MIKE SHE Public Data Catalog – Territory Supplement
Northern Territory
Version: 0.1 test template
Purpose: Territory-specific data sources and hydrological context for MIKE SHE models in the Northern Territory
Complements: MIKE SHE Public Data Catalog – Australia (national datasets are not repeated here)
1. Hydrological Context
1.1 Climate
- wet-dry tropics in the Top End, with most rainfall between November and April
- arid Centre (around 300 mm per year near Alice Springs)
- very high potential evapotranspiration throughout
1.2 Landscape
- extensive coastal floodplains (e.g. Adelaide, Mary and Daly rivers)
- Arnhem Land plateau
- Barkly Tableland
- ranges and sand plains of Central Australia
1.3 Key Modelling Challenges
- dry-season river flows sustained by groundwater discharge (e.g. Katherine and Daly rivers)
- agricultural development and water allocation
- shale gas exploration in the Beetaloo Sub-basin
- remote communities relying on groundwater
- non-renewable groundwater use in Central Australia
- seasonal floodplain inundation and saltwater intrusion on coastal floodplains
- sparse monitoring networks
2. Major Aquifer Systems
| Aquifer / System |
Type |
Modelling Relevance |
| Tindall Limestone (Daly Basin) |
Karst |
Sustains Katherine and Daly dry-season flows |
| Oolloo Dolostone |
Karst |
Daly River baseflow, irrigation |
| Cambrian Limestone Aquifer (Georgina, Wiso, Daly basins) |
Regional karst |
Beetaloo shale gas, regional supply |
| Amadeus Basin (Mereenie Sandstone) |
Sedimentary |
Alice Springs water supply, largely non-renewable |
| Ti Tree Basin |
Sedimentary |
Horticulture in arid zone |
| Koolpinyah Dolostone |
Karst |
Darwin rural area supply |
3. Territory Data Sources
| Component |
Source |
Content |
MIKE SHE Use |
| Natural resource spatial data |
NR Maps |
Bores, soils, land units, vegetation, water allocation plan areas |
Soils, vegetation, heads |
| Water resources |
NT Government – Water |
Water data, allocation plans, licences |
Calibration, zonation, pumping |
| Geology |
STRIKE (NTGS) |
Geological maps, drillholes |
Hydrogeological layering |
| Regional assessments |
Geological and Bioregional Assessments |
Beetaloo Sub-basin data and models |
Regional context |
| Water resource assessments |
CSIRO Northern Australia Water Resource Assessment |
Darwin and Roper catchment assessments |
Water balance comparison |
4. Water Management and Regulation
- water is managed under the Water Act 1992 (NT)
- Water Allocation Plans cover key aquifers (e.g. Tindall Limestone at Katherine and Mataranka, Oolloo, Ti Tree, Alice Springs, Western Davenport)
5. Modelling Notes
- use sub-daily forcing in the wet season where possible
- check SILO in remote areas, as station density is low
- consider focused recharge through sinkholes in karst aquifers
- represent large seasonal floodplain inundation through coupling with MIKE+ Rivers
- consider savanna fire effects on vegetation cover
- see also the Great Artesian Basin supplement for the south-east of the Territory
6. Checklist
- [ ] relevant Water Allocation Plan identified
- [ ] NR Maps bores and soils extracted
- [ ] station density checked for forcing
- [ ] CSIRO assessments reviewed for the catchment