Kimberley reef extent, geomorphology and habitat mapping (ReefKIM)

The coral reefs of Australia’s North West Kimberley Bioregion are both unique and internationally significant. They exist in one of the most extreme marine environments globally, characterised by the highest tidal range in the southern hemisphere, persistent turbidity, and frequent cyclones. These conditions have shaped coral reefs with distinct geomorphological attributes. The region’s remoteness has minimised direct anthropogenic pressures, but it also presents substantial logistical and financial challenges for data collection and fieldwork. To improve access to information about this region, a geodatabase termed 'ReefKIM' was developed. ReefKIM integrates diverse datasets into a single, comprehensive repository to support research and management. Sources include satellite imagery, orthophotos, bathymetric charts, sub-bottom profiles, geological maps, seabed geomorphology, reef cores, biophysical data, and extensive ground-truthing. This enabled consistent derivation of six broad feature classes: (1) reef extents (2) geomorphological zones (3) habitats and substrates (4) coastlines (5) island boundaries; and (6) other studies and work (e.g. ground truth points, survey, sample collections, coring sites, sub-bottom profiles, images) This record provides access to items (1), (2) and (3) of the ReefKIM components, collated for the purposes of the Seamap Australia National Benthic Habitat Mapping collaborative project. • Reef extents: 853 reef features with size, shape, and reef type attributes. • Geomorphological zones: Five standardised reef zones (land, reef flat, lagoon, reef crest, and fore-reef slope) mapped for 30 reefs. • Habitats and substrates: Seven habitat/substrate classes (mangroves, sand, seagrass and algae, coral rubble, reef pavement with algal turf, crustose coralline algae, and coral communities) mapped for 30 islands and reefs. Additional ReefKIM products are stored at the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre under: WA Node Ocean Data Network > WAMSI2 > KMRP > 1.3 > 1.3.1 A full directory is documented in '1.3.1_Folder_Structure.pdf' in 1.3.1>001_Metadata at https://storage.pawsey.org.au/public/projects