Riyadh:The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) has contributed to a scientific study offering high-resolution data on the Saudi Red Sea seabed's topography. This study, a product of the 2022 Journey of the Decade expedition, was conducted in cooperation with local and international research partners.
According to Saudi Press Agency, The study, published in Earth System Science Data, addresses a gap in the detailed mapping of the Red Sea's seabed. It provides a foundation for examining marine habitats, analyzing seabed features, and supporting marine spatial planning efforts. Researchers from NCW, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and OceanX were involved in the study.
Marine surveys for the research covered around 860 kilometers of the Saudi coast, with surveyed depths ranging from two meters in shallow areas to over 2,460 meters in deeper waters. Dr. Mohammad Qurban, CEO of NCW and co-author of the study, highlighted the study as a valuable scientific resource that expands the understanding of the Red Sea seabed and aids future research and marine spatial planning.
The study produced digital seabed depth models over 49,418.7 square kilometers using data from 2,863 survey lines. These models have a spatial resolution of five meters in shallow waters and 40 meters in deep waters. The maps reveal features such as canyons, submarine slopes, volcanic and tectonic structures, and seabed depressions related to fluid releases.
The data supports the Seabed 2030 project, which aims to map the world's ocean floor, by adding high-resolution information about the Red Sea. The processed and validated data aligns with International Hydrographic Organization standards, ensuring its reliability and availability to researchers and specialists globally.