Noaa Ocean Floor

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Noaa ocean floor. Images and animations depicting the crustal age of the ocean floor created by the noaa national centers for environmental information ncei from bathymetric topographic and marine geological and geophysical data. The map serves as a tool for performing scientific engineering marine geophysical and environmental studies that are required in the development of energy and marine resources. National oceanic and atmospheric administration u s. Plate tectonics and the ocean floor.

Bathymetry the shape of the ocean floor is largely a result of a process called plate tectonics the outer rocky layer of the earth includes about a dozen large sections called tectonic plates that are arranged like a spherical jig saw puzzle floating on top of the earth s hot flowing mantle. Frequently accessed tools resources. A new web based interactive tool for ocean mapping and planning created by noaa and the department of the interior s bureau of ocean energy management will give everyone from ocean industries to coastal managers students as well as the general public the opportunity to be an ocean explorer from their own computer. Learn about the noaa office of ocean exploration and research the nation s.

Members of the news media may contact nesdis by reaching out to our office of public affairs. Methane seeps are areas where methane leaks from vast reservoirs deep in the ocean mud. Noaa s 2020 business brief. Image courtesy of the noaa office of ocean exploration and research windows to the deep 2019.

The multiple physical sensors of the sonar called a transducer array send and receive the acoustic pulses that help map. Topographic maps of the sea floor. 8th floor silver spring md 20910 phone. Ncei builds and distributes high resolution coastal digital elevation models dems that integrate ocean bathymetry and land topography supporting noaa s mission to understand and predict changes in earth s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our nation s economic social and environmental needs.

3 ways satellites connect scientists with ocean life. Side scan sonar is a category of active sonar system for detecting and imaging objects on the seafloor. Detailed depth contours provide the size shape and distribution of underwater features. In the u s where over half of us live along the coast and more than 78 percent of our overseas trade by volume comes and goes along our marine highways the health of our coasts is intricately connected to the health of our nation s economy.