Multibeam bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data collected in 2016 in Catalina Basin, southern California and merged multibeam bathymetry datasets of the northern portion of the Southern California Continental Borderland

Abstract

In February 2016 the University of Washington in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (USGS, PCMSC) collected multibeam bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data in and near the Catalina Basin, southern California aboard the University of Washington's Research Vessel Thomas G. Thompson. Data was collected using a Kongsberg EM300 multibeam echosounder hull-mounted to the 274-foot R/V Thomas G. Thompson. The USGS, PCMSC processed these data and produced a series of bathymetric surfaces and acoustic-backscatter images for scientific research purposes. This data release provides a 10-m resolution bathymetry surface and a 10-m resolution acoustic backscatter image. In addition, a 25-m resolution bathymetry surface produced from this work was merged with publicly available multibeam bathymetry data as well as 2015, 2016, and 2017 multibeam bathymetry data collected in the continental borderland region by the Ocean Exploration Trust's Nautilus Exploration Program. The USGS, PCMSC processed the survey line files received from the Nautilus Exploration Program to include in an overall merged 25-m multibeam bathymetry surface of the northern portion of the Southern California Borderland region that is also available in this data release. These data can be used to assess the hazards posed by offshore faults, submarine landslides, and tsunamis as well as map sediment transport pathways and sedimentary sinks.