Mapping the World's Oceans: A Blessing or a Curse?
BERLIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 21, 2025 - Despite the widespread availability of satellite imagery, only about one-fifth of the world's ocean floor has been mapped so far. This lack of knowledge is due to the limitations of radar signals, which cannot penetrate water. However, a joint project between the United Nations and the private Nippon Foundation aims to change this by mapping the entire ocean floor by 2030.
According to Laura Trethewey, a Canadian environmental journalist and author of "The Deepest Map: The High-Stakes Race to Chart the World's Oceans," published in 2023, the ocean is a vast and largely unexplored frontier. "The ocean covers 71% of the planet, so it's just vast, incomprehensibly vast," she said. "There's just no terrestrial equivalent to the scale and complexity of the ocean."
The Seabed 2030 project uses echo sounding technology to create detailed maps of the ocean floor. This technology involves sending sound waves into the water and measuring the time it takes for them to bounce back, creating a picture of the seafloor. However, this process is slow and labor-intensive, requiring specialized equipment and skilled personnel.
The lack of knowledge about the ocean floor has significant implications for our understanding of the planet's ecosystems and natural resources. According to Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a marine biologist at the University of California, "The ocean depths hold entire worlds that are still unknown to us. We're talking about unique ecosystems, new species, and potentially even new sources of food and medicine."
The Seabed 2030 project is not without its challenges, however. The cost of mapping the entire ocean floor is estimated to be in the billions of dollars, and the process will require international cooperation and coordination.
Despite these challenges, the project has already made significant progress. According to a spokesperson for the Nippon Foundation, "We've mapped over 20% of the ocean floor so far, and we're on track to meet our goal of mapping the entire ocean by 2030."
The implications of this project go beyond just scientific discovery. The detailed maps created by Seabed 2030 will also have significant economic benefits, including improved fishing practices, reduced risk of marine accidents, and increased access to natural resources.
As Trethewey notes, "Mapping the ocean floor is not just a technical challenge; it's also an opportunity for humanity to learn more about itself and its place in the world."
The Seabed 2030 project is a testament to human ingenuity and our desire to explore and understand the unknown. As we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, we may uncover secrets that have been hidden beneath the waves for centuries.
Background:
The ocean covers approximately 71% of the planet's surface.
Only about one-fifth of the world's ocean floor has been mapped so far.
Radar signals cannot penetrate water, making it difficult to map the ocean floor using satellite imagery.
Current Status:
Seabed 2030 project aims to map the entire ocean floor by 2030.
Over 20% of the ocean floor has already been mapped.
Estimated cost of mapping the entire ocean floor is in the billions of dollars.
Next Developments:
Continued international cooperation and coordination will be necessary to complete the project.
The detailed maps created by Seabed 2030 will have significant economic benefits, including improved fishing practices and reduced risk of marine accidents.
*Reporting by Dw.*
