Google Ocean to Map Underwater Topography

There isn’t a lot known about what’s under the oceans that cover more then 70 percent of our planet’s surface. But all that could change if a new application by Google takes off.

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Tentatively called Google Ocean, the 3-D mapping application is along the same lines as Google Earth. The difference is that in this case all the mapping will be done of the topography under water.

In December, Google invited oceanography experts for a discussion on how they could get this off the ground. Obviously, the oceanographers are excited at the possibilities – much of what lies underwater is unexplored.

Just like in Google Earth, people will be able to zoom in for close-ups of shipwrecks, coral reefs and other subaquatic land formations. Even weather patterns will be depicted.

For now, Google is shying clear of any official announcement, but expect more details of the possibilities in the weeks ahead.

  1. Could the real motivation here be the hundreds of billions of dollars worth of gold and archaeological treasures in the ‘lost’ ship wrecks they would find? Not to mention the enormous amount of work it would take to get permission to map their waters from each country… Good luck Google, shottie some loot ;-)

  2. I would like to see details of the Azores plateau and vicinity, as well as regions between the Azores and Gibraltar. If Atlantis existed, could any ruins be visible or recognizable from such a project?

  3. I would love to see the ice age coastlines of 10,000 BC. As well as all underwater sites of archeological nature in the world, i.e. the mediteranean and black sea, etc. Maybe some links to scuba diving related tourism, when I hover over sites of interest.

  4. I am really excited about google’s underwayter maps to assist me in my physical geography career and did my first open water dive this morning!! Go google ocean.. can’t wait.

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