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Abstract
Detailed knowledge of the shape of the seafloor is crucial to humankind. Bathymetry data is critical for safety of navigation and is used for many other applications. In an era of ongoing environmental degradation worldwide, bathymetry data (and the knowledge derived from it) play a pivotal role in using and managing the world’s oceans in a way that is in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 – conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. However, the vast majority of our oceans is still virtually unmapped, unobserved, and unexplored. Only a small fraction of the seafloor has been systematically mapped by direct measurement. The remaining bathymetry is predicted from satellite altimeter data, providing only an approximate estimation of the shape of the seafloor. Several global and regional initiatives are underway to change this situation. This paper presents a selection of these initiatives as best practice examples for bathymetry data collection, compilation and open data sharing as well as the Nippon Foundation-GEBCO (The General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans) Seabed 2030 Project that complements and leverages these initiatives and promotes international collaboration and partnership. Several non-traditional data collection opportunities are looked at that are currently gaining momentum as well as new and innovative technologies that can increase the efficiency of collecting bathymetric data. Finally, recommendations are given toward a possible way forward into the future of seafloor mapping and toward achieving the goal of a truly global ocean bathymetry.
Publication Date
6-4-2019
Journal Title
Frontiers in Marine Science
Rights
© 2019 Wölfl, Snaith, Amirebrahimi, Devey, Dorschel, Ferrini, Huvenne, Jakobsson, Jencks, Johnston, Lamarche, Mayer, Millar, Pedersen, Picard, Reitz, Schmitt, Visbeck, Weatherall and Wigley.
Publisher
Frontiers
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Wölfl A-C, Snaith H, Amirebrahimi S, Devey CW, Dorschel B, Ferrini V, Huvenne VAI, Jakobsson M, Jencks J, Johnston G, Lamarche G, Mayer L, Millar D, Pedersen TH, Picard K, Reitz A, Schmitt T, Visbeck M, Weatherall P and Wigley R (2019) Seafloor Mapping – The Challenge of a Truly Global Ocean Bathymetry. Front. Mar. Sci. 6:283. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00283
Comments
This is an open access article published by Frontiers in Frontiers in Marine Science in 2019, available online: https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00283