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Articles

1970: Vol. XLVII, No. 1

A Bathymetric Evaluation of Doubtful Hydrographic Data

Submitted
August 11, 2015
Published
2015-06-29

Abstract

The Bathymetrist at the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office sees much doubtful hydrographic data that are below the depth range affecting safety in navigation. Since some of these data are valid and useful for bathymetric chart construction, the Bathymetrist must attempt to evaluate it. The most successful method of evaluation consists of fitting prominent forms seen in profile, or as soundings on the random lines, to the same forms developed from survey data . Valid random data will present a logical fit to all the surveyed forms; other random data will fit with minor position adjustments; still other data will be rejected as erroneous. Survey data are not always available for establishing the accurate positions of forms. Random data can be used if a reiterative process of form development and profile fitting is followed. At first, multiple positions or form irregularities are observed because of errors in the random data. The selection of average depths, positions, and forms from these data significantly reduces the multiple positions and form irregularities.