The new map uses data from the Cryosat-2 and Jason-1 satellites and shows features not seen in earlier maps using data from older satellites. That 10%-15% is similar in resolution to the current global maps of Mars and Venus.Reading those bumps and dips in the sea’s surface is an astounding feat of precision measurement, involving lasers to track the trajectory of the measuring satellite and inevitably a lot of maths to process the data. Should I have considered them "explored" after my first visit in just one season?If instead there is an ocean trench, the weaker local gravity produces a comparative dip in the ocean surface.Modern sonar systems aboard ships can map the ocean floor to a resolution of around 100 metres (328 feet) across a narrow strip below the ship.So far, less than 0.05 percent of the ocean floor has been mapped to that highest level of detail by sonar, which is an area roughly equivalent in size to Tasmania.Those more detailed maps now cover about 10 to 15 percent of the oceans, an area roughly the size of Africa.When it comes to having a large-scale map, the ocean floor is perhaps not as unexplored as we might think, with 100 percent coverage to a resolution of 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) and 10 to 15 percent coverage at around 100-metre (324 foot) resolution.Mapping from ships at the level of detail achievable by ship’s sonar systems still reveals plenty of surprises.That 10 to 15 percent is similar in resolution to the current global maps of Mars and Venus.The entire ocean floor has now been mapped to a maximum resolution of around 5 kilometres (3.1 miles), which means we can see most features larger than 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) across in those maps.Reading those bumps and dips in the sea’s surface is an astounding feat of precision measurement, involving lasers to track the trajectory of the measuring satellite and inevitably a lot of maths to process the data.So we do actually have a map of 100 percent of the ocean floor to a resolution of around 5 kilometres (3.1 miles).To map the ocean floor back home in greater detail, we have to use sonar instead of satellites.But that global map of the ocean floor is admittedly less detailed than maps of Mars, the Moon, or Venus, because of our planet’s watery veil.Exploring our world starts with mapping, but perhaps doesn’t really have an end.So the "95 percent unexplored" meme doesn’t really tell the full story of our exploration of the oceans.From that, we can see the main features of its hidden landscape, such as the mid-ocean ridges and ocean trenches – and, in that sense, the ocean floor is certainly not "95 percent unexplored".If our questions are: "What does it look like down there?" We've come a long way in ocean exploration since the days of the HMS Challenger, launched in 1858. If our questions are: “What does it look like down there?” or: “What’s going on down there?”, then the area that has been “explored” is arguably even less than the 0.05% mapped so far at the very highest resolution by sonar.Associate Professor of Marine Ecology, University of SouthamptonThe Conversation UK receives funding from these organisationsTo map the ocean floor back home in greater detail, we have to use sonar instead of satellites. The new map uses data from the Cryosat-2 and Jason-1 satellites and shows features not seen in earlier maps using data from older satellites. If we ignore tides, winds and waves for a moment, it turns out the ocean surface isn’t uniformly flat. Despite its relative youth and geologic simplicity, most of this deep seafloor has remained poorly understood because it is masked by the ocean. From extremely high elevations afforded by satellites, ocean scientists are able to see the ocean bottom to map it. Satellites emit sound waves that can penetrate the ocean water to map the ocean floor. And if there are enough measurements to subtract the effects of waves and tides, satellites can actually measure bumps and dips in the sea surface that result from the underlying landscape of the ocean floor. An array of ground-based laser radar stations also tracks the satellites, giving their precise location and altitude. PLUS a free mini-magazine for you to download and keep.Discover our latest special editions covering a range of fascinating topics from the latest scientific discoveries to the big ideas explained.Listen to some of the brightest names in science and technology talk about the ideas and breakthroughs shaping our world. or: "What’s going on down there? To complete a map of Earth’s ocean floor, you’ve got to take to the high seas by boat. The surface of the ocean bulges outward and inward, mimicking the topography of the ocean floor. Should I have considered them “explored” after my first visit in just one season? But our exploration of the oceans depends on what we want to know about them.Unlike mapping the land, we can’t measure the landscape of the seafloor directly from satellites using radar, because sea water blocks those radio waves.
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