IN2026_V01: Multibeam Echosounder Bathymetry and Backscatter Data from Antarctic Voyage

11.7 GB of raw multibeam echosounder data collected aboard the RV Investigator during the 55-day COOKIES voyage to the Antarctic region in early 2026. The EM2040MK2 system recorded bathymetry, backscatter, and watercolumn data at 400 kHz nominal frequency, with motion, position, and tidal corrections applied. Data are managed by the Australian Ocean Data Network and stored in .kmall and .kmwcd formats at CSIRO.

Use Cases

• Generate high-resolution seafloor maps based on the processed bathymetry data.
• Analyze sediment properties and seafloor composition based on backscatter intensity data.
• Model underwater acoustic propagation based on the watercolumn backscatter data.
• Study glacial marine ecosystems and sediment transport in the Cook region based on the voyage's scientific focus.

Strengths

• High-resolution angular resolution of 0.4 by 0.7 degrees from the EM2040MK2 system.
• Data includes multiple processing streams: 11.7 GB of raw bathymetry/backscatter and 58.1 GB of watercolumn data.
• Data has been corrected for motion, position, and GPS tide using the EGM2008 model, with outliers removed.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for specific analytical methods.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Collected via EM2040MK2 multibeam echosounder aboard RV Investigator voyage IN2026_V01.

Time Range

January 02, 2026 to February 25, 2026 (AEST)

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06 27 18:32:01.347531; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Voyage departed from and returned to Hobart, Tasmania; likely focused on the Antarctic Cook region.