Marine Bathymetry And Sonar Data From The MH370 Search

Geoscience Australia's marine web service compiles multibeam sonar and other datasets to map the seafloor. It contains bathymetry, backscatter grids, sediment data, and specific 5 m sidescan sonar data collected during the multinational search for Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 in the Indian Ocean. The service is maintained by the Australian Ocean Data Network and was last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Model seafloor topography and roughness using bathymetry and backscatter gridded data layers.
• Analyze sediment distribution patterns across the Indian Ocean with marine sediment data products.
• Compare survey resolutions and methodologies by examining 150 m bathymetry versus optimal resolution bathymetry and 5 m sidescan sonar data.
• Plan future marine data collection by reviewing bathymetry collection priority and planning areas.
• Study the geological context of the MH370 search area using the phase 1 and 2 survey data from Australia, Malaysia, and China.

Strengths

• Includes high-resolution 5 m sidescan sonar (SSS) and synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) data.
• Contains data from a specific, well-documented multinational operation (MH370 search).
• Provides multiple derived data layers, including bathymetry coverage information and sediment data.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and total geographic coverage are not provided.
• Data is delivered via a WCS web service, which may require specialized geospatial tools for access and analysis.
• The description does not specify the license, which could restrict commercial or redistribution use.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia, via the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Compiled from multibeam sonar and other marine datasets acquired, including specific surveys from the MH370 search.

Time Range

Includes data from the MH370 search phases (likely 2014 onwards), but exact temporal coverage is not specified.

Freshness

Service was updated in April 2026, indicating active maintenance.

Geography

Primarily covers areas of the Indian Ocean related to the MH370 search, plus other marine data held by Geoscience Australia.