They Sent a Robot to Explore the Ocean Floor—What It Found Was Worse Than Expected

There are better maps of the lunar surface than of Earth's ocean floor, but this is changing thanks to high-resolution data obtained from space by satellites. A global map of the world's ocean is overlaid with gravity data indicating the location of depressions (purple) and elevated features (green) on the seafloor. NASA researchers have been working for decades to change this situation. As part of this ongoing effort, a NASA-funded team recentl…

They Sent a Robot to Explore the Ocean Floor—What It Found Was Worse Than Expected

A new wave of seismic science is emerging from the ocean floor—and it could help us predict the next big disaster. Using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), researchers have mapped the geology of the Mona Rift, a deep underwater fault zone northwest of Puerto Rico, revealing hidden seismic hazards that could impact millions along the island’s coast. The findings, published in Geosphere, mark a breakthrough in how we monitor tectonic activity in r…

Scientists map the Earth's seafloor in detail and discover nearly 100,000 submerged mountains

There are better maps of the lunar surface than of the Earth's ocean floor, but this is changing thanks to high-resolution data obtained from space by satellites.A global map of the world's ocean is overlaid with gravity information indicating the location of depressions (purple) and elevated features (green) on the seafloor. NASAResearchers have been working for decades to change this situation. As part of this ongoing effort, a NASA-funded tea…