Seeing Sur Ridge
In 2013, after many years spent mapping Monterey Bay and its environs, MBARI and NOAA scientists discovered an underwater oasis—lush with corals and sponges—just 35 kilometers (22 miles) west of Big Sur. This rocky ridge, called Sur Ridge, stands over 500 meters (1640 feet) tall and stretches over 20 kilometers (12 miles) long—roughly the size of Manhattan. MBARI has been working diligently to create ever more detailed maps of Sur Ridge for more than 20 years to better understand its geologic processes—like underwater landslides—and to monitor the health of the marine life that calls it home—including the impacts of climate change.
Data collected by MBARI’s mapping team has helped bring Sur Ridge to life. This animation combines data from ship-based multibeam sonar at 25 meters (82 feet) in resolution, autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) multibeam mapping data at one meter (about three feet) in resolution, and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) mapping lidar data at five centimeters (two inches) in resolution. MBARI scientists worked with Los Angeles film production company Frame 48 to visualize the terrain of Sur Ridge in astonishing detail. These amazing images demonstrate what’s possible when scientists and engineers work together to develop new technology for exploring the deep ocean.
Learn more about how we collaborated with visual effects artists at Frame 48 to bring MBARI's mapping tools and data to life on our website.
