Bathymetric chart

Bathymetric chart

A bathymetric chart is the submerged equivalent of an above-water topographic map. Bathymetric charts are designed to present accurate, measurable description and visual presentation of the submerged terrain.

In an ideal case, the joining of a bathymetric chart and topographic map of the same scale and projection of the same geographic area would be seamless. The only difference would be that the values begin increasing after crossing the zero at the designated sea level datum. Thus the topographic map's mountains have the greatest values while the bathymetric chart's greatest depths have the greatest values. Simply put, the bathymetric chart is intended to show the land if overlying waters were removed in exactly the same manner as the topographic map.

A bathymetric chart differs from a hydrographic chart in that accurate presentation of the underwater features is the goal while safe navigation is the requirement for the hydrographic chart. A hydrographic chart will obscure the actual features to present a simplified version to aid mariners in avoiding underwater hazards.

Bathymetric surveys are a subset of the science of hydrography. They differ slightly from the surveys required to produce the product of hydrography in its more limited application and as conducted by the national and international agencies tasked with producing charts and publications for safe navigation. That chart product is more accurately termed a navigation or hydrographic chart with a strong bias toward the presentation of essential safety information.

Bathymetric surveys and charts are more closely tied to the science of oceanography, particularly marine geology, and underwater engineering or other specialized purposes.

Tools for generating bathymetric charts

;Generic Mapping Tools: A freely available set of tools for generating any type of map, but originally and most commonly used for generating bathymetric charts

ee also

*Bathymetry
*Hydrography

External links

* [http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/ships/ship3229.htm ] "The very earliest rendition of a bathymetric map of an oceanic basin. Matthew Fontaine Maury published this map in 1853 in his book "Explanations and Sailing Directions to Accompany the Wind and Current Charts ...." NOAA Photo Library.
* [http://www.gebco.net/ General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO)]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • bathymetric chart — a map of a water body showing depth contour lines …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans — Bathymetrische Karte Atlantik …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans — La General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans, ou GEBCO est une représentation bathymétrique des océans consultable et utilisable par le grand public. Elle est l œuvre conjointe de la Commission océanographique intergouvernementale et de l… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Bathymetry — Present day Earth bathymetry (and altimetry). Data from the National Geophysical Data Center s TerrainBase Digital Terrain Model. Bathymetry is the study of underwater depth of lake or ocean floors. In other words, bathymetry is the underwater… …   Wikipedia

  • map — mappable, adj. mapper, n. /map/, n., v., mapped, mapping. n. 1. a representation, usually on a flat surface, as of the features of an area of the earth or a portion of the heavens, showing them in their respective forms, sizes, and relationships… …   Universalium

  • Map — /map/, n. Walter, c1140 1209?, Welsh ecclesiastic, poet, and satirist. Also, Mapes /mayps, may peez/. * * * I Graphic representation, drawn to scale and usually on a flat surface, of features usually geographic, geologic, or geopolitical of an… …   Universalium

  • MAP — See modified American plan. * * * I Graphic representation, drawn to scale and usually on a flat surface, of features usually geographic, geologic, or geopolitical of an area of the Earth or of any celestial body. Globes are maps represented on… …   Universalium

  • Mapping California — California is a unique place that has not always been well understood. For hundreds of years there persisted a European misconception that California was an island and many maps were made depicting it as such. Eventually, by the 18th century,… …   Wikipedia

  • GEBCO — The General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) is a publicly available bathymetry of the world s oceans. The project was conceived with the aim of preparing a global series of charts showing the general shape of the seafloor. Over the years… …   Wikipedia

  • Tide — This article is about tides in the Earth s oceans. For other uses, see Tide (disambiguation). Tidal redirects here. For other uses, see Tidal (disambiguation). High Tide redirects here. For other uses, see High Tide (disambiguation) …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”