bathymetry lab adam fox coastal carolina university
Post on 20-Dec-2015
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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?
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
Lead LinesLead Lines A weighted rope A weighted rope
with depth with depth markingsmarkings
Photo: NOAA
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