NZ to play major role in mapping ocean floor

AUCKLAND: New Zealand has joined a sprawling effort to map the ocean floor of the entire world by the year 2030.

Called Seabed 2030, the project is a collaboration between the Nippon Foundation in Japan and the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (Gebco).

The work will be coordinated by four regional centres around the globe. Niwa, GNS Science and Land Information New Zealand will jointly govern the South and West Pacific Ocean Regional Data Assembly and Coordination Centre.

The centre will be based at Niwa in Wellington and look after an area equivalent to a quarter of the world’s oceans, covering much of the Pacific Ocean from South America to Australia, and the western part of the Northern Pacific Ocean to Japan.

This also includes the Mariana and Kermadec Trenches, both of which are more than 10km deep.

According to The Nippon Foundation, less than 15% of the world’s ocean floor has been adequately mapped.

The foundation said the project was aiming for 100% coverage by 2030.

‘‘The topography of the ocean floor is far less known than the surfaces of Mercury, Venus, Mars, and the moons of several planets, including Earth’s,’’ the foundation said.

Knowledge of the shape of the seafloor was crucial for understanding ocean circulation patterns that distribute heat between the tropics and the poles, a key component of Earth’s climate system.

Detailed measurements of ocean depth were also crucial for modelling tsunami inundation of coastal areas.

‘‘In addition, ocean bathymetry is important for the study of tides, wave action, sediment transport, underwater geohazards, cable routing, fisheries management, resource exploration, military applications, and the establishment of sovereign rights over the seafloor.’’

Niwa marine geologist Dr Geoffroy Lamarche said the work would require close collaboration and involvement of all coastal states coordinated by the centre.

Land Information New Zealand national hydrographer Adam Greenland said it already had work under way that would contribute to this global initiative.

‘‘We’re currently mapping the seabed in several areas around the country, with plans for much more over the next 10 years to support safety at sea.’’ — NZME