Seabed Geomorphology Vocabularies

Updated: 2025-03-25

<div>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: </div><div><br></div><div>Vocabulary 1. Seabed geomorphology - Method Terms. A vocabulary of general terms.</div><div><br></div><div>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. </div><div>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.</div><div><br></div><div>Vocabulary 3. Seabed geomorphology - Part 1 Morphology. A vocabulary of MORPHOLOGY FEATURE terms used to describe the shape of the seabed.</div><div><br></div><div>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.</div><div><br></div><div>These vocabularies were published by Geoscience Australia (GA) with the permission of ISGM-WG.</div><div><br></div><div>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 </div><div><br></div><div>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  </div><div><br></div><div><br></div>