Short Wave Sea Camp: Why Scientists Want To Map The Entire Seafloor
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Aug 18, 2025 Dawn Wright, a marine geographer and chief scientist at the Environmental Systems Research Institute, discusses the ambitious goal of mapping the world's seafloor. With only 30% charted, she explains how complete mapping can enhance tsunami warnings and renewable energy efforts. The conversation delves into the challenges faced in deep ocean exploration, the importance of underwater cable infrastructure for global internet connectivity, and the role of technology and community involvement in achieving this vital mission.
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Challenger Deep Descent
- Dawn Wright describes descending in a submersible to Challenger Deep as slow, peaceful, and like being in a space capsule.
- She notes bioluminescent animals flashed back when the submersible pilot flashed lights during the descent.
How Seafloor Mapping Works
- Dawn Wright explains sonar maps depth by timing sound pulses to the seafloor and converting time to distance.
- She emphasizes correcting for sound-speed changes from temperature and salinity to get accurate depths.
Seafloor Maps Revealed Plate Tectonics
- Mapping the ocean revealed mid-ocean ridges, trenches, and fracture zones that explain plate tectonics.
- Dawn credits Marie Tharp for mapping these global seafloor features that reshaped our understanding of Earth.