Davis Multibeam Survey 2016/17, Antarctica (GA-0357/AAP 5093) - High Resolution Backscatter Grid

Geoscience Australia, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) conducted a hydrographic surveying and seafloor characterisation survey in nearshore waters offshore from Davis Station in the Australian Antarctic Territory. The multibeam data was acquired during January-February 2017 using two workboats. Geoscience Australia used the AAD workboat Howard Burton and the Royal Australian Navy used their Antarctic Survey Vessel (ASV) Wyatt Earp. The survey is a component of Australian Antarctic Program (AAP) Project 5093 Hydrographic Surveying and Seafloor Characterisation Program (Chief Investigator: Ursula Harris, AAD). The objective of the survey was to map the seabed environment in shallow (<300 m) coastal waters adjacent to Davis station in the Vestfold Hills region, to obtain data for the compilation of nautical charts and to acquire fundamental baseline data necessary for informed environmental management, science, infrastructure and logistical operations. Data collected during the survey includes high-resolution multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data, sediment samples, seafloor imagery and sub-bottom profiles. This dataset comprises a backscatter grid from multibeam sonar data acquired using the AAD workboat Howard Burton, gridded at 1 m spatial resolution, covering a combined area of 90 km2. The Chief Scientist onboard the Howard Burton was Dr. Jodie Smith (Geoscience Australia).