The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 project, set to map the entirety of the global ocean floor by 2030, has started operations.
Officially launched in 2017, the project draws on the experience of international organizations and mapping experts under the coordination of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO).
Having a comprehensive map of the ocean floor could assist global efforts to combat pollution, aid marine conservation, forecast tsunami wave propagation, and help inform the study of tides and wave action.
At a special event on 20 February in Tokyo, the chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Yohei Sasakawa, announced that the Seabed 2030 project is fully operational.
Regional Centers will be hosted by academic and research institutions in Germany, New Zealand, the United States, and Sweden, focusing on specific ocean basins. The Global Center, which is responsible for centralized data management and products, is based at the UK National Oceanography Center, Southampton.