A Map of the Gulf of Mexico

If you've known me for 5 minutes then you know I'm a sucker for maps - even the newer technological marvels. Even though they're not a beautiful as old hand drawn cartography, maps are maps and maps are great.

The exploration companies use 3-D seismic imaging to map areas of the Gulf they are interested in. This involves towing high-powered underwater air guns behind a ship. When the guns fire, they create sound waves that travel down and are reflected back up by the sea floor. Lines of underwater microphones pulled along the surface behind the ship record how long it takes the reflected waves to reach them, data that can then be translated into topography.

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/05/new-seafloor-map-gulf-of-mexico/

https://www.boem.gov/Gulf-of-Mexico-Deepwater-Bathymetry/