Zenith Plateau

The Zenith Plateau is a large bathymetric high in the Indian Ocean, located about 450 kilometres (280 mi) west-northwest of the Wallaby Plateau, 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) west-northwest of Carnarvon, Western Australia, and 1,700 kilometres (1,100 mi) north-west of Perth, Western Australia. The summit of the Zenith Plateau lies 1,960 meters (6,430 ft) below sea level and its base is at about 5,000 meters (16,000 ft) below sea level. It is about 300 kilometres (190 mi) long and 200 kilometres (120 mi) wide. In the east, the Zenith Plateau is separated from the Wallaby (Cuvier) Plateau by a 100–150 kilometres (62–93 mi) wide, north to northeast-trending bathymetric trough.[1] The Zenith Plateau lies outside of the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone.[2]

As discussed by Amos[3] and Beaman,[4] the bathymetry of the Zenith Plateau is very poorly mapped. Precise ocean floor depth data from bathymetric surveys, which used modern acoustic echosounders, across this undersea plateau are lacking. Transects across it by older, less precise singlebeam echosounder are few and insufficient to provide bathymetric data of significant detail. The bulk of the mapping is based upon coarse interpretation of satellite altimetry data in which the ocean floor bathymetry is inferred from measured variations in the elevation of the overlying sea surface.[3][5]

  1. ^ British Oceanographic Data Centre, 2003, GEBCO Digital Atlas. British Oceanographic Data Centre, National Environment Research Council, United Kingdom.
  2. ^ Sayers, J., I. Borissova, D. Ramsay and P. A. Symonds. 2002, Geological framework of the Wallaby Plateau and adjacent areas. Record no. 2002/21. Petroleum & Marine Division, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, West Australia.
  3. ^ a b Amos, J., 2014, Malaysia Airlines MH370: Searching in an ocean of uncertainty. BBC news, April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2014
  4. ^ Beaman, R., 2014, Zenith Plateau as the final resting place for MH370. Retrieved April 13, 2014. Deep Reef Explorer, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia. Retrieved April 13, 2014.
  5. ^ Sandwel, D. T., and W. H. F. Smith, nd, Exploring the Ocean Basins with Satellite Altimeter Data. Bathymetry and Global Relief, National Geophysical Data Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. Retrieved April 13, 2014