RV Investigator Voyage IN2026_V01 EK80 Echosounder Data

231 GB of raw scientific split-beam echosounder data from the RV Investigator voyage IN2026_V01, collected between January 02 and February 25, 2026. The data, stored in 2,435 files by CSIRO, includes continuous acoustic backscatter readings at frequencies of 18, 38, 70, 120, 200, and 333 kHz to a maximum range of 4,500 meters around Antarctica. No post-processing has been conducted on this data.

Use Cases

• Analyze marine biomass distribution based on acoustic backscatter data.
• Map seafloor bathymetry and sediment types based on bottom echo returns.
• Study Antarctic krill and fish populations based on multi-frequency acoustic signatures.
• Investigate water column scattering layers based on continuous time-series data.

Strengths

• 2,435 files provide a continuous record for the entire voyage from January to February 2026.
• Data includes six distinct frequencies (18, 38, 70, 120, 200, and 333 kHz) for multi-frequency analysis.
• Acoustic range extends to 4,500 meters, suitable for deep-water and Antarctic research.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data is stored in proprietary .raw, .bot, and .idx formats, requiring specialized software for access and analysis.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

CSIRO Marlin Data Catalogue

Collection Method

Collected using Simrad EK80 split beam echosounders aboard the RV Investigator.

Time Range

January 02, 2026 to February 25, 2026

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-13 05:49:02.757647; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Antarctic waters, departing from and returning to Hobart.