number spectra, spectral partitions and partition bulks in the Australasian region including the Pacific islands, this mission has flown since 2014, with data delivered from July 2015. The data have been homogenised to a single, easily usable format from inconsistent source product by removing various discrepancies such as inconsistencies in wave number bins and values, variables and erroneous measurements over land. The data represented by this record, are presented in delayed mode.

The Ocean Radar (formerly known as the Australian Coastal Ocean Radar Network (ACORN)) facility comprises a coordinated network of HF radars delivering real-time, non-quality controlled and delayed-mode, quality controlled surface current data into a national archive. Based on experience in Europe and the USA, deployment of these radars is expected to make a profound change to coastal ocean research in Australia. HF radar provides unprecedented time-resolved surface current maps over the monitoring sites for physical and biological ocean research. Deployment of the radars is in support of regional nodes where there is a range of identified questions concerned with boundary currents and associated eddies and their interactions with shelf water and topography. In turn these are linked to productivity, connectivity of biological populations and phenomena such as coral bleaching and diseases. It provides a basis for applied research in wave prediction and offers test sites for hydrodynamic modelling. The equipment comprises long-range WERA and medium-range WERA systems and long-range SeaSonde systems, and associated spares and transport infrastructure. An existing system that was installed by James Cook University in the Capricorn/Bunker region around Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef was integrated into the network. An HF radar acquisition by a consortium led by South Australian Research and Development Institute in South Australia was also integrated into the network.

Sentinel-1 A and B satellites are part of Europe’s Copernicus Earth Observation program and carry identical C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instruments. Over open-ocean, they operate in wave mode and collect directional wave measurements globally. This dataset contains Sentinel-1 SAR directional ocean swell wave number spectra, spectral partitions and partition bulks in the Australasian region including the Pacific islands (note - this dataset also contains many along-track observations outside this region, and are included due to overlap with the region of interest), this mission has flown since 2014, with data delivered from July 2015. The data includes both delayed-mode and Near Real Time (NRT) data streams. Systematic surface wave acquisitions from Sentinel-1 began in July, 2015 with only Sentinel-1 A in orbit, and were increased with the addition of Sentinel-1 B, which started regular wave measurements from Oct, 2016. The delayed-mode data processed and delivered from Sentinel-1 platforms cover this time span through to Mar, 2022 and consists of daily netCDF files, while the NRT component of the dataset is producing a 6-hourly netCDF file for each platform (A and B) and includes data that has been acquired in (approximately) the previous 24 hours. The data have been homogenised to a single, easily usable format from inconsistent source product by removing various discrepancies such as inconsistencies in wave number bins and values, variables and erroneous measurements over land. The ongoing IMOS (Integrated Marine Observing System) Surface Waves Sub-Facility SAR wave database is available through the Australian Ocean Data Network Portal (Delayed-mode data - https://portal.aodn.org.au/search?uuid=4680a155-07af-46ac-b026-151c4ed4f6d5 and NRT - https://portal.aodn.org.au/search?uuid=d833de94-313d-41bd-9278-bc5813e29949), the main repository for marine data in Australia. The data represented by this metadata record is a snapshot of the database at the time of this publication (June 2022), and has been assigned a DOI and will be maintained in perpetuity by the AODN.

The National Reef Monitoring Network brings together shallow reef surveys conducted around Australia into a centralised database. The IMOS National Reef Monitoring Network sub-Facility collates, cleans, stores and makes this data rapidly available from contributors including: Reef Life Survey, Parks Australia, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (Western Australia), Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (South Australia), Department of Primary Industries (New South Wales), Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service and Parks Victoria. The data provided by the National Reef Monitoring Network contributes to establishing and supporting national marine baselines, and assisting with the management of Commonwealth and State marine reserves. Reef Life Survey (RLS) and the Australian Temperate Reef Network (ATRC) aims to improve biodiversity conservation and the sustainable management of marine resources by coordinating surveys of rocky and coral reefs using scientific methods, with the ultimate goal to improve coastal stewardship. Our activities depend on the skills of marine scientists, experienced and motivated recreational SCUBA divers, partnerships with management agencies and university researchers, and active input from the ATRC partners and RLS Advisory Committee. RLS and ATRC data are freely available to the public for non-profit purposes, so not only managers, but also groups such as local dive clubs or schools may use these data to look at changes over time in their own local reefs. By making data freely available and through public outputs, RLS and ATRC aims to raise broader community awareness of the status of Australia?s marine biodiversity and associated conservation issues. This dataset provides the metadata associated with individual 50 m transects surveyed by Reef Life Survey (RLS) and Australian Reef Collaboration Network (ATRC) divers and partners. All surveys in this list were undertaken using standard methods. ATRC surveys are predominantly collected as a group of 4 x 50m transects per site, RLS surveys commonly have a minimum of 2 x 50 m surveys per site on any given date (typically at different depths), but this number often varies. This dataset supersedes the RLS specific "Reef Life Survey (RLS): Survey Locations " collection that was available at https://catalogue-rls.imas.utas.edu.au/geonetwork/srv/en/metadata.show?uuid=4972fa20-195b-41e4-bee8-8175d6ac792b (provision of data was stopped in June 2021).