Swath sonar multibeam EM120 bathymetry during METEOR cruise M72/4 with links to raw data files of bathymetry

Multibeam echosounder (MBES) data recorded during RV METEOR cruise M72-4 between 25.04.2007 and 11.05.2007 in the Black Sea. This main objective of this cruise was to gain better knowledge of the pathways of methane from their point of formation via potential intermediate deposits to the seafloor in order to understand the mechanisms leading to the submarine discharge of methane-rich fluids. Two regional Black Sea targets have been chosen: The Sorokin Trough, with focused seepage through mud volcanoes, and the Dniepr area where active gas venting occurs from very shallow water depths down to at least 1000 m. CI Citation: Paul Wintersteller (seafloor-imaging@marum.de) as responsible party for bathymetry and backscatter post-processing and its products.

Description of the data source: During the RV METEOR cruise M72-4 the Kongsberg EM120 multibeam echosounder with a nominal sounding frequency of 12 kHz was utilized. 191 beams are formed for each ping with a 1°(Tx)/2°(Rx) footprint while the seafloor is detected using amplitude and phase information for each beam sounding. For further information consult https://epic.awi.de/26725/1/Kon2007a.pdf. As the EM120 system was unstable due to some internal system failure it could not be used during some of the M72-4 cruise time. The vessel's speed was 8 kn during surveys. Responsible person during this cruise / PI: Sarah Althoff (Former employee at the Research Center Ocean Margins), Jörg Bialas (GEOMAR).

Chief Scientist: Jörg Bialas

A special thanks goes to the watchkeeper during M72/4.