Book Description

The bathymetric chart, which permits a mariner to utilize the known configuration of the sea bottom in fixing his position, is a relatively new development in marine charting. Although navigators of over 2,400 years ago used depth soundings as a navigational technique, it was not until 1697 that the first depth contours were drawn on a chart. Production of accurate bathymetric charts did not become possible until the early 1920's however, when the sonic depth finder first came into use. Perhaps the outstanding single series of bathymetric charts published at the present time for navigational use is the BC Chart Series of the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office. This coordinated series provides almost complete coverage for the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. The maintenance and updating of the over 220 charts in the series pose real problems, not only because of the large influx of new bathymetric data, but also because of the many doubtful sounding reports received. Better sounding equipment and improved navigational systems will result in major improvements in both the quantity and quality of bathymetric charts published in the next few years. (Author).