International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO)

IBCSO is the authoritative map of the Southern Ocean with the largest database of depth measurements. With billions of soundings contributed by organisations across the globe, it portrays the Southern Ocean seafloor in so-far unprecedented detail.

IBCSO is a regional mapping initiative of the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO). It is closely associated with and supported by the Nippon Foundation – GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project (Seabed 2030).

GEBCO is a project under the auspice of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. Furthermore, IBCSO is an Expert Group of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).

1,480 datasets

including 950 multibeam datasets and 498 singlebeam datasets

88 organisations collected data

we’ve got the whole ABC of hydrography except for institutes starting with Q, X, Y or Z

Pooling data from 22 countries

That’s app. 16% of all countries bordering at least one ocean!

The IBCSO projection has it's own EPSG code now!

Our polar stereographic projection used in IBCSO is now registered under EPSG 9354!

25.5 billion soundings

entered the processing pipeline for IBCSO v2, that’s roughly 6 times as many soundings as was available for IBCSO v1 with 4.2 billion soundings!

23.6 % of the Southern Ocean is mapped by true data!

22.4% of all ocean cells were covered by multibeam data, 1.2% by singlebeam and less than 0.06% by other sources (at a resolution of 500x500m)!

News

IBCSO 2024 Annual Release

We are pleased to present the first update on IBCSO V2. You will find the downloads for the type identifier (TID), the regional identifier (RID),...

AGU 2024

Apr 29, 2024

Dec. 9-13 | 2024, Washington, D.C., Walter E. Washington Convention Center Science has always been about the new. The now. The next. It’s what propels us, feeding our questions and inspiring our work. The constant question and answer form a rhythm,...

HYDRO 2024 Hydrographic Conference and Exhibition

Apr 27, 2024

Nov. 5-7 | 2024, Rostock-Warnemünde, Yachthafenresidenz Hohe Düne On behalf of the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies (IFHS) the German Hydrographic Society (DHyG) will host the international hydrographic conference and exhibition...

11th SCAR Open Science Conference

Apr 27, 2024

Aug. 17-24 | 2024, Pucón, Gran Hotel Enjoy The SCAR Open Science Conference (SCAR OSC) stands as the foremost global platform for Antarctic science. It unites hundreds of researchers and other stakeholders who showcase cutting-edge advancements,...

The Fifth Arctic-Antarctic and North Pacific Mapping Meeting (AANPMM)

Oct 29, 2023

Nov. 27- 29 2023 | Bremen, Germany, Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar und Meeresforschung The Fifth Arctic-Antarctic and North Pacific Mapping Meeting continues the series of mapping meetings organised and hosted by The Nippon...

Map the Gap Symposium 2023

Sep 12, 2023

Nov. 7, 8 | 2023, MONACO, Oceanographic Museum of Monaco Held on behalf of GEBCO, this event draws global experts in ocean technology, science and policy to discuss deep and coastal ocean exploration, offshore surveying technology, policy,...

Instant 2023

Aug 12, 2023

Sept. 11, 14 | 2023, Trieste, Trieste Convention Centre The INStabilities & Thresholds in ANTarctica (INSTANT) Scientific Research Programme provides a co-ordinating framework that will augment other important international research initiatives...