Deep Ocean ROV and Sonar Mapping Data from Howland and Baker Islands

Operations from the NOAA Okeanos Explorer EX1703 expedition include deep water mapping and ROV dives. The mission utilized Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar, EK60 fisheries sonars, a Knudsen chirp sub-bottom profiler, and the 6000-meter ROV Deep Discoverer. Data was collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with metadata last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Generate seafloor bathymetry maps from Kongsberg EM302 multibeam sonar data.
• Analyze sub-bottom sediment layers using profiles from the Knudsen 3260 chirp sonar.
• Study water column backscatter and biological targets with EK60 split-beam fisheries sonar data.
• Plan ROV dive paths by integrating mapping system data with ROV Deep Discoverer operational logs.

Strengths

• Data collected using a suite of advanced, ship-based deep water mapping systems.
• Includes high-bandwidth, real-time ship-to-shore communications for data streaming.

Limitations

• Specific data volume, row counts, and file formats are not provided.
• The primary data format listed is HTML, suggesting the resource may be a metadata page rather than direct data access.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Ship-based operations using multibeam sonar, sub-bottom profilers, fisheries sonars, and a 6000-meter ROV.

Freshness

Metadata was last updated in April 2026.

Geography

Howland/Baker Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument and Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA).