Bathymetry of the Western Australian Margin from MH370 Search

Geoscience Australia provided bathymetric data to support the underwater search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean. The dataset likely contains high-resolution sea floor depth measurements collected by survey vessels using multibeam sonar. This data, hosted by the Australian Ocean Data Network, revealed previously unknown seabed features to ensure a safe and effective search operation.

Use Cases

• Modeling underwater terrain for navigation safety based on detailed bathymetric data.
• Analyzing seabed geomorphology based on high-resolution sonar scans.
• Planning future marine research expeditions based on newly mapped sea floor features.
• Supporting search and rescue operations in deep ocean environments based on accurate depth mapping.

Strengths

• Data was gathered using detailed, high-resolution multibeam sonar scans.
• The survey was conducted to ensure safety and effectiveness for a major search operation, suggesting a focus on accuracy.
• The data revealed many seabed features for the first time in the search area.

Limitations

• The dataset is presented as an HTML visualization, not a raw data file, limiting direct analysis.
• Column-level documentation and sample data are unavailable, obscuring the data's exact structure and semantics.
• The row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia, provided to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

Collection Method

Collected by bathymetry survey vessels scanning the sea floor with multibeam sonar.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-27 15:57:38.391479; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Southern Indian Ocean, specifically the search area for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 off the western margin of Western Australia.