Seabed 2030 is a collaborative project between the Nippon Foundation and GEBCO. It aims to bring together all available bathymetric data to produce the definitive map of the world ocean floor by 2030 and make it available to all.
The project has four Regional Centers and a Global Center. The Regional Centers are responsible for championing mapping activities; assembling and compiling bathymetric information and collaborating with existing mapping initiatives within their regions.
The North Pacific and Arctic Ocean regional center has two bases, at the Department of Geological Sciences, Stockholm University, Sweden and the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping at the University of New Hampshire, USA. The Southern Ocean regional center is hosted at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany. These two regional centers will also continue to support the work that has been carried out by the IBCAO and IBCSO projects.
First Seabed 2030 – Arctic, Antarctic & North Pacific Mapping Meeting was held in Stockholm, 8 – 10 October 2018.
Meeting goals:
- Establish a Regional Mapping Board for each of the regions: Arctic Ocean, North Pacific Ocean and Southern Ocean consisting of representatives from relevant countries and organizations. The Regional Mapping Boards will work closely with the IBCAO/IBCSO editorial boards and in many cases will include the same people
- Identify new bathymetric data sources
- Coordinate upcoming mapping expeditions