Scientists Have Mapped Out Almost A Quarter Of The Ocean Floor

The uncharted waters of the ocean may soon be completely charted. Almost 25% of the ocean floor has been mapped out by scientists and marine biologists as part of the Seabed 2030 initiative.  

Seabed 2030 comes under a larger initiative led by the United Nations called The Ocean Decade, which poses key challenges presented over 10 years to better study the ocean for the sustainability of the planet. The effort is a global and shared one that any corporation can sign up for.

Started by the Nippon Foundation and the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO), the initiative uses bathymetric data—which is the study of the ocean floor—to compile data from different parts of the ocean and create a map of the seabed.

Most bathymetric data comes from satellite altimeter readings or through sonar detection. The figurative sea floor is open to anyone–from government sectors to private sectors and even citizens—who could contribute their own share of data to better understand the bottom of the ocean.

The sea is notoriously hard to traverse and comprehend, and understanding its deeper terrain allows for more clarity on cyclones, tsunamis, fishing resources, underwater geo-hazards, plane crashes into the ocean, and much more.

For so long, less than 20% of it had been discovered, leaving too many questions unanswered. The mapping and its wider goal bring us one step closer to having a fuller picture of life and what we can do to prevent disasters.

Soon, we may no longer be referring to the depths of the ocean as the Great Unknown.  

[via BBC and Seabed 2030, images via various sources]