Seafloor environments of the eastern Timor Sea, Northern Australia: Inorganic chemistry of seabed sediments.

The Timor Sea and its tropical marine environment support significant and growing economic activity including oil and gas exploration. To reduce uncertainty in decision making regarding the sustainable use and ongoing protection of these marine resources, environmental managers and resource users require sound scientific information on the composition and stability of seabed environments and their biological assemblages. Surveys SOL4934 and SOL5117 to the eastern Joseph Bonaparte Gulf were undertaken in August and September 2009 and July and August 2010 respectively, in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Marine Science, with research collaborations from the RAN Australian Hydrographic Office, the Geological Survey of Canada and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. The purpose of these surveys were to develop biophysical maps, and deliver data and information products pertaining to complex seabed environment of the Van Diemen Rise and identify potential geohazards and unique, sensitive environments that relate to offshore infrastructure. This dataset comprises inorganic chemistry of seabed sediments (0-2cm).

Some relevant publications are listed below:

1. Heap, A.D., Przeslawski, R., Radke, L., Trafford, J., Battershill, C. and Shipboard Party. 2010. Seabed environments of the eastern Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, Northern Australia: SOL4934 Post Survey Report. Geoscience Australia Record 2010/09, pp.81.
2. Anderson, T.J., Nichol, S., Radke, L., Heap, A.D., Battershill, C., Hughes, M., Siwabessy, P.J., Barrie, V., Alvarez de Glasby, B., Tran, M., Daniell, J. & Shipboard Party, 2011b. Seabed Environments of the Eastern Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, Northern Australia: GA0325/Sol5117 - Post-Survey Report. Geoscience Australia, Record 2011/08, 58pp.
3. Radke, L.C., Li, J., Douglas, G., Przeslawski, R., Nichol, S, Siwabessy, J., Huang, Z., Trafford, J., Watson, T. and Whiteway, T. Characterising sediments of a tropical sediment-starved continental shelf using cluster analysis of physical and geochemical variables. Environmental Chemistry, in press

帝汶海（Timor Sea）及其热带海洋环境支撑着规模可观且持续增长的经济活动，其中涵盖油气勘探。为降低海洋资源可持续利用与持续保护相关决策的不确定性，环境管理者与资源使用者亟需可靠的科学信息，以掌握海底环境及其生物群落的组成与稳定性。
2009年8月至9月、2010年7月至8月，分别开展了针对东波拿巴湾东部的SOL4934与SOL5117号科考调查，协作方为澳大利亚海洋科学研究所（Australian Institute of Marine Science），另有澳大利亚皇家海军水文局（RAN Australian Hydrographic Office）、加拿大地质调查局（Geological Survey of Canada）以及北领地博物馆与美术馆（Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory）参与研究合作。
本次调查的目标为：为范迪门海岭（Van Diemen Rise）复杂的海底环境编制生物物理地图，产出相关数据与信息产品，并识别与近海基础设施相关的潜在地质灾害及独特敏感的海洋环境。
本数据集包含海底沉积物（0-2cm层位）的无机化学组分数据。

以下为相关研究成果列表：
1. Heap, A.D.、Przeslawski, R.、Radke, L.、Trafford, J.、Battershill, C. 及航次团队. 2010. 澳大利亚北部东波拿巴湾海底环境：SOL4934号调查后报告. 澳大利亚地球科学局报告2010/09，第81页.
2. Anderson, T.J.、Nichol, S.、Radke, L.、Heap, A.D.、Battershill, C.、Hughes, M.、Siwabessy, P.J.、Barrie, V.、Alvarez de Glasby, B.、Tran, M.、Daniell, J. 及航次团队，2011b. 澳大利亚北部东波拿巴湾海底环境：GA0325/Sol5117号调查后报告. 澳大利亚地球科学局报告2011/08，共58页.
3. Radke, L.C.、Li, J.、Douglas, G.、Przeslawski, R.、Nichol, S、Siwabessy, J.、Huang, Z.、Trafford, J.、Watson, T. 及Whiteway, T. 基于物理与地球化学变量聚类分析的热带贫沉积大陆架沉积物特征研究. 《环境化学》，已录用待刊.