Saudi Red Sea seabed maps released in major open-access research initiative

 

High-resolution seabed maps of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast made available for researchers 

Researchers worldwide can now access an extensive collection of high-resolution seabed maps of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, following the publication of a new open-access study led by scientists from the National Center for Wildlife (NCW) and its research partners.

Published in Earth System Science Data, the study provides detailed bathymetric data gathered during NCW’s 2022 Journey of the Decade expedition. The release addresses a significant gap in publicly available high-resolution seabed information for the region, offering new opportunities to investigate marine ecosystems, underwater geological features and coastal management.

The research involved collaboration between NCW, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and OceanX, an organization focused on ocean exploration and marine science. Survey operations covered approximately 860 kilometres along the Saudi Red Sea coast, spanning depths from around two metres in nearshore waters to more than 2,460 metres offshore.

 

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Dr Mohammad Qurban, NCW chief executive officer and co-author of the study, said the publication represents a major scientific achievement of the expedition and highlights the importance of marine exploration in improving understanding of the Red Sea.

Making the expedition’s field data openly accessible, he said, will help researchers examine relationships between seabed topography and marine habitats while providing a scientific foundation for future investigations, surveys and marine spatial planning.

High-resolution surveys reveal complex underwater terrain

The research team processed data from 2,863 multibeam sonar survey lines to develop digital bathymetric models covering nearly 50,000 square kilometres of seabed. The maps provide spatial resolutions of five metres in shallow waters and 40 metres in deeper areas.

The resulting dataset documents a diverse underwater landscape, including submarine canyons, steep slopes, erosion-related landforms, slope failures and underwater landslides. Researchers also identified geological structures associated with salt movement, volcanic and tectonic activity, remnants of lava flows and depressions formed by fluids escaping from beneath the seafloor.

These features offer valuable opportunities to investigate the geological evolution of the Red Sea and explore how underwater terrain influences the distribution of marine habitats.

Beyond geological research, the maps can support habitat assessments, seabed classification, the design of future marine surveys and evidence-based decisions on marine resource management.

Contribution to global ocean mapping

The newly published data also contribute to the international Seabed 2030 initiative, which seeks to compile a comprehensive map of the world's ocean floor. By adding detailed coverage of a previously underrepresented section of the Red Sea, the dataset strengthens the availability of regional information for global seabed mapping efforts.

To maintain data quality and consistency, the researchers processed, calibrated and validated the survey measurements in accordance with the International Hydrographic Organization's S-44 standards. The validation process confirmed consistent performance of the survey systems across both shallow and deep-water environments.

 

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The dataset is available in standard geospatial formats compatible with a broad range of mapping and spatial analysis software, allowing researchers and marine specialists to integrate the information into their own studies.

Strengthening marine science and planning

The release extends the scientific value of the Journey of the Decade expedition beyond its original fieldwork, making detailed observations available to a wider international research community.

By improving access to reliable seabed information, the study provides a resource for advancing marine habitat research, geological investigations and the development of science-based approaches to managing the Saudi Red Sea's marine environment.

The publication also strengthens the region's representation in international marine databases, supporting broader efforts to improve knowledge of the ocean floor and guide the sustainable management of marine ecosystems.

Source: www.hydro-international.com