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