AWI BCWS - References and Notes

References (Feature Names):

• IHO/IOC Gazetteer of Geographical Names of Undersea Features. IHB Publication B-8, 2nd Edition 1997. Gazetteer of the Antarctic. DMA, 4th edition April 1990.
• Hydrographer of the Navy (USA) (1974): The Antarctic Pilot. 4th edition, corrected to 2nd Sept. 1981.
• Index of German-Language Antarctic Place Names. Institut für Angewandte Geodäsie, Frankfurt am Main, 1993.

Data Sources and References:

1. General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (Data from GEBCO Digital Atlas)
• IOC, IHO, and BODC, 1994, 'Supporting Volume to the GEBCO Digital Atlas', published on behalf of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (of UNESCO) and the International Hydrographic Organization as part to the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO); British Oceanographic Data Centre, Birkenhead.

  GEBCO Sheets 5.16 and 5.18, bathymetric contours, track lines, and bedrock contours

2. Hydrographic Organizations
• International Hydrographic Organization (IHO): IHO-DCDB, Boulder, Colorado; U.S. NGDC, GEODAS searches on bathymetry: November 1992, April 1993.
• National Hydrographic Offices - Nautical Charts (various scales): Argentina, Soviet Union / Russia, United Kingdom
• National Hydrographic Offices - Plotting Sheets (various scales) - GEBCO Ocean Plotting Sheets (OPS) 1:1000000: Argentina, Republic of South Africa, United Kingdom. Plotting Sheets 1:500000: Soviet Union / Russia
• National Hydrographic Offices - Digital Data: United Kingdom, United States of America
3. Scientific Organizations
• Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Germany - RV Polarstern Antarctic expeditions ANT (since 1983): Multibeam data from SeaBeam and Hydrosweep system, single beam data from navigation echo sounder, narrow beam echo sounder, and Parasound sediment echo sounder.
• Norsk Polar Institutt, Oslo, Norway: NARE expedition data 1977, 1979, 1985. A. Solheim, pers. comm.
• Sevmorgeologia, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation: V. Krukov and V.S. Pozdeev, digital data, pers. comm.
4. Scientific Publications
• Hoppe, H., F. Thyssen (1988): Ice thickness and bedrock elevation in Western Neuschwabenland and Berkner Island, Antarctica. Annals of Glaciology, Vol.11, 42-45, 1988.
• Huybrechts, P. (1992): The Antarctic ice sheet and environmental change: a three-dimensional modelling study. Berichte zur Polarforschung 99, 1992.
• Pozdeev, V.S., R.G. Kurinin (1987): Nowyje dannyje o morfologii ledowoj tolschtschi i reljefe podlednogo losha i morskogo dna w jushnoj tschasti bassejna Morja Ueddella (Sapadnaja Antarktika). Antarktika, Doklady Komissii, 26, 66-71, 1987.
5. Satellite Altimetry Geophysical Data
• Schöne, T. (1997): Ein Beitrag zum Schwerefeld im Bereich des Weddellmeeres, Antarktis. Nutzung von Altimetermessungen des GEOSAT und ERS-1. Berichte zur Polarforschung 220, 1997.
6. Topographic Data
• IfAG/AWI: Digital Topographic Antarctic Database; Version 1.94 (G.). Institut für Angewandte Geodäsie, Frankfurt am Main, and Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Bremerhaven, Germany, 1994.

Accuracy of Bathymetric Depths:

• The bathymetric data contained in this chart is evaluated from various data sets of different quality and, therefore, of varying accuracy. Compilation and contouring are in accordance with the IHO standards (IHB S-44), applied to Antarctic waters. Reported, but unconfirmed or suspect depths were omitted if they conflict with morphologic evidence from other sources.
• The positional accuracy of bathymetric data, contour lines and features in relation to the graticule is approximately 1 mm (or 1 kilometre on earth).
• Mean positional error: horizontal accuracy eh for contour lines of the given scale may be estimated by Koppe's empirical formula, which depends on the terrain slope a (a=50 m, b=2000 m): eh = b + a * cot a
• A vertical accuracy of better than 2% of depth was achieved with the compilation from heterogeneous depth data. However, some suspect data may still be present.
• Mean depth error: accuracy ed of a contour or interpolated depth value from the map may be estimated by ed = a + b * tan a (a=50 m and b=500 m).
• In areas with slopes greater than 20 degrees the error may exceed 200 m due to generalization effects.
• Despite an automatic accuracy estimation, a classification may reflect how closely the ideal has been approached under the existing constraints, e.g. inhomogeneous data and seabed roughness. Thus, categories for the accuracy of bathymetric depths were chosen. The map of bathymetric accuracy gives an overview of accuracies, but it does not reflect special features, e. g. canyons or seamounts. Areas with an estimated depth accuracy of worse than 200 m, better than 200 m, better than 100 m, and better than 50 m are indicated.
• Reference: Hinze, H. (1994): Charting the Bathymetry of Weddell Sea, Antarctica. Marine Geodesy, Vol.17, 139-145.

Caution:

Due to incomplete survey coverage dangers may exist, particularly within the 200 metre depth contour. For further information on navigation, magnetic variation, ocean currents, and ice in the area of this map see Sailing Directions and Routing Charts and contact the Hydrographic Offices or IHB. For further information on research stations and glaciology contact the SCAR. For further informations on bathymetry contact the IHB-IOC GEBCO Committee or AWI.

The map projection parameters are in accordance with the regulations of the IOC/IHO GEBCO guidelines, IHB Bathymetric Publication No. B-7.

Chart datum is the instantaneous sea level at the time of observation. Tidal heights are in the order of 2 m. Depths are shown in metres assuming a sound velocity in water of 1500 m/s.

Multibeam survey by R/V Polarstern carried out by Jens Focke, Rick Hagen, Klemens Heidland, Heinrich Hinze, Jürgen Monk, Fred Niederjasper, Hans Werner Schenke, Tilo Schöne and Stefan Steinmetz.