Three-dimensional modelling of the Terra Nova Bay sea floor (Ross Sea, Antarctica)

The importance of gathering data on the Antarctic coastline and its adjacent waters has been widely recognised by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). In particular, both for navigational safety and environmental monitoring, it is very desirable to increase hydrographic activity in those areas which have the most significant importance from a scientific or navigational point of view - such as in the continental shelf and continental slope areas of the western part o f the Ross Sea. Quite a part from the safety of navigation requirem ents, knowledge o f the seabed topography is necessary to study and understand the various phenom ena taking place in the marine environment. For example, the movement of water masses and their mixing processes depend on the shape of the seabed and adjacent coastline. The sea area surrounding Antarctica is one of the least explored parts of the world 's oceans and the available bathym etric data is only sufficient to allow a very general analysis to be made. With the probable growth of tourism and fishing around Antarctica and with the increasing need to understand the effects on the world 's climate of Antarctic water patterns, it is necessary to consider powerful new techniques - such as three- dimensional modelling o f the sea floors - in order to build up more quickly an effective and reliable bathymetric data base of Antarctic waters.