Samoa - South East Upolu, 2004, Bathymetry Chart No:6 #1

This record holds the bathymetry chart of the South Eastern foreshore areas of Upolu, Samoa. The chart is the result of the multibeam bathymetry survey that was undertaken by the Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (SOPAC) of SPC around the South Eastern point of Upolu and Savai for the EU-SOPAC Samoa Survey. High-resolution bathymetric mapping survey was carried out ,resulting in the acquisition of over 2754 line-km of MBES data for the whole of Samoa Survey. The entire survey achieved 100% coverage of the seafloor from approximately 50 m depth in the near-shore area to an average offshore distance of 10 km, reaching water depths of some 1500 m. The resultant data compilation was used to produce bathymetry charts and XYZ datasets available from a separate record . This work was initiated by the SOPAC/EU Reducing Vulnerability of Pacific ACP States Project (Task no.: NR 1.1.1). The result of the survey conducted in this area is presented as Chart 6 of the Samoa High resolution bathymetric survey and can be downloaded from this record under the Distribution Info section with appropriate permission from the Secretariat.The bathymetry chart also includes smaller-scale insets of 3D images, slope angle and shaded relief maps.The objective of the survey was to investigate the seabed and provide information about water depths around the islands using a multibeam echosounder (MBES). These new bathymetric maps provide a descriptive picture of the ocean bottom terrain, vividly revealing the size, shape and distribution of underwater features. They serve as the basic tool for scientific, engineering, marine geophysical and environmental studies, as well as for marine and coastal resource management.DESCRIPTION of MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES on CHART 6The area shown in this chart covers the southeastern extend of Upolu island. The shelf is at its maximum width at some 8 km to the northeast of Amaile. The dominant feature is the highly irregular seabed with numerous pinnacles to the southeast of Nu’ulua Island, forming a saddle to the Tisa seamount. The southern inshore area of Upolu has a shelf width of approximately 2 km, with a ridge protruding into the slope approximately 3.5 km south of Matavai.