The Office of Naval Research (ONR) has funded a mathematician to map the uncharted expanses of the ocean floor. The three-year mission aims to enhance the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare strategies and support ocean conservation efforts. Currently, only 26.1% of the world’s ocean floor has been mapped with high-resolution technology, leaving many structures and geological features unknown.
Recent studies have revealed mysterious structures, a 66 million-year-old space object impact crater, and a previously undiscovered deep-sea predator. However, the extreme conditions in the deepest parts of the oceans, including incredibly low temperatures, low lighting conditions, and pressure, make further advancements difficult and costly.
Mathematician Eliza Michalopoulou is leading the ONR-funded effort “The Simulation Study for Assessing Accuracy, Uncertainty, and Consistency in Geoacoustic Inversion Across Methodologies.” She believes that using sound and mathematics can unravel the mystery of the ocean floor. The process, called geoacoustic inversion, involves analyzing sound waves bounced off the ocean floor to reveal properties such as bathymetry and sediment density.
However, separating acoustic signals from the noise is complex, requiring different mathematical models and methods. Michalopoulou hopes that advanced mathematical models will create realistic simulations, allowing her to evaluate different mapping methods and understand their variability. The project’s goal is to create a high-resolution ocean floor map, enhancing anti-submarine warfare strategies and supporting ocean conservation efforts.
The mission aims to gather enough data on varying approaches to move closer to creating a comprehensive ocean floor map. With the insights and conclusions drawn from this research, Michalopoulou believes that it will contribute to high-fidelity seabed exploration, ultimately benefiting both defense operations and environmental conservation.
Source: https://thedebrief.org/effort-to-map-the-uncharted-expanses-of-the-ocean-floor-funded-by-the-office-of-naval-research