Series 4 – Deep Ocean Mapping
The fourth series of the Ring of Fire Expedition was devoted to mapping the seafloor.
While ocean mapping has been essential to the success of both the science and diving objectives, it is also fundamental to the larger global understanding of our oceans. Fewer than 20% of the world’s oceans are mapped at high resolutions (100m) and even less of the deep sea has been mapped at all. Over the last two years, the mapping team has been collecting data in the deep sea (6000 m and deeper) all around the world, and the Ring of Fire Expedition was no exception. We collected bathymetry data covering the Philippine, Palau, Yap, Mariana, Izu-Bonin, Japan, Kuril-Kamchatka, and Aleutian Trenches, some of which has never been seen before!
The mapping team is led by Cassie Bongiovanni, a scientist specializing in ocean mapping and bathymetric data collection.
Toggle the layers in the map above to show the outlines of the bathymetry we collected around the world (white), where we dived (purple and yellow circles), where we deployed our landers (purple and yellow diamonds), and how much of the seafloor was mapped before we started (black). Zoom in for closer looks
Fly though maps
Mariana Trench
As part of the Five Deeps Expedition in 2019, our team mapped the deepest known place in the ocean – Challenger Deep, Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. Over a few weeks, the team collected more than 25,000 km2 of bathymetry essential for identifying the deepest point of 10,925 m, dive planning, and scientific exploration. The expedition sent Victor Vescovo, Dr. Alan Jamieson, Patrick Lahey, John Ramsay, and Johnathan Struwe down to the bottom to explore in a set of five dives. In 2020, we went back as part of the Ring of Fire Expedition, mapping an additional 150,000 km2 in support of our exploration objectives and our partnership with NOAA. We also performed an additional six dives and 50 lander deployments to Challenger Deep and the surrounding northern Mariana deeps. The Ring of Fire Expedition sent down Victor Vescovo with Dr. Kathy Sullivan and explorers Vanessa O’Brien and John Rost.
Caladan Oceanic & The Bigger Picture
As a product of our partnership with NOAA and our commitment to Seabed 2030, we collected over 150,000 square kilometers of bathymetric data within the U.S. EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) during our 2020 field season alone. This includes data from hard-to-reach areas like the Aleutian Trench, which we mapped for the first time in August 2020.
It is estimated that 50% of the U.S. EEZ is mapped thus far. We are very proud to have contributed to increasing this value and look forward to additional contributions in the future.
Looking exclusively at our Ring of Fire Coverages, we were able to:
-
Collect new and additional bathymetry over the northern Mariana Trench and within NOAA priority areas nearby.
-
Validate existing data over the Izu-Bonin and Japan Trenches.
-
Map for the first time the Philippine, Yap, Palau, Kuril-Kamchatka, and Aleutian Trenches.
Caladan Oceanic Mapping Stats
- More than 45% of the bathymetric data collected during the Ring of Fire Expedition were new to the world.
- During the 2020 field season, Caladan Oceanic collected a whopping 511,000 km2.
- Caladan Oceanic has collected more than 1,055,000 km2 of bathymetric data from two around the world expeditions. 47% of which covered some of the deepest features in the world, and 58% of these data are new to the world.
- In October of 2020, Caladan Oceanic submitted all 73 surveys collected from both field seasons (almost 6 TB of data!) to Seabed 2030
SEABED 2020 Submission Stats
| Data Centre | Survey Area (km2) |
|---|---|
| Atlantic & Indian Ocean | 370,595 |
| Arctic & North Pacific Ocean | 155,029 |
| Southern Ocean | 0 |
| South & West Pacific Ocean | 527,092 |
| Feature | Survey Area (km2) | New to the world (km2) |
|---|---|---|
| Ring of Fire | 328,495 | 146,805 |
| Amirante Trench | 10,930 | 10,771 |
| Red Sea | 4,960 | 2,800 |
| Calypso Deep | 2,888 | 960 |
| 2020 Transits | 163,796 | 113,353 |
| Five Deeps | 162,948 | 70,441 |
| 2019 Transits | 384,483 | 276,634 |
| TOTAL | 1,058,552 | 615,436 |
Caladan Oceanic Story Map Series
- More than 45% of the bathymetric data collected during the Ring of Fire Expedition were new to the world.
- During the 2020 field season, Caladan Oceanic collected a whopping 511,000 km2.
- Caladan Oceanic has collected more than 1,055,000 km2 of bathymetric data from two around the world expeditions. 47% of which covered some of the deepest features in the world, and 58% of these data are new to the world.
- In October of 2020, Caladan Oceanic submitted all 73 surveys collected from both field seasons (almost 6 TB of data!) to Seabed 2030
- More than 45% of the bathymetric data collected during the Ring of Fire Expedition were new to the world.
- During the 2020 field season, Caladan Oceanic collected a whopping 511,000 km2.
- Caladan Oceanic has collected more than 1,055,000 km2 of bathymetric data from two around the world expeditions. 47% of which covered some of the deepest features in the world, and 58% of these data are new to the world.
- In October of 2020, Caladan Oceanic submitted all 73 surveys collected from both field seasons (almost 6 TB of data!) to Seabed 2030
