ocean floor maps

Ocean floor maps, called seafloor maps, visually represent the underwater landscape, showing features like deep trenches, underwater mountains (seamounts), plains, and ridges. These maps are created using sonar—sound waves that bounce off the ocean bottom—or satellite measurements that detect gravitational variations. They help scientists understand tectonic activity, habitat distribution, and ocean circulation, which are essential for navigation, environmental conservation, and studying Earth's geological processes. Accurate seafloor maps turn the vast, hidden undersea world into an accessible, detailed image, revealing the complex topography beneath the waves.