How deep is the ocean? Where can I get bathymetry data and bathymetric maps?
The depth of the ocean is remarkably variable, from the surf zones at the world’s beaches to the deep ocean trenches. The deepest point in the ocean is generally believed to be in the Marianas Trench in the Western Pacific Ocean at approximately 36,160 feet [11,021 m], according to the Rand McNally Atlas of the Oceans (1977). A bathymetric map depicts the topography of the ocean floor. Bathymetric maps – as well as the digital bathymetry data from which they are produced – are distributed by the NOAA National Geophysical Data Center’s Marine Geology and Geophysics Division. • Are NODC Products and Data Free? NODC makes every effort to place most datasets online where they can be obtained for free. However, NODC must recover the costs for producing CD-ROM & DVD products and some publications. Also, having a customer service representative do a customized retrieval for you will also have some fee involved. See the NODC Ordering and Payment Procedures. CD-ROMs & DVDs and Publications can
