# “Guiding Committee for GEBCO” Coast Guard Marine Information Director elected Chairman

Shin Tani, the Coast Guard Marine Information Director was elected to be Chairman of “GEBCO Note 1 Guiding Committee for GEBCO Note 2” which promotes the bathymetric chart creation project for oceans world-wide. This election is recognition of Japan’s deep involvement with the GEBCO project and rich scientific knowledge. Sir Laughton, scientific advisor to Queen Elizabeth, also served as chairman in the past and Director Tani will be the sixth chairman.

Japan, which has one of the most complex undersea features world-wide with 4 global plates clashing as well as a 9,000 meter deep undersea trench in the immediate vicinity of an urban area with a population of 10,000,000, has focused on creating a bathymetric chart and investigating the undersea features from ancient times in order to clarify this undersea phenomenon and elucidate the mechanisms of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Even in the continental shelf that spans 310,000 climate change on a global scale. Also, information on undersea features is valuable for fisheries and in the development of marine resources (energy and mineral resources of the seabed, renewable energy such as offshore wind and tidal power). These things are leading to the internationally growing interest in precise bathymetric charts.

On the other hand, the sea area for which precise undersea features data is shared is still limited to 10% of all world seas. The promotion of terrain studies for sea areas not yet surveyed and finding data that has been recorded but has yet to be shared are important issues. From now on, the Ministry will be tackling the difficult challenges of enhancing current data, preparing topographical information and topographic maps that meet the needs of the undersea features information and the development of the next generation to continue this work, with the cooperation of various countries, organizations and experts.

square kilometers corresponding to 80% of the area of Japan which received recognition in 2012, the information of the elaborate undersea terrain features played an important role. Japan is recognized as the world's most advanced country in terms of undersea features investigations and creation of the bathymetric chart.

It has been pointed out that information on undersea features is essential for the scientific clarification and response to natural disasters originating from the sea such as tsunami, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions as well as providing important information in considering

Bathymetric Chart Created by the Guiding Committee for GEBCO

Source) Japan Coast Guard

## Note 1 About GEBCO (General Bathymetric Chart of the Ocean)

This is the only official enterprise to create a bathymetric chart of the whole word and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) are promoting it together. It was started with a proposal by Archduke Albert of Monaco in 1903.

It handles the overall coordination of the GEBCO project and is composed of 5 members each selected from IHO and IOC for a total of 10 committee members.