Bathymetry

As bathymetry (from Greek βαθύς Bathys " deep " and μέτρον métron " measure " ) refers to the measurement of the topographical shape of the seabed. As part of territory of Hydrography and Geodesy bathymetry thus the extraction of maps showing the depth profile of the oceans can be seen used.

The most important tool of the bathymetry is the depth sounder, especially the multibeam sonar, which is preferably used for mapping the seabed. However, since this method of measurement is relatively complex, even a technology has been tested in recent times to win charts from the data of radar satellites. Although these radar satellites can only depict the water surface. Due to gravity anomalies of submarine ridges and mountain ranges, the water table is at these points but on average a few centimeters higher than in deeper areas. It can thus be derived by precision measurements of mean sea level, the water depth.

A bathymetric map is a map of the seabed with low numbers, depth contours and any color depth layers. The depth information is often on a single reference point, such as Chart datum, relative and usually charged.