Exploration

Arctic Ocean map an "unprecedented" milestone for Seabed 2030

Published this week in Scientific Data by Nature, a vast portion of the Arctic Ocean has just been mapped out, adding some 1.4 million square kilometres of mapping coverage - an area three times the size of Sweden - to the growing global seafloor dataset.

04/02/2025
Words by Rob Hutchins
Photography by Willan Justen de Vasconcellos
Additional photography by Professor Martin Jakobsson

It was never going to be a mean feat, having the entire world’s seafloor mapped out in detail by the year 2030. Particularly when the project officially only got underway in 2017. Nevertheless, it’s a vision now one giant step closer to reality, thanks to a recent triumph in the Arctic Ocean.

Published this week in Scientific Data by Nature, a vast portion of the Arctic Ocean has just been mapped out, adding some 1.4 million square kilometres of mapping coverage – an area three times the size of Sweden – to the growing global seafloor dataset.

Doing anything in the Arctic Ocean poses its own challenges. Perennial sea ice cover and extreme conditions have traditionally limited much activity in the waters there, particularly data collection. Armed, however, with new innovation in seafloor mapping, groundbreaking technology, and a lean into international partnerships, collaborators have been able to take a “significant new step forward” towards its goal.

Furthermore, it’s according to the team at Seabed 2030 – the pioneering outfit behind the initiative – that this latest tranche of seafloor mapping offers an “unprecedented” level of detail of the Arctic Ocean floor, unlike anything we’ve seen before.

This “quantum leap in detail” was presented earlier this week, when the Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 team released their fifth and latest version of the International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO). 

Thanks to the use of advanced compilation methods – including the use of cloud-based distributed computing and the integration of metadata – the team of seabed cartographers have been able to deliver detail down to a grid-cell size of 100 x 100 metres. 

Previously, technology had only allowed for 200 x 200 metres.

Martin Jakobsson, co-head of Seabed 2030’s Arctic and North Pacific Regional Centre, said: “The release of IBCAO Version 5.0 is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the Arctic research community and our dedication to overcoming the challenges posed by the extreme Arctic environment.

“This dataset not only furthers our understanding of the Arctic seabed, but also exemplifies the power of teamwork in advancing global knowledge.”

Not only does the new release provide a previously unseen level of detail in seabed mapping, but it also provides vital insights for both researchers and policymakers, contributing to – what Seabed 2030 hopes will be – safer navigation and more effective ocean exploration.

So far, Seabed 2030 has managed to map around 25 percent of the world’s ocean floor. 

It’s an important endeavour. Currently, many navigational products rely on data recorded back in the 19th century, which used rowing boats with lines and lead weights. Updating this data will ensure ships use routes that are safe for generations to come. At the same time, researchers will be able to better monitor how marine life and habitats change over time. A further benefit of seafloor mapping is in the production of more accurate global prediction models, enhancing our ability to forecast weather, climate, and even tsunami impact zones.

Seabed 2030 project director, Jamie McMichael-Phillips, said: “This release underscores the importance of regional initiatives like IBCAO in helping us achieve our goal of a fully mapped ocean floor by 2030. It represents a crucial step towards making essential data accessible for sustainable ocean management.”

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Words by Rob Hutchins
Photography by Willan Justen de Vasconcellos
Additional photography by Professor Martin Jakobsson

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