On the Bathymetry of the Hunter Channel

The Rio Grande Rise delineates a large-scale topographic barrier in the South Atlantic separating the Brazil Basin to the north from the Argentine Basin in the south. In addition to the Verna Channel the Hunter Channel represents an important conduit for the equatorward flow of Antarctic Bottom Water. Motivated by the lack of reliable topographic charts from the Hunter Channel Region (34°S, 28°W) we have compiled multibeam soundings from a number of different bathymetric surveys taken on board RV Meteor, resulting in a set of three-dimensional images from the region. They are presented in context with remarks on the name “Hunter Channel”, together with selected hydrographic observations and long-term near-bottom current meter records.