New horizons for hydrography

Abstract

Compared to the complexity required to measure other physical quantities, the continuous monitoring globally of water levels, current directions, and velocities, as well as the measurement of underwater topography, do not appear ambitious tasks for modern technologies. The challenges lie in the sheer size of the area to be measured, which makes up about 70% of the Earth’s total surface, in its constant variability due to natural processes, the inaccessibility of the seabed, and the still inadequate mathematical modelling of global geophysical processes at the oceanic scale. Since most of the world’s population lives on, from and with the oceans, a demand-oriented provision of hydrographic information is of fundamental importance. Hydrography is called upon to serve this need for information in support of informed decision-making. Starting from the present status and the discernible trends in technical development, this article aims to provide a glimpse into the expected future development up to the end of the current decade.