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Seabed Geomorphology Vocabularies

Created 08/01/2026

Updated 08/01/2026

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The International Seabed Geomorphology Mapping Working Group (ISGM-WG) developed a two-part seabed geomorphology classification scheme to facilitate standardised global seabed mapping efforts (Part 1 Morphology – Dove et al., 2020; Part 2 Geomorphology – Nanson et al., 2023). This product includes four linked vocabularies that were developed by the ISGM-WG to support the implementation of the scheme:

Vocabulary 1. Seabed geomorphology - Method Terms. A vocabulary of general terms.

Vocabulary 2. Seabed geomorphology - Physiography. A vocabulary of physiographic terms used by Harris et al (2014) to map the macroscale shape and geology of the global seabed.

Many of these terms have been retained in this PHYISOGRAPHY vocabulary; some terms have been shifted into either Part 1 Morphology or Part 2 Geomorphology vocabularies.

Vocabulary 3. Seabed geomorphology - Part 1 Morphology. A vocabulary of MORPHOLOGY FEATURE terms used to describe the shape of the seabed.

Vocabulary 4. Seabed geomorphology - Part 2 Geomorphology. A vocabulary of GEOMORPHIC UNIT terms that can be used to classify MORPHOLOGY FEATURES (Part 1) with their process interpretation. These UNIT terms are structured within a consistent framework design that is replicated between eleven SETTING and PROCESS categories.

These vocabularies were published by Geoscience Australia (GA) with the permission of ISGM-WG.

Dove, D., Nanson, R., Bjarnadóttir, L. R., Guinan, J., Gafeira, J., Post, A., Dolan, M. F. J., Stewart, H., Arosio, R., & Scott, G. (2020). A two-part Seabed Geomorphology classification scheme (v.2); Part 1: Morphology Features Glossary. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4071940

Nanson, R., Arosio, R., Gafeira, J., McNeil, M., Dove, D., Bjarnadóttir, L., Dolan, M., Guinan, J., Post, A., Webb, J., & Nichol, S. (2023). A two-part seabed geomorphology classification scheme; Part 2: Geomorphology classification framework and glossary (Version 1.0) (1.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7804019  ;

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Additional Info

Field Value
Title Seabed Geomorphology Vocabularies
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/52553eba-3eb0-4256-9f43-bb6ab8a940da
Contact Point
Geoscience Australia Data
clientservices@ga.gov.au
Reference Period 25/03/2025
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    [
      [
        45.0,
        -90.0
      ],
      [
        168.0,
        -90.0
      ],
      [
        168.0,
        -9.0
      ],
      [
        45.0,
        -9.0
      ],
      [
        45.0,
        -90.0
      ]
    ]
  ],
  "type": "Polygon"
}
Data Portal Geoscience Australia

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Geoscience Australia "Seabed Geomorphology Vocabularies". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/seabed-geomorphology-vocabularies2