How do explorers chart the seafloor under miles of ocean? With bathymetric or “wet” maps! We bounce sonar off the seabed to build a detailed picture of an area’s shape. That data then helps us identify and map all kinds of structures, from trenches to undersea mountains. Our website features a lesson plan for teachers to help students understand wet maps and their uses. If you’re not a teacher (but still feeling crafty) why not give it a try yourself? You can find the materials and instructions

Curious about how and why scientists map the ocean floor? Learn more about bathymetry: the study of underwater floors in oceans, rivers, or lakes! Just like dry land, the surface of the seafloor is not always flat––it can have coral reefs, mountainous ridges, deep canyons, and many other features that can be revealed in bathymetric data. Check out our latest ocean fact to learn more about what bathymetry is and why it is important: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/bathymetry.html | NOAA Ocea