Southern Ocean Hydroacoustic Data From Australian Antarctic Vessels

Hydroacoustic data collected from Southern Ocean cruises by the Australian Antarctic Division since 1990. The collection exceeds 2 terabytes of raw acoustic data, stored on the AAD's internal network. Data folders are organized by cruise, vessel (primarily Aurora Australis), and project code from 1990 through at least 2004.

Use Cases

• Estimate krill biomass and distribution using acoustic backscatter data from specific cruises like ASAC 357 and ASAC 1250.
• Analyze temporal trends in marine life by processing acoustic time-series data from voyages spanning 1990 to 2004.
• Calibrate acoustic instruments by referencing data from dedicated calibration cruises at locations like Port Arthur and Mawson.
• Study penguin foraging ecology by correlating krill flux data from project ASAC 1250 with predator behavior studies.
• Model oceanographic conditions by integrating hydroacoustic data with other cruise-specific measurements from expeditions like WOCE and CLIVAR.

Strengths

• Long-term temporal coverage spanning over 14 years from 1990 to at least 2004.
• Data volume exceeds 2 terabytes, indicating a significant raw data collection.
• Includes extensive documentation on collection methods and resulting scientific products.

Limitations

• Direct data access is restricted to Australian Antarctic Division personnel with SAN access.
• Specific row counts, column definitions, and file formats for the acoustic data are not publicly documented.
• The dataset's public availability and distribution mechanisms are logistically constrained.

Provenance

Source

Australian Antarctic Division (AAD).

Collection Method

Collected via hydroacoustic instruments onboard ocean-going vessels, primarily the Aurora Australis, during research cruises.

Time Range

1990 to at least 2004.

Freshness

null

Geography

Southern Ocean, with specific regions including Prydz Bay and areas around Australian Antarctic stations (Mawson, Davis, Casey).