Casey Station Bathymetry Survey 2014/15 (GA-0348/ AAD 3326)

The Casey Station Bathymetry Survey was conducted last summer from December 2014 to February 2015. This collaborative survey was undertaken by Geoscience Australia, the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Antarctic Division, using the AAD's workboat the RV Howard Burton. The survey goal was to acquire high resolution bathymetry data to improve our understanding of the seafloor using multibeam sonar. The bathymetry data collection will be supplemented by physical sampling of the seafloor sediments and video recordings of the biological communities living in the seafloor. The survey will cover areas that haven't been charted during the 2013 Casey Survey and are frequently used by the RSV Aurora Australis.
Improving our understanding of the seabed environment in these shallow coastal waters will ultimately lead to a better environmental management of the Australian Antarctic Territory. The data will also help the RAN to develop more accurate navigation charts therefore reducing the risk to maritime operation in the region.