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Man has lived on Earth for several years (few, however, relative to his age), but he still ignores many things about his planet. For example, he has no idea what's there... down there, in the oceans,which remain a realmystery.
Consider that by 2017 only 6% of earth's oceans had been mapped.
Slowly, however, this mystery begins to be solved.
From 6% to 20% within three years
For the last three years he has been running a colossal project by the Japanese Nippon Foundation and GEBCO,an international organization specializing in seabed mapping. On Sunday (21/6), it was announced that this 6% three years ago and 14% last year has become almost 20% this year! !
Specifically, it is estimated that sunken data from 14.5 million square kilometres were added to GEBCO's maps in 2019 alone. This is ahuge area - twice as large as Australia's, but a large chunk of ocean bottoms are still uncharted - and who knows what will be revealed within the next decade.
The map belowalso shows in black the areas for which there are no direct measurements of the shape of the ocean floor yet. Shades of blue capture the depth of the water.
It should be noted, however, that scientists are not completely in the dark when it comes to black areas. Satellites have provided a great deal to research, since, with specialized instruments, some spacecraft can draw conclusions about underwater topography.
The project, however, will provide many more details and analyses, which will help the navigation and laying of underwater cables.
Above all, however, they will help to manage fisheries and protect marine species, as each of the underwater mountains is a 'biodiversity hotspot'
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