MCA CHP 2024: Seafloor Backscatter and Samples Off Neist Point, Scotland

Acoustic backscatter mosaics, seabed samples, and natural feature shapefiles from the UK's Civil Hydrography Programme. Data was collected by the Northern Storm and Lode vessels using a Kongsberg EM 2040D multibeam echosounder and verified by the UK Hydrographic Office. The dataset is managed by the British Geological Survey and was last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Classify seabed sediment types based on acoustic backscatter mosaics.
• Map the distribution of natural seafloor features using provided shapefiles.
• Validate remote sensing data with physical seabed samples and images.
• Analyze seafloor roughness and texture from backscatter intensity data.

Strengths

• Data quality is verified by the authoritative UK Hydrographic Office.
• Includes multiple complementary data types: mosaics, physical samples, images, and shapefiles.
• Collection methodology is specified, involving named vessels and a Kongsberg EM 2040D sensor.

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.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.

Provenance

Source

British Geological Survey (BGS), collected as part of the Civil Hydrography Programme (CHP) and Channel Coastal Observatory.

Collection Method

Acoustic data collection via vessel-mounted multibeam echosounder, supplemented by physical seabed sampling.

Time Range

2024

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-09 08:29:43.624942; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Off Neist Point, Scotland, UK coastal waters.