MCA CHP 2022: Seabed Backscatter and Samples from Montrose to Aberdeen

Acoustic backscatter mosaics and physical seabed samples collected by the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency in 2022. Data from the Montrose to Aberdeen area was gathered by the vessel MV Northern Wind using a Kongsberg EM 2040 multibeam echosounder and verified by the UK Hydrographic Office. The dataset is managed by the British Geological Survey.

Use Cases

• Classify seabed sediment types based on acoustic backscatter data.
• Validate remote sensing data with physical seabed samples and images.
• Map seafloor morphology and features for nautical charting.
• Analyze backscatter intensity for habitat mapping.

Strengths

• Data is verified by the authoritative UK Hydrographic Office.
• Includes both acoustic (backscatter mosaics) and physical (samples, images) data types.
• Collection methodology is specified (Kongsberg EM 2040 on MV Northern Wind).

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

British Geological Survey (BGS)

Collection Method

Collected via vessel-based survey as part of the Civil Hydrography Programme.

Time Range

2022

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-09 08:29:38.590677; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Montrose to Aberdeen, UK coastal waters.