Bathymetry: Mapping the Sea Floor

1
Bathymetry Mapping the Sea Floor

• Why might mapping be an essential part of ocean
  exploration?
• Maps are models accuracy improving

Land based topographic map
So how do we map the seafloor?
2
Topo-maps
3
Contour map of Monterey Submerged Valley 1897
4
Geologic Provinces of the Ocean
5
Continental Shelf
6
Submarine Canyon off Monterrey
7
Geologic Provinces of the Ocean
8
Shelf Break off New Jersey
9
Geologic Provinces of the Ocean
10
Continental Slope
Oregon Coast (from the west looking east)
11
Geologic Provinces of the Ocean
12
Geologic Provinces of the Ocean
13
Geologic Provinces of the Ocean
14
Abyssal Plain off New Jersey (4000-6000 m)
15
Color Spectrum

• ROYGBIV
• SHALLOWER gtgtgtgt DEEPER

16
Astoria Canyon off Washington/Oregon
17
Flat-topped Bear Seamount
200 miles from Woods Hole, MA
Rises 2000 m from the ocean floor to a depth of
1100 m
18
What is this?
19
Above Sea Level
20
Below Sea Level
21
(No Transcript)
22

• Land or Sea?

• Land or Sea?

400
300
200
100
200
300
100
400
23
Land or Sea?
Land or Sea?
400
300
200
100
200
300
100
400
24
(No Transcript)
25
(No Transcript)
26
(No Transcript)