NASA reveals detailed ocean floor map from satellite data

NASA has released a stunning animation that provides a detailed look at the ocean floor. This map was created using gravity-based data gathered by the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, launched in 2022 in collaboration with the French space agency CNES. For years, the ocean floor has been less mapped than the moon. However, SWOT has changed that by offering higher resolution images of underwater features. Researchers published their findings in December 2022 in the journal Science, revealing new details about the seafloor. The satellite captures data from areas where ships have not been able to collect information. This can improve submarine navigation and assist in laying and repairing undersea cables that connect people worldwide. The recent NASA video showcases seafloor features off the coasts of Mexico, South America, and Antarctica. SWOT detects changes in gravity caused by underwater features like abyssal hills and seamounts. These features have a stronger gravitational pull due to their mass. In the video, green areas are higher, while purple areas are lower. Scientists found that abyssal hills cover about 70 percent of the ocean floor. Traditional ships can also map these underwater features, but it takes much longer. So far, only about a quarter of Earth's ocean floor has been mapped by ships. SWOT, however, is designed to measure the height of all bodies of water, marking a significant step in surveying Earth's surface water.