Antarctic wide seafloor geomorphology

Publicly available bathymetry and geophysical data can be used to map geomorphic features of the Antarctic continental margin and adjoining ocean basins at scales of 1:1-5 million. These data can also be used to map likely locations for some Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. Seamounts over a certain size are readily identified and submarine canyons and mid ocean ridge central valleys which harbour hydrothermal vents can be located. Geomorphic features and their properties can be related to major habitat characteristics such as sea floor type (hard versus soft), ice keel scouring, sediment deposition or erosion and current regimes. Where more detailed data are available, shelf geomorphology can be shown to provide a guide to the distribution in the area of the shelf benthic communities recognised by Gutt (2007). The geomorphic mapping method presented here provides a layer to add to benthic bioregionalistion using readily available data.

An AADC maintained copy of these data are publicly available for download from the provided URL. The master copy of these data are attached to the metadata record held at Geoscience Australia (see the provided URL).

公开可得的水深测量（bathymetry）与地球物理数据（geophysical data），可用于以1:100万至1:500万的比例尺绘制南极大陆边缘及毗邻海盆的地貌特征分布图。此类数据还可用于划定部分脆弱海洋生态系统（Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems）的潜在分布区域。达到一定规模的海山可被快速识别，而分布有热液喷口（hydrothermal vents）的海底峡谷与洋中脊中央谷也可被精准定位。地貌特征及其属性可与核心生境特征建立关联，例如海底底质类型（硬质与软质）、冰底刻蚀、沉积物沉积或侵蚀作用以及流场状况。若可获取更详尽的实测数据，则可借助大陆架地貌推断Gutt（2007）所界定的研究区域内大陆架底栖生物群落的分布格局。本文提出的地貌制图方法，可依托公开易得的数据集，为底栖生物分区（benthic bioregionalization）研究补充关键分析维度。

澳大利亚南极数据中心（Australian Antarctic Data Centre, AADC）维护的该数据集副本可通过指定链接公开下载。该数据集的主副本附于澳大利亚地球科学局（Geoscience Australia）托管的元数据记录中（详见指定链接）。