Challenge
The importance of mapping the seafloor
Today’s technology has allowed us to learn more about the seafloor, including both its physical properties and its effects on living organisms. Three main obstacles have kept us from studying the depths of the ocean: absence of light, very cold temperatures, and high pressure. While we have come a long way, we still have much to learn. Recent studies have helped update the topography of the ocean floor which is leading to new insights each day.
The University of Sydney researchers from the Earthbyte Group collaborated with data experts from National ICT Australia (NICTA) to develop a new map of the seafloor. The new map was created over the course of half a century from samples obtained on research ships. Ultimately, the map has thrown up several questions that show we do not yet fully understand the marine carbon cycle, but this will now be the source of future research projects.