About Gebco - general bathymetric chart of the oceans
Gebco - General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans: Providing Authoritative Bathymetry Data Sets for the World's Oceans
The General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) is a non-profit organization that aims to provide authoritative and publicly available bathymetry data sets for the world's oceans. The organization was established in 1903, and since then, it has been working tirelessly to collect, compile, and disseminate bathymetric data from all over the world.
Bathymetry is a branch of oceanography that deals with measuring and mapping the depth and topography of underwater terrain. It is an essential aspect of marine science as it helps scientists understand oceanic processes such as tides, currents, waves, and sediment transport. Moreover, bathymetry data is crucial for various applications such as navigation safety, resource exploration, environmental monitoring, climate research, and disaster management.
Gebco's mission is to provide high-quality bathymetry data sets that are accurate, reliable, comprehensive and accessible to everyone. The organization achieves this by collaborating with national hydrographic offices (NHOs), academic institutions, research organizations and other stakeholders involved in collecting or using bathymetric data.
One of Gebco's flagship products is the GEBCO Digital Atlas which contains global gridded bathymetry data at different resolutions ranging from 30 arc-seconds (approximately 1 km) to 5 arc-minutes (approximately 10 km). The atlas also includes various derived products such as contour maps, shaded relief images and seafloor geomorphology maps. The GEBCO Digital Atlas has become a standard reference for many marine-related activities worldwide.
Another important product offered by Gebco is its training program which aims to enhance capacity building in ocean mapping technologies among developing countries' scientists. Through its training program called "GEBCO-Nippon Foundation Training Program," Gebco provides fellowships to selected candidates from developing countries to attend a one-year training course on ocean mapping technologies at the University of New Hampshire, USA. The program has been running since 2004 and has trained over 100 scientists from more than 40 countries.
Gebco's work is not limited to data collection and dissemination; the organization also plays an active role in promoting international cooperation in ocean mapping. Gebco is a member of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, which coordinates global efforts in marine science and technology. Gebco also collaborates with other organizations such as the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE), and the Global Multi-Resolution Topography (GMRT) synthesis project.
In conclusion, Gebco is a vital organization that contributes significantly to our understanding of the world's oceans' bathymetry. Its commitment to providing authoritative, publicly available bathymetry data sets has made it an essential resource for many marine-related activities worldwide. Through its products such as GEBCO Digital Atlas and training programs like GEBCO-Nippon Foundation Training Program, Gebco continues to enhance capacity building in ocean mapping technologies among developing countries' scientists. With its active role in promoting international cooperation in ocean mapping, Gebco remains at the forefront of advancing marine science globally.