Open map List

Seafloor Mapping

Seafloor mapping, also known as bathymetric mapping, is the process of measuring and visualizing the underwater topography of the ocean floor. It helps scientists, navigators, and researchers understand the depth, shape, and features of the seabed, including underwater mountains, trenches, ridges, and coral reefs.

Intermediate

Introduction

Key Methods of Seafloor Mapping:

  1. Multibeam Echo Sounding (MBES) – Uses multiple sonar beams to create high-resolution depth maps.
  2. Single-Beam Echo Sounding (SBES) – A simpler sonar system that measures depth at single points.
  3. Side-Scan Sonar – Produces detailed images of the seafloor texture and objects (e.g., shipwrecks, rocks).
  4. Satellite Altimetry – Uses satellite data to estimate seafloor depth based on sea surface variations.
  5. LiDAR Bathymetry – Uses airborne laser scanning to map shallow coastal areas and reefs.
  6. ROVs & AUVs (Remotely Operated & Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) – Provide high-detail 3D mapping in deep-sea exploration.

Examples

Examples of Seafloor Mapping Projects:

🔹 GEBCO (General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans) – A global initiative to map the entire seafloor.
🔹 Seabed 2030 Project – A mission to map 100% of the world’s ocean floor by 2030.
🔹 NOAA Ocean Exploration – Uses sonar and AUVs to discover new underwater ecosystems and geological formations.
🔹 Fugro’s Deep-Sea Mapping – Uses advanced sonar technology for offshore energy and environmental studies.
🔹 Titanic Wreck Mapping – Side-scan sonar and ROVs were used to create 3D maps of the Titanic wreck site.

📍 Example: Seabed 2030 aims to fully map the ocean floor, which is currently less mapped than the surface of Mars.

Outgoing relations

  • Seafloor Mapping is subconcept of Mapping