MH370: Ocean floor poorly known
Scientists have welcomed the decision to make all ocean depth data (bathymetry) gathered in the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 publicly available.
A detailed survey of 60,000 sq km of seabed using ship-borne echo sounders is to be undertaken to help refine the hunt for the lost jet.
Dr Walter Smith from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) says most of what we know today about the shape and depth of the sea floor comes from satellite measurements, which only provide a very low-resolution picture.
29 May 2014
- From the section Science & Environment