Multibeam bathymetry mapping of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea (Project 3DGBR)
Principal investigators
Dr Robin Beaman (James Cook University), Dr James Daniell (James Cook University) and AProf Jody Webster (University of Sydney).
Objectives
We aim to acquire high-resolution multibeam bathymetry, backscatter and water column data along the voyage track for the duration of the voyage. The new bathymetry data will be used to improve the accuracy of the 100 m-resolution DEM for the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, called the ‘gbr100’ grid.
With an opportunity basis and subject to workload, we aim to acquire sub-bottom profile data using the SBP120 profiler during the voyage. The sub-bottom profiler data will be used in conjunction with the multibeam data for ongoing marine geoscience projects in the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea.
While on the continental shelf in depths <200 m and within the GBR Marine Park, the sound velocity profiles required for accurate multibeam operations will be generated from the data provided by the stationary CTD casts conducted on the shelf. During transits offshore and in depths >300 m, and where stationary CTD casts are impractical, expendable bathythermographs (XBTs) may be used to generate sound velocity profiles, at no more than 2 per day.
