Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology

University of New Hampshire

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping

1999

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Mapping A Continental Shelf And Slope In The 1990s: A Tale Of Three Multibeams, James V. Gardner, J.E. Hughes Clarke, Larry A. Mayer, Art Kleiner, Mark Paton Oct 1999

Mapping A Continental Shelf And Slope In The 1990s: A Tale Of Three Multibeams, James V. Gardner, J.E. Hughes Clarke, Larry A. Mayer, Art Kleiner, Mark Paton

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping

Increasing societal pressures on the U.S. continental shelves adjacent to dense population centers have brought to light the lack of accurate base maps in these areas. Existing bathymetric maps and random sidescan sonar surveys are either not accurate enough or do not provide the coverage necessary to make policy decisions. Until the mid 1990s, it was not financially prudent nor technically efficient to map the shallow shelves. However, the availability of high-resolution multibeam mapping systems now allow efficient and accurate mapping of the continental margins. In 1996 the U.S. Geological Survey began a large-scale seafloor mapping campaign on the continental …


Data Handling Methods And Target Detection Results For Multibeam And Sidescan Data Collected As Part Of The Search For Swissair Flight 111, John E. Hughes Clarke, Larry A. Mayer, John Shaw, R Parrott, Mike Lamplugh, Jim Bradford Oct 1999

Data Handling Methods And Target Detection Results For Multibeam And Sidescan Data Collected As Part Of The Search For Swissair Flight 111, John E. Hughes Clarke, Larry A. Mayer, John Shaw, R Parrott, Mike Lamplugh, Jim Bradford

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping

The crash of SwissAir Flight 111, off Nova Scotia in September 1998, triggered one of the largest seabed search surveys in Canadian history. The primary search tools used were sidescan sonars (both conventional and focussed types) and multibeam sonars. The processed search data needed to be distributed on a daily basis to other elements of the fleet for precise location of divers and other optical seabed search instruments (including laser linescan and ROV video). As a result of the glacial history of the region, many natural targets, similar in gross nature to aircraft debris were present. These included widespread linear …