Marine Survey Data for Celtic Sea Bathymetry and Benthic Sampling

A multibeam and groundtruth survey conducted by the British Geological Survey in the Western Channel and Celtic Sea from February 18-19, 2012. The dataset includes full-coverage bathymetry and backscatter data collected to IHO Order 1a standard, alongside sediment samples and georeferenced photo/video imagery for benthic analysis.

Use Cases

• Generate bathymetric charts and analyze seafloor morphology from processed multibeam data and backscatter values.
• Classify benthic habitats by correlating sediment samples from Hamon grabs with georeferenced video and still image samples.
• Validate and calibrate hydrographic models using depth data corrected to Chart Datum and WGS84 D-GPS coordinates.

Strengths

• Data collected to International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Order 1a standard, ensuring high positional and depth accuracy.
• Includes multiple data modalities: multibeam bathymetry, backscatter, sediment samples, and georeferenced photo/video imagery.
• Archived with multiple Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) Data Archive Centres for long-term preservation.

Limitations

• Temporal coverage is limited to a two-day survey period in February 2012, providing only a snapshot.
• The dataset's geographic scope is confined to the specific 'East of Celtic Deep' survey area in the Celtic Sea.

Provenance

Source

British Geological Survey (BGS), archived with MEDIN Data Archive Centres including DASSH and UKHO.

Collection Method

Full-coverage multibeam survey for bathymetry/backscatter; groundtruth survey using Hamon grab for sediment and camera systems for imagery.

Time Range

18/02/2012 to 19/02/2012

Freshness

null

Geography

Western Channel & Celtic Sea, specifically the East of Celtic Deep area.