Marine Geospatial Data Including MH370 Search Sonar Surveys

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

Use Cases

• Model seafloor topography using 150 m and optimal resolution bathymetry gridded data.
• Analyze seabed composition by correlating backscatter gridded data with marine sediment data layers.
• Plan future marine surveys using bathymetry collection priority and planning areas.
• Study high-resolution seafloor features from 5 m sidescan sonar and synthetic aperture sonar data collected during the MH370 search.

Strengths

• Includes specific high-resolution (5 m) sidescan and synthetic aperture sonar data from a major international search operation.
• Compiles multiple data types including bathymetry, backscatter, and derived products into a single web service.
• Data is maintained by a national geoscience authority (Geoscience Australia) and updated regularly, with a recent update in 2026.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and complete temporal coverage for all datasets are unknown.
• Data is delivered via a Web Feature Service (WFS), which may require specialized GIS software and expertise to access and process.
• The geographic focus is heavily weighted towards areas surveyed for the MH370 search in the Indian Ocean, potentially limiting global applicability.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia, provided via the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Compiled from multibeam sonar and other marine datasets acquired by government surveys, including specific international MH370 search operations.

Time Range

Includes data from Phase 1 and 2 marine surveys for MH370 (circa 2014-2018); full temporal range of all compiled data is unspecified.

Freshness

Last updated on 2026-04-04.

Geography

Primarily covers marine areas around Australia and the Indian Ocean, specifically the MH370 search area.