Bathymetry LabBathymetry Lab

Adam FoxAdam FoxCoastal Carolina UniversityCoastal Carolina University

What is Bathymetry?What is Bathymetry?

BathymetryBathymetry: the measurement of : the measurement of water depth. Multiple measurements water depth. Multiple measurements of depth can used to visualize the of depth can used to visualize the topography of the sea floor.topography of the sea floor.

Why Map the Sea Floor?Why Map the Sea Floor?

Why Map the Sea Floor?Why Map the Sea Floor?

To learn about the deep parts of the To learn about the deep parts of the ocean that are hard to observeocean that are hard to observe

To gather information about plate To gather information about plate tectonicstectonics

To find shipwrecks and other items of To find shipwrecks and other items of interestinterest

To aid in To aid in navigationnavigation

Mapping the Sea FloorMapping the Sea Floor

How do we map the sea floor today?How do we map the sea floor today?

Satellite AltimetrySatellite Altimetry Use satellites to Use satellites to

measure sea measure sea surface heightsurface height

Sea surface height Sea surface height corresponds to sea corresponds to sea floor heightfloor height

Graphic: topex.ucsd.edu

Side-Scan SonarSide-Scan Sonar Very detailed Very detailed

images of small images of small areas of sea floorareas of sea floor

Photo: NOAA

Satellite AltimetrySatellite Altimetry Use satellites to Use satellites to

measure sea measure sea surface heightsurface height

Sea surface height Sea surface height corresponds to sea corresponds to sea floor heightfloor height

AUVs can also be AUVs can also be used to map the used to map the sea floorsea floor

Mapping the Sea FloorMapping the Sea Floor

How did we map the sea floor before How did we map the sea floor before satellites?satellites?

Echo-soundingEcho-sounding Send sound waves Send sound waves

down to sea floordown to sea floor Listen for them to Listen for them to

bounce back.bounce back. Use a formula to Use a formula to

calculate water depthcalculate water depth Multi-beam Multi-beam

bathymetrybathymetry Use lots of sound Use lots of sound

beams at oncebeams at once

Graphic: saddleback.edu

Mapping the Sea FloorMapping the Sea Floor

What about before then?What about before then?

Mapping the Sea FloorMapping the Sea Floor

Lead LinesLead Lines A weighted rope A weighted rope

with depth with depth markingsmarkings

Photo: NOAA

Graphic: Fugro Pelagos

Maps of the Ocean FloorMaps of the Ocean Floor

Contour MapContour Map Contour lines (isobaths) connect areas of Contour lines (isobaths) connect areas of

similar height/depthsimilar height/depth Bathymetric Cross-SectionBathymetric Cross-Section

Shows what it would be like if you walked Shows what it would be like if you walked along the sea floor on a specific linealong the sea floor on a specific line

Depth often exaggerated to make Depth often exaggerated to make features more visiblefeatures more visible

Maps of the Ocean FloorMaps of the Ocean Floor

Image: NOAA

Contour Map

Cross-Section

*We would like to know more about our local water body.

What questions do we have about the pond itself?