Our map of the world’s sea floor. The blue/cyan markings indicate the only areas that have been mapped at 100m resolution or better. Image Courtesy of Seabed 2030.
How the Yachting Community can help charting the Planet’s Seabed written by Matthew Zimmerman photos by FarSounder / Christopher Scholey
O
ne allure of yachting is the adventure of cruising through pristine waters and voyaging to some of the most exclusive locations in the
world. Exploration into the unknown allows us to be immersed in the unspoiled beauty of our marine world. According to Seabed 2030 (a global initiative to map the world’s oceans by 2030), we’ve mapped less than 24% of the world’s sea floor.
We know the topography of the Moon and Mars in greater detail than that of our own planet.
resources, and environmental changes. Of course, knowing what’s underwater ahead of your vessel is also paramount to safe navigation. You might think that everything you need to know is already on your nautical charts. However, even in well-charted areas, you would be mistaken. The US has some of the best charts in the world yet according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) “about half of the depth information found on NOAA charts is based on hydrographic surveys conducted before 1940”, and “in too many cases, the data is more
The most fundamental characteristic to ensure safety
than 150 years old. Sometimes, particularly in Alaska,
when sailing the oceans is knowing how deep the
the depth measurements are so old that they may have
water is. Mapping the seafloor’s bathymetry is a critical
originated from Captain Cook in 1778.” Take a moment
key in safety and scientific endeavors to understand
to think about the reliability of the chart data when
ocean circulation, tides, tsunami forecasting, fishing
you’re navigating in the ‘exotic’ locations your guests’ itineraries demand.
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Crew Life
The Islander #307