The Seabed 2030 project, an international effort to chart the world's entire ocean floor, has increased the ocean data equating to the size of Europe. Seabed 2030 is a collaborative project between The Nippon Foundation and the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (Gebco) to inspire the complete mapping of the world's ocean by 2030, and to compile all bathymetric data into the freely available Gebco Ocean Map. Mitsuyuki Unno, executive director of Nippon Foundation, said the latest Gebco Grid figure now stands at 23.4 percent, reflecting an increase of 10.1 million square kilometers of new bathymetric data from last year's figure. This increase is equivalent to an area around the size of Europe and slightly larger than the Sahara, Earth's largest hot desert.

Verdejo, G. (2022, July 6). Seabed 2030 announces ocean data increases. The Manila Times, p. B7.