Southern Ocean Bathymetry and Backscatter from RV Investigator Voyage

23 raw data files totaling 11.1 GB contain seafloor depth, backscatter intensity, and water column backscatter measurements from a 2018 research voyage. The Kongsberg EM710 MKII multibeam echosounder collected this data for the 'Constraining external iron inputs and cycling in the southern extension of the East Australian Current' project. Data acquisition occurred aboard the RV Investigator between September 11 and October 8, 2018.

Use Cases

• Generate high-resolution bathymetric maps from processed *.gsf or GeoTIFF grid data.
• Analyze seafloor sediment hardness and composition using backscatter intensity information.
• Study water column scattering layers and marine life distributions from *.wcd watercolumn backscatter files.
• Apply sound velocity profiles and motion corrections to raw *.all format data for acoustic data processing validation.

Strengths

• 23 raw data files provide a substantial 11.1 GB volume of acoustic measurements.
• Data includes multiple processing streams: raw *.all/*.wcd, processed line data (*.gsf, ASCII), and final grids (GeoTIFF).
• Acquisition used a Kongsberg EM710 MKII echosounder with a nominal frequency range of 40-100 kHz and high angular resolution.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, column names, and sample data are unavailable for direct statistical analysis.
• The geographic scope is limited to the ship track of a single 28-day voyage in the Southern Ocean.
• Tide correction status for processed data is ambiguously noted as '[were/were not] applied'.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, collected on RV Investigator voyage IN2018_V04.

Collection Method

Acquired using a Kongsberg EM710 MKII multibeam echosounder during a dedicated oceanographic research voyage.

Time Range

September 11, 2018 to October 8, 2018.

Freshness

Data was collected in late 2018; the record itself was last updated in April 2026.

Geography

Southern extension of the East Australian Current region, voyage departed from and returned to Hobart, Australia.