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Datasets / Marine Institute (Ireland)

INFOMAR Backscatter

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The term backscatter refers to the strength of the returning echo emitted from a multibeam echousounder (MBES). MBES transducers transmit multiple high frequency pulses of sound from beneath a vessel in a fan shape down to the seabed. The amount of energy reflected back to the vessel for each pulse of sound is termed the backscatter. The amount of energy returned will depend on many factors including seabed roughness and sediment composition. For example, muddy seabed will return a weaker signal than a harder, gravelly or rocky seabed. As such, backscatter data can be used as a proxy to understand the characteristics of the sea floor, including the sea floor hardness, roughness and surficial sediment characteristics. The primary purpose of the backscatter datasets acquired is to aid the classification of the seabed into sediment types in order to aid marine spatial planning, ORE industry and habitat conservation.

Data is available as a 32 point floating singleband geotiff. There are two different geotiffs of different resolutions available to download; 10m and 40m.

Data and resources

Additional information

Temporal extent1999-01-01 – ongoing
Date (publication)2017-11-09
Date (creation)2017-11-09
Date (revision)2024-07-22
StatusonGoing
Update frequencyasNeeded
Metadata languageen
LicenseWhile every effort is made in preparing the dataset no responsibility is accepted by or on behalf of the Marine Institute for any errors, omissions or misleading information. The Marine Institute accepts no responsibility for loss or damage occasioned or claimed to have been occasioned, in part or in full, as a consequence of any person acting, or refraining from acting as a result of a matter contained in this datasets or as a consequence of using this dataset for any purpose whatsoever.
Source metadataISO 19115 XML
Last updated2026-11-04
Created2026-11-04
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