A push to map the bottom of the Great Lakes is gaining steam.
Take note: Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Superior contain over 20% of the world's surface fresh water by volume. But very little is established about what lies below.
The news: An initiative called the Great Lakes Observing System wants to map the entirety of the lakes' bottoms. Experts say the process will locate hundreds of shipwrecks and infrastructure and outline topographical features. Only a fraction of the lakes' bottoms have been mapped; those surveys happened decades ago.
The benefits: GLOS leader Jennifer Boehme said thorough mapping will help ships avoid underwater hazards. It would also identify fisheries, account for erosion, flooding models and other issues related to climate change.
Big picture: Mapping technology has improved in recent years, scientists have had success with similar projects along the Florida coast and the Gulf of Mexico and a bill dedicated $200M to Great Lakes mapping was presented in Congress. But the lakes cover over 94K square miles, a colossal challenge regardless of resources.
