Multibeam Bathymetry Surveys in the West Cape York Marine Park (SOL7888)

Brief description

This collection contains the bathymetry survey (SurveyID SOL788) acquired by the Australian Institute of Marine Science onboard the Research Vessel Solander from the 10th to the 20th of November, 2022, using the AIMS R2Sonic 2026 Multibeam sonar system. The objectives of the West Cape York Marine Park cruise were to: conduct bathymetry mapping, fish population and benthic community surveys in the vicinity of Carpentaria and Merkara shoals and the pockmark features to explore fish and benthic fauna diversity in these areas; determine the seafloor composition based on bathymetric data within the West Cape York Marine Park, including the Merkara Shoal; map sedimentary patterns and processes to build an understanding of the pockmark features to the east of Carpentaria Shoal.

Lineage

Maintenance and Update Frequency: asNeeded

Statement: This record describes multibeam echosounder data collected during RV Solander trip 7888 and includes Multibeam bathymetry surveys in the West Cape York Marine Park. The dataset was acquired by the Australian Institute of Marine Science on behalf of Parks Australia on-board the RV Solander between the 10th of November and the 20th of November 2022. Bathymetry and seafloor backscatter data was collected using an R2Sonic 2026 Multibeam Echosounder and acquired in QPS QINSy. Bathymetry data processing completed QPS Qimera and backscatter data was processed in QPS FMGT. Sound velocity profiles were collected and applied to this data during data acquisition. Post-processing included the following steps: Bathymetry data contained in *.db and *.qpd format were corrected for motion and position. GPS tide was computed using the EGM2008 model and applied to the processed data. Outliers in the data set were removed by manual and automated filtering. Final bathymetry surfaces were generated using the CUBE model and final bathymetry grids were exported in geoTiff format. Backscatter mosaics were generated in FMGT using default parameters and exported in geoTiff format. Additional data products may be available on request. Additional metadata fields: Survey ID (Vessel+Trip Number): SOL7888 Trip ID / Logreq ID: 7888 Vessel: RV Solander Project Partner / Funding Body: Parks Australia Associated Permit (Granting body and number): Research conducted on behalf of Parks Australia (Permit exempt) Survey Area (General Description): Two survey locations in the West Cape York Marine Park, Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia. Start Port: Darwin, NT End Port: Thursday Island, Qld Sea Areas: Gulf for Carpentaria Bounding box coordinates: 141.109792, -10.48657721, 141.2518491, -10.736558 Coordinate reference system (Bounding Box): WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) Coordinate reference system (Survey Data): GDA2020 Geodetic datum of the survey: GDA2020 Horizontal Datum: GDA2020 MGA54 (EPSG: 7854) Vertical Datum: EGM 2008 Instrument type: multi-beam Echosounders Sensor type: R2Sonic 2026 Year of Installation: 2017 Sensor parameter: Frequency Sensor UOM: kHz Navigation System: Applanix POSMV Oceanmaster V2 Survey Sites in this record: Merkara Shoal, Pockmarks Field

Notes

Credit
Parks Australia

Credit
Data Acquired: Simon Harries (AIMS); Processed: Simon Harries (AIMS)