Satellite breakthrough unveils hidden ocean floor topography
The SWOT satellite, supported by NASA, reveals previously unknown underwater peaks, offering a new perspective on Earth's geology. Data from space will enable a better understanding of deep currents, tectonic changes, and potential mineral-rich sites.
Scientists at NASA have made a groundbreaking discovery, revealing thousands of hidden underwater formations, such as mountains and hills lurking on the ocean floor. This has been made possible thanks to the SWOT satellite, a joint project of NASA and the French space agency CNES, which has provided detailed data. This allows for the mapping of the ocean floor with unprecedented precision, facilitating a better understanding of geological changes and uncovering new mineral deposits.
Detailed map of the ocean floor across the entire planet
It turns out that we have more detailed maps of the Moon's surface than of the ocean floor. Scientists have been trying to change this for years. New data sheds new light on Earth's geology and ecology, revealing secrets that have remained invisible until now. A team supported by NASA has now made a significant step forward, publishing one of the most detailed ocean floor maps to date. The map was created using data from the SWOT satellite (Surface Water and Ocean Topography), a joint mission of NASA and the French space agency CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales).
Seafloor maps play a vital role in various practical applications, including ship navigation, underwater cable installation, and hazard detection. Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer from NASA highlights that understanding the ocean floor is essential not only for current industries but also for emerging economic opportunities, such as deep-sea mineral extraction, improving maritime transport efficiency, and supporting military operations.
Thanks to data from the SWOT satellite, scientists can now better understand deep currents and geological processes, such as plate tectonics. Underwater mountains and hills affect the movement of heat and nutrients in the depths, attracting marine life and creating oases in barren areas of the ocean floor.
The SWOT satellite, launched in December 2022, measures water height over nearly the entire Earth's surface, including oceans, lakes, and rivers. This allows scientists to create topographic maps of water surfaces, which is useful for monitoring sea ice changes or tracking the progress of floods.
The SWOT satellite observes Earth's waters from orbit
David Sandwell from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, who has been analyzing satellite data to study the ocean floor since the 1990s, points out that the SWOT satellite represents a significant advancement in seafloor mapping. This technology could substantially expand the catalog of known underwater elevations, potentially more than doubling the current count and providing greater insights into Earth's geological past.
International collaboration
The SWOT mission is the result of international collaboration, including participation from the Canadian Space Agency and the UK Space Agency. Thanks to joint efforts, the satellite provides high-resolution water surface measurements, helping scientists better understand Earth's water cycle, ocean currents, and seafloor topography.
With these discoveries, scientists are getting closer to achieving the goal of fully mapping the seafloor by 2030, which will allow for an even better understanding of the processes occurring on our planet.
