The Land We Can't Sea

by Eric Z.

Plate tectonics map of the coast off of central west Florida

Marine geologists do a variety of different things. The main job of marine geologists consists of compiling data about the topography or shape of the ocean floors, the distribution and type of bottom sediments, the composition and structure of the underlying rocks, and the geologic processes that have been at work throughout the seafloor's history. From this information they can assess the mineral resources of the seafloor, predict the location of certain hazards, and overall, add to our overall sense of scientific understanding of the geology of the lands covered by water.

Left: A piece of equipment is lowered into the water for use Right: Marine Geologists at work

    Major developments in seabed mapping technology has allowed marine geologists to enhance their data collection and findings. They now use high-resolution sidescan sonars, multibeam bathymetric systems, precise navigation, precision sampling and photographic sytems, and advances in digital data processingand scientific visualization techniques. The use of sidescan sonar demonstrated to the marine geologist that the morphology and distribution of sediments on the seabed was considerably more complex than previously thought.

GLORIA, a sonar device used to capture images of the ocean floor

Additionally, sonograms could be interpreted to assess seabed dynamic conditions using geological knowledge of sediment bedforms, transport pathways and other seabed processes to determine temporal and spatial mobility.

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