Survey for Basic Maps of the Sea
Since 1996, we at the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency have conducted annual surveys for basic maps of the sea in Korea’s jurisdictional sea area.
The survey for basic maps of the sea is intended to secure scientific inquiry data needed for systematic marine management, such as boundary delimitation and sea traffic safety in the jurisdictional sea area, marine resource development, and marine
policy setup pursuant to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. As a result, in 1996 to 2010, the 1st-phase survey was completed, which covered bottom topography, gravity, terrestrial magnetism, and the shallow subsurface, throughout the eastern,
western and southern sea areas totaling 343,000 ㎢. Moreover, from 2008, a detailed submarine topographic survey has been conducted in the western and southern sea areas totaling 242,000 ㎢.
The outcomes are used in producing a basic map of the sea, which comprises bathymetric chart, free-air gravity anomaly chart, total magnetic intensity chart, and sub-bottom echo character chart. This basic map is designed for use in research,
education, and marine resource development.