North Atlantic Bathymetry Grid From Halifax To Tromsø

2025 data from a collaborative North Atlantic seafloor mapping project. The dataset provides a 100-meter resolution bathymetric grid collected by the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent icebreaker using a Kongsberg EM122 multibeam sonar. It supports research on marine habitats, conservation, and navigation.

Use Cases

• Analyze seafloor topography using the 100-meter resolution bathymetric grid to model underwater terrain features.
• Apply the IHO Order 1a survey standards and Total Vertical Uncertainty (TVU) metrics for hydrographic charting and navigation safety assessments.
• Integrate bathymetric data with WGS84 horizontal datum positioning for geographic information system (GIS) studies of the North Atlantic transect.
• Use the BAG (Bathymetric Attributed Grid) format data for 3D visualization and analysis of ocean floor structures.

Strengths

• Data meets IHO Order 1a survey standards with a calculated Total Vertical Uncertainty (TVU) of less than 26 meters.
• High-resolution 100-meter grid cell size provides detailed bathymetric representation.
• Collection used specialized equipment including a Kongsberg EM122 multibeam sonar and Applanix POS/MV v5 inertial system.
• Project is a formal collaboration under the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance's Galway Statement.

Limitations

• Tidal corrections were set to zero due to unknown tides in the survey area, which may affect absolute depth accuracy in shallower regions.
• The dataset's specific spatial extent (transect from Halifax to Tromsø) limits analysis to a corridor rather than a broad area.
• Horizontal positioning accuracy varies with depth, estimated at approximately 105 meters at a mean depth of 2000 meters.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as part of a collaboration with the United States and European Union.

Collection Method

Seafloor mapping via multibeam echo-sounder (sonar) from the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent icebreaker, with in-situ sound velocity profiles applied.

Time Range

2025

Freshness

Last updated March 2026.

Geography

North Atlantic Ocean along a transect from Halifax, Canada to Tromsø, Norway.