This study describes the production of a new bathy- metric grid for the Gulf of Papua region (Figure 1). The grid covers 140.0–150.0E, 6.0–14.0S with a cell size of 3.600 (110 m). The regional scale of the grid and the 3.600 cell size is intended to provide (1) the most ‘‘up-to-date’’ compilation of bathymetric data for the Gulf of Papua and (2) a tool for understanding sediment transport and accu- mulation for the region. Previous bathymetric compilations that cover the Gulf of Papua region include the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) series of maps and grids [Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, International Hydrographic Organisation and British Oceanographic Data Centre, 2003] and the ETOPO2 [National Geophysical Data Center, 2001] bathymetric grid. The GEBCO bathymetric grid is based on bathymetric contours of world’s oceans derived from digital and analog ships soundings. By comparison, the ETOPO2 grid uses bathymetry derived from ship track bathymetry and satellite altimetry using the method of Smith and Sandwell [1994]. Considerable differences are to be expected between GEBCO and grids derived from satellite altimetry (such as ETOPO2) because the ship track coverage is different and because the interpolation between the tracks is different. Marks and Smith [2006] demonstrated that at long wave- lengths both grids showed similar features where control
data existed, where control data did not exist the grids could differ by >250 m. While providing global coverage, both GEBCO and ETOPO2 lack the resolution (6000 and 12000 cell size, respectively) and detail needed to gain an under- standing of the morphology and sedimentary processes within the Gulf of Papua. Compared to GEBCO and ETOPO2, the bathymetric grid presented here has a signif- icantly higher density of data points available to control the interpolation routine (Figure 2). [3] The increase in data available for the grid is primarily a result of recent multibeam sonar surveys and the use of hydrographic data sets. In shallow waters around northern Australia bathymetric information derived from satellite imagery was used to assist in the definition of seabed features. Multibeam sonar surveys have resolved many seabed features that are indicative of past and present sedimentary environments. Harris et al. [2005] and Crockett et al. [2008] have documented the presence of several incised shelf valleys. These valleys were not extensively modified during the Holocene sea level transgression and thus represent an insight into interglacial fluvial processes operating in the region. The modern Fly River delta has been shown to be prograding seaward, gradually infilling the valleys on the Fly River shelf. The morphology of the continental slope is inferred to be dominated by sediment gravity flows. The morphology and sedimentary processes in this region are described