Satellite Mapping Of The Ocean Floor

Various methods have advantages and disadvantages and the specific method used depends upon the scale of the area under study financial means desired measurement accuracy and additional variables.
Satellite mapping of the ocean floor. Data collected by satellites and remote sensing instruments were used to created a model at least twice as. Topographic maps of the sea floor. Bathymetric measurements are conducted with various methods from sonar and lidar techniques to buoys and satellite altimetry. An array of ground based laser radar stations also tracks the satellites giving their precise location and altitude.
This article explains the methods of remotely mapping the seafloor in detail and their advantages and disadvantages. Mapping technologies the most detailed map of the ocean floor ever seen published today this is the most detailed map of the ocean floor ever produced using satellite imagery to show ridges and. Optical synthetic aperture and altimetry data are the three types of satellite derived bathymetry data. The problem with that approach is that our oceans are vast and ships are small meaning only a tiny percentage of the ocean floor between 5 15 percent nasa estimates was mapped.
Through satellite oceanography surface maps have been created that would take years to construct through the conventional bathymetry means of vessels mapping the floor through echo sounding. Researchers today published the most detailed map of the ocean floor ever produced. The map serves as a tool for performing scientific engineering marine geophysical and environmental studies that are required in the development of energy and marine resources. Despite modern computer based research the ocean seabed in many lo.
Seafloor mapping also called seabed imaging is the measurement of water depth of a given body of water. The high resolution digital global marine gravity map is twice as accurate as previous models says one of the study s authors professor dietmar muller of the university of sydney. Now an international team of scientists is using satellite data to chart the deep ocean by measuring the earth s. Such seafloor maps can aid submariners and ship captains with navigation particularly in previously uncharted areas.
Not so long ago the ocean floor was as unknown as the far side of the moon. An ancient sea floor rift and an extinct mid ocean ridge hot spot have been discovered using new satellite technology that maps the sea floor in unprecedented detail. With the increasing number of satellites observing the earth remote sensing data of the oceans is widely available.