Multibeam bathymetry data collected by Remotely Operated Vehicle Isis during RRS James Cook cruise JC241 in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (Pacific Ocean, 2023)

Multibeam bathymetry data were collected in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), Pacific Ocean, using a Reson7125 multibeam echosounder (MBES) mounted on the Remotely Operated Vehicle Isis during RRS James Cook Cruise JC241 from 06/02/2023 to 25/03/2023. These data were collected during ROV Isis Dive 410 from 10/03/2023 to 11/03/2023. The MBES was operated at a frequency of 300-400kHz. Survey lines were conducted at an altitude of 50-55m above the seafloor and at 0.2-0.3 knots. The data were recorded using Reson PDS2000 software in .pds format. These files were exported from PDS2000 as .s7k files, which were then imported to Qimera v 2.4.3 where the navigation data from the DVL was merged with the bathymetric data. The DVL system was reset at the beginning of each line to match the latest USBL position. The data were then manually cleaned and a 50cm resolution grid was exported for each survey line. In ArcMap, using the start location of each line as a fixed point and employing the use of hillshade maps for clarity, a linear navigational adjustment was calculated to georectify the bathymetric data. A tide file was created using the discrepancy of depths between the overlapping lines. This tidal file was then applied to the bathymetric data in Qimera, before the lines were once again exported and georectified. The data were collected to obtain a better insight in the biodiversity patterns and benthic habitat distributions within the CCZ, by scientists from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK as part of the UK's National Environment Research Council funded Seabed Mining And Resilience To EXperimental impact (SMARTEX) project (NE/T003537/1).