Question

What is bathymetry?

Answer 1

It was original referred to the ocean's depth relative to the sea level. It is now know as "submarine topology"--or the depths and shapes of underwater terrain.

It would be in the same way, that topographic maps represent the three-dimensional features (or relief) of overland terrain--that the bathymetry maps illustrate the land that lies underwater. Now the variations of the sea-floor relief may be depicted by color and even contour lines (these are called depths contours or isobaths).

Bathymetry is know to be the foundation of the science of hydrography-- this measures the physical features of the body of water. Hydrography will include not only bathymetry, but it will also include the shape and features of the shorelines; the characteristics of the tides, currents, waves; and even the physical and chemical properties of the water itself.


Here is a bathymetric map of Kachemak Bay, Alaska for an example.

Hope that helps! n_n