ABE AUV near-bottom processed bathymetry data (netCDF grids), Kane Megamullion area, Mid-Atlantic Ridge (KN180-02, 2004)

This data set consists of processed bathymetry grids collected by autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) ABE (Autonomous Benthic Explorer) over the Kane Megamullion on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge during research cruise KN180-02 on R/V Knorr in 2004. AUV ABE was an experimental vehicle built by engineers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and was eventually operated as part of National Deep Submergence Facility (NDSF) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). ABE was lost at sea in 2010. During Knorr cruise KN180-02, bathymetry was collected using a Simrad SM2000 high-resolution multibeam sonar mounted on ABE. The SM2000 is a 200khz, 180 degree swath-mapping system. Navigation was primarily by long-baseline (LBL) transponder and Doppler velocity log (DVL) where available. The raw multibeam files were processed and GMT-compatible netCDF format grids were created for those ABE dives that collected multibeam sonar data. The bathymetry acquisition was done under grant OCE-0118445 from the US National Science Foundation.