This dataset comprises 125,514 submarine bathymetric features derived from the GEBCO_2025 Grid at 15 arc-second resolution (GEBCO Compilation Group, 2025) through computational analysis. Features were identified globally (excluding land areas) using topographic prominence calculation based on the algorithm of Kirmse and de Ferranti (2017), and characterized via isobath analysis. Each feature with prominence ≥300 m is represented as a polygon geometry with five nested contour levels (100%, 90%, 75%, 50%, and 25% from base to peak prominence level) and morphometric attributes including area, circularity, orientation, bounding box dimensions, and slope statistics. A companion point dataset contains all 143,888 detected peaks, including those rejected during quality control. The dataset provides an objective, reproducible global inventory of submarine features for research in marine geology, biodiversity, oeanography, and resource assessment. The attribute-rich structure enables users to define sub-classifications using standard SQL queries (e.g., filtering for seamounts using prominence ≥1000 m and circularity criteria). Data are distributed as OGC-compliant GeoPackage files. Processing was performed in 2025.
Submarine canyons are prime conduits for sediment-laden flows that link terrestrial sediment sources with deep-marine depocenters. If the distance between the canyon head and the shore is short, terrestrial sediment, associated pollutants and organic carbon is efficiently delivered to the deep ocean. The efficiency of sediment routing from land to the ocean depends on the position of submarine canyon heads with regard to terrestrial sediment sources. However, the detailed controls on why a submarine canyon is incised into the shelf or why it remained connected or became disconnected from terrestrial sediment supply during rising sea level are poorly understood.
In this dataset, we identified 4717 canyon heads a long the major continents between 50°N and 50°S (excluding islands). We assigned 55 variables to these submarine canyon heads, including terrestrial and marine topographic variables, oceanographic variables, lithologic variables of the onshore catchments, and canyon topographic variables. These data can be used to better understand the geomorphology and extent of submarine canyons and their connectivity to terrestrial sediment sources.