Standard Presentation Australian Marine Sciences Association Annual Meeting 2023

A two-part seabed geomorphology classification scheme to support diverse applications of seabed mapping data (#152)

Rachel A Nanson 1 , Riccardo Arosio 2 , Joana Gafeira 3 , Mardi McNeil 1 , Dayton Dove 3 , Lilja Bjarnadottir 4 , Margaret Dolan 4 , Janine Guinan 5 , Alix Post 1 , John Webb 6 , Scott Nichol 1
  1. Geoscience Australia, Symonston, ACT, Australia
  2. University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
  3. British Geological Survey, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
  4. Geological Survey of Norway, Trondheim, Norway
  5. Geological Survey of Ireland, Cork, Ireland
  6. ., Latrobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Maps of seabed geomorphology provide foundational information for a broad range of marine applications. Effective geomorphic characterisation of the seabed requires standardised, multi-scalar and inter-jurisdictional approaches that can be applied locally, regionally and internationally. An ongoing collaboration between geoscience agencies in the United Kingdom (BGS), Norway (GSN), Ireland (GSI and UCC) and Australia (GA) has developed a new standardised two-part mapping approach to meet this need. Seabed morphology maps are created by first applying Part 1 Morphological terms (Dove et al, 2020) to bathymetry data. Part 2 (this presentation) classifies these mapped shapes with their geomorphic interpretation. Geomorphic unit terms are structured within five geomorphic Setting (Fluvial, Coastal, Marine, Glacial, Hard Rock) and six Process (Current-induced, Biogenic, Mass movement, Fluid Flow, Karst, Anthropogenic) categories visualised on classification trees for implementation in a GIS environment. Extensive community feedback on the Part 2 geomorphology scheme was integrated into a revised version of the scheme, to be released in March 2023.  Here we present Australian examples to demonstrate application of the scheme to support a range of scientific, management and spatial planning activities.