Authors / CoAuthors
Harris, P.T. | Heap, A.D. | Marshall, J.F. | McCulloch, M.
Abstract
Multibeam sonar mapping, underwater video and drill-cores have revealed the existence of widespread submerged coral reefs in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia. Seven reefs have been mapped to date using multibeam sonar and existing bathymetry data indicates as many as 50 other reefs may be present. The reefs are 14 to 30 m below present sea level and therefore invisible to optical remote sensing tools, which explains why they have only recently been identified. The time of colonisation and reef growth commenced in the early Holocene (11 to 10.5 kyr BP) and growth rates of 0.95 to 4 m kyr-1 were attained but reef growth had stopped in most locations by around 8.0 kyr BP, showing a classic "give-up" reef growth history. Reef growth in the late Holocene (2-3 kyr BP) was measured at only one of the reef sites. Our study reveals that the reefs in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria have some of the deepest Pleistocene foundations, the oldest framework coral and shortest-lived Holocene section known in Australia.
Product Type
nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
65456
Contact for the resource
Custodian
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia
Keywords
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- External PublicationScientific Journal Paper
- ( Theme )
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- geomorphology
- ( Theme )
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- marine survey
- ( Theme )
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- continental shelf
- ( Theme )
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- seabed
- ( Theme )
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- marine
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- AU-NTAU-QLD
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Earth Sciences
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- Published_Internal
Publication Date
2007-01-01T00:00:00
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unknown
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geoscientificInformation
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Unknown
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Extents
[-18.0, -10.0, 132.0, 144.0]
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