Coloured section illustrates the extent of the IBCAO gridded depth compilation. © Professor Martin Jakobsson
London, 3 Février 2025 – The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project is pleased to announce the publication of the latest version of the International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO), Version 5.0. This release adds 1.4 million square kilometers of mapping coverage – an area over three times the size of Sweden – to the global seafloor dataset.
This development represents a significant step forward in the mission to achieve a complete map of the seafloor by 2030, offering an unprecedented level of detail for the Arctic Ocean. It also provides vital insights for researchers and policymakers, contributing to safer navigation and more effective ocean exploration.
Established in 1997, IBCAO has long been the authoritative source of bathymetry for the Arctic Ocean, with the latest version – published in Scientific Data by Nature – representing a quantum leap in detail, with a grid-cell size of 100 x 100 meters, compared to 200 x 200 meters in the previous version.
This achievement was made possible through advanced compilation methods, including the use of cloud-based distributed computing and the integration of metadata.
The release also highlights the challenges and innovations associated with mapping the Arctic Ocean, where perennial sea-ice cover and extreme conditions have traditionally limited data collection. Overcoming these obstacles has required groundbreaking technology and international collaboration.
Commenting on the release, Martin Jakobsson, Co-Head of Seabed 2030’s Arctic and North Pacific Regional Center, said: “The release of IBCAO Version 5.0 is a testament to the collaborative effort of the Arctic research community and our dedication to overcoming the challenges posed by the extreme Arctic environment.
“This dataset not only furthers our understanding of the Arctic seabed, but also exemplifies the power of teamwork in advancing global knowledge.”
Seabed 2030 Project Director Jamie McMichael-Phillips added: “This release underscores the importance of regional initiatives like IBCAO in helping us achieve our goal of a fully mapped ocean floor by 2030. It represents a crucial step towards making essential data accessible for sustainable ocean management.”
Toutes les données collectées et partagées dans le cadre du projet Seabed 2030 seront incluses dans la grille mondiale GEBCO, gratuite et accessible au public.
Seabed 2030 is an endorsed Ocean Decade programme. Find more information here.
For more detailed information on The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project, please visit our website, seabed2030.org, like our Facebook page, follow us on Bluesky, or contact enquiries@seabed2030.org.
Pour les demandes de renseignements des médias, veuillez contacter
Pegah Souri
pegah.souri@shearwater.global
+44 (0)7951 581707
Le projet Seabed 2030 de la Nippon Foundation-GEBCO est un projet de collaboration entre la Nippon Foundation et GEBCO. Le projet Seabed 2030, lancé lors de la Conférence des Nations unies sur les océans en 2017 par le président Sasakawa de The Nippon Foundation, coordonne et supervise l'approvisionnement et la compilation de données bathymétriques provenant de différentes parties de l'océan mondial par l'intermédiaire de ses cinq centres dans la grille GEBCO librement accessible. Quatre centres régionaux couvrent l'océan Austral, l'océan Arctique et le Pacifique Nord, l'océan Atlantique et l'océan Indien, ainsi que l'océan Pacifique Sud et Ouest. Ils alimentent le Centre mondial de données en produits de données. Le centre de données de l'OHI pour la bathymétrie numérique (DCDB) sert d'archive à long terme pour Seabed 2030.
This article was originally published on the Seabed 2030 website.