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

NOAA Ocean Exploration has been leading or supporting expeditions since 2001 that have resulted in the discovery of everything from underwater volcanoes and landslides to cold seeps and steppe features. These and other geological findings help to shift our understanding of the basic processes that govern and shape our planet. Learn more: https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/20years/geology.html [About the video: In 2014, while exploring in the Gulf of America, we discovered flower-like extrusions of a