Bathymetry is the scientific study and measurement of the depth and topography of ocean, sea, lake, or river floors, forming the underwater analog of terrestrial topography. It relies on techniques such as single-beam and multibeam echo sounding, airborne lidar bathymetry, and satellite-derived methods to map seafloor morphology with high spatial resolution. Bathymetric data are fundamental for hydrodynamic and circulation modeling, habitat mapping, submarine geohazard assessment, navigation safety, and marine spatial planning. In research, bathymetry underpins analyses of tectonic and sedimentary processes, coastal erosion and inundation risk, tsunami propagation, and interactions between ocean dynamics and seafloor structure.
A team of Australian researchers has woven together modern science and Indigenous knowledge to reveal new insights into the evolution, history and future of the southern Great Barrier Reef. The 24-day voyage, led by The University ...
Ecology
Aug 20, 2026
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The Kakhovka Dam in southern Ukraine was destroyed on June 6, 2023. The event unleashed a catastrophic flood that forced thousands of residents to evacuate their communities as water levels rose 10 feet (3 meters) above normal.
Earth Sciences
Aug 18, 2026
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9
Australia's ocean territory is vast and covers an area more than 1.5 times the nation's landmass. Within these waters is a diversity of resources, marine species and habitats. And they're deep. Excluding Antarctic waters, ...
Earth Sciences
Jul 15, 2026
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The first-known direct observations of a seafloor spreading event at a mid-ocean ridge in the Indian Ocean are presented in Nature. The observations offer insight into how new oceanic crust is created.
Earth Sciences
Jul 8, 2026
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30
When a whale dies, a very special natural phenomenon can come alive. The carcass might float at the surface for some time, attracting sharks and other predators. As it becomes weathered, it may start to sink, falling through ...
Paleontology & Fossils
Jun 14, 2026
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174
It's a truism among oceanographers that there is more accurate mapping of the surface of the moon and Mars than of the deep-ocean floor. That's especially true for the Bismarck Sea, a relatively deep body of water north of ...
Planetary Sciences
May 21, 2026
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58
A 93-strong international expedition team has been exploring the northwestern Weddell Sea in the Antarctic on board the Alfred Wegener Institute's icebreaker Polarstern since February 8, 2026. In this key region for global ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 8, 2026
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146
Communities worldwide rely on reservoirs for drinking water, hydroelectric power, irrigation, and more. These critical freshwater resources are affected by seasonal and long-term changes; water levels in reservoirs can dip ...
Earth Sciences
Mar 31, 2026
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40
When we dream of landscapes, we might imagine rolling valleys or rugged mountains. But there is a whole landscape hidden from human view: the secret world of the seafloor.
Earth Sciences
Feb 22, 2026
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57
Commercial shipping not only affects the Baltic Sea on the surface, but also has a significant impact on the water column and the seabed. A study by the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) and Kiel ...
Earth Sciences
Feb 10, 2026
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