Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 search data reveal geomorphology and seafloor processes in

A high-resolution multibeam echosounder dataset covering over 279,000 square kilometers of the remote southeast Indian Ocean, acquired to assist the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. The data was published by the Australian Ocean Data Network and provides the first large-scale coverage of its kind in the region, revealing detailed seafloor features and geological processes. It was last updated on June 5, 2026.

Use Cases

• Comparing high-resolution bathymetric models with satellite-derived data based on the reported 38% disagreement with SRTM15_plus depth estimates.
• Mapping and analyzing seafloor geomorphic features such as seamounts, ridges, and canyons based on the detailed feature identification described.
• Studying modern sedimentary processes like sediment mass transport and gas/fluid discharge based on the documented pockmarks and other features.
• Investigating seafloor spreading and rifting processes based on the analysis of ridges and the Broken Ridge – Diamantina Escarpment.

Strengths

• Covers a vast area of over 279,000 square kilometers, providing unprecedented coverage for the region.
• Reveals significantly more detail than previous models, showing a 20% increase in hills/mountains and four times more seamounts than the Global Seafloor Geomorphic Features Map.
• Enables identification of fine-scale features like pockmarks, which are the smallest features mapped.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for certain analyses.
• The primary data format is listed as HTML, which may not be the direct data format and requires verification.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Acquired via high-resolution multibeam echosounder (MBES) surveys during the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.

Time Range

Data acquisition was initiated after the aircraft's disappearance on March 8, 2014.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-05 07:17:42.567748; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Southeastern Indian Ocean, specifically the MH370 search area and surrounding remote deep-sea region.