Seabed 2030 Maps 28.7% of Ocean Floor, Up From 6% in 2017
Updated
Updated · spacedaily.com · Jun 25
Seabed 2030 Maps 28.7% of Ocean Floor, Up From 6% in 2017
3 articles · Updated · spacedaily.com · Jun 25
Summary
NOAA tracking data show 28.7% of the world’s ocean floor has now been mapped to modern standards, a sharp rise from the 6% baseline recorded when Seabed 2030 launched in 2017.
More than 185 organizations from over 40 countries helped drive that gain by pooling previously siloed surveys, expanding multibeam sonar use on commercial and research vessels, and speeding processing with machine learning.
The remaining 71% is concentrated in deep, remote and ice-covered waters, where ship-based sonar is costly and slow; at current progress, the project is unlikely to reach full global coverage by its 2030 target.
That mapping matters beyond science because better bathymetry improves tsunami models, undersea cable routing and repair, climate modeling, and assessments tied to seabed mining and maritime territorial claims.
Deep-sea mining promises trillions in critical minerals, but what irreversible damage are we mapping the way for on the ocean floor?
As nations map the ocean floor, are we charting a path to discovery or a new cold war for undersea resources?
Melting glaciers trigger more tsunamis. Can we map the seabed fast enough to protect our coastlines from these climate-driven threats?
Seabed 2030: How Global Collaboration and Technology Are Closing the Ocean Mapping Gap
Overview
The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project is leading a global push to map the entire ocean floor by 2030, making steady progress through international collaboration and open data sharing. Since 2017, the mapped area has grown from just 6% to over a quarter of the ocean floor, thanks to continuous updates from hundreds of contributors worldwide. The GEBCO Grid, which compiles bathymetric data from many sources, serves as the main reference and is regularly updated. This expanding map not only reveals new ocean features but also supports science, resource management, and environmental protection.