Seafloor Mapping Lab Overview Team Projects Publications Latest News Technologies Data Mapping the seafloor to image its structure and character is a fundamental type of observation used in oceanographic research. Repeated, geographically-accurate representations of the seafloor are essential for understanding the complexity of landscapes, the processes that create and disrupt them, and their functions as habitat. The MBARI Seafloor Mapping team seeks to achieve efficient surveys that are spatially accurate and repeatable in complex terrain and in the deep ocean. This work has been an important part of MBARI development and research for over two decades. Since 2004 we have used Dorado AUVs optimized for mapping to collect 1-meter (3.3 feet) scale topography, backscatter, and subbottom profiler data. Starting in 2011 we have used MBARI’s ROVs as platforms for low altitude surveys with sonar, lidar, and stereo cameras, that yield 1-centimeter (0.4 inch) resolution topography combined with 2-millimeter (0.08 inch) scale color photography. Whether at meter scale or centimeter scale, with repeated surveys our mapping tools have the capability to quantitatively measure change on the seafloor. Our AUV mapping data are catalogued in the MBARI Seafloor Mapping Database and being archived at the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS). Sur Ridge Animation Click to learn more. Team Directory Seafloor Mapping Lab Dave Caress Principal Engineer Principal Investigator Jennifer B. Paduan Senior Research Specialist Low Altitude Survey System Dave Caress Principal Engineer Principal Investigator Charles K. Paull Senior Scientist Eric Martin Electrical Engineering Group Leader Knute Brekke ROV/MARS Manager Mike Burczynski ROV Pilot/Technician, ROV Ventana J. Andrew Hamilton Mechanical Engineering Lead Rich Henthorn Senior Software Engineer Chad Kecy Senior Electrical Engineer DJ Osborne Chief ROV Pilot, ROV Ventana Jennifer B. Paduan Senior Research Specialist Mike Risi Senior Software Engineer Mark Talkovic Chief ROV Pilot, ROV Doc Ricketts Bryan Touryan-Schaefer Senior Marine Operations Engineer Giancarlo Troni Principal Engineer Seafloor Mapping AUV Erik Trauschke Autonomous Systems Operations Manager Jordan Caress Dorado AUV Operations Engineer Cole Grasse Autonomous Systems Operations Engineer Varsha Senthil Autonomous Systems Operations Engineer Tad Masek Autonomous Systems Operations Engineer Related Teams CoMPAS Lab Project CoMPAS Lab The Control, Modeling, Perception for Autonomous Systems (CoMPAS) Laboratory aims to develop and transfer technology for making ocean exploration more accessible and widespread, and to help answer several questions that remain open about our planet. Bioinspiration Lab Project Bioinspiration Lab The Bioinspiration Lab brings the ocean into the lab, and the lab into the ocean, by developing advanced imaging systems and algorithms to study marine life. Continental Margin Processes Project Continental Margin Processes This team investigates the movement of sediment across continental margins and how it shapes the existing submarine morphology. Projects All Projects Gulf of California Tectonics and Hydrothermal Systems Project Gulf of California Tectonics and Hydrothermal Systems Mapping and multidisciplinary investigations in the southern Gulf of California. Terrain Relative Navigation Project Terrain Relative Navigation Improving vehicle navigation in real-time by localizing relative to an existing map. Axial Seamount Volcanic Processes Project Axial Seamount Volcanic Processes Mapping the hydrothermal sites, lava flows, and geodetics of this active volcano. Low Altitude Survey System Project Low Altitude Survey System Bringing mapping systems closer to the seafloor to achieve precision-controlled centimeter-scale bathymetry and millimeter-scale imagery. Related Projects Arctic Shelf Edge Project Arctic Shelf Edge Investigating rapid changes in the seafloor morphology that have been discovered to occur under the Arctic Ocean. Cascadia Subduction Zone Project Cascadia Subduction Zone Deciphering the geologic records left by earthquake stimulated turbidity currents along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Community Studies Project Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Community Studies Studies of deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems at Sur Ridge and Davidson Seamount focus on oceanographic and biological factors influencing their diversity and abundance. Coordinated Canyon Experiment (CCE) Project Coordinated Canyon Experiment (CCE) The Coordinated Canyon Experiment (CCE) is an extensive long-term effort to monitor turbidity currents in situ and at multiple locations simultaneously. Here you can find all the data and relevant metadata collected throughout this groundbreaking study. Morro Bay Wind Farm Pockmarks Project Morro Bay Wind Farm Pockmarks Understanding the origins and activity of the pockmarks and submarine channels offshore of Morro Bay is paramount to developing a proposed floating wind farm. Octopus Garden Project Octopus Garden MBARI research and technology have revealed that thermal springs at the base of Davidson Seamount are an important nursery for the deep-sea pearl octopus (Muusoctopus robustus). Submarine Volcanism Project Submarine Volcanism Gulf of California Tectonics and Hydrothermal Systems Project Gulf of California Tectonics and Hydrothermal Systems Mapping and multidisciplinary investigations in the southern Gulf of California. Terrain Relative Navigation Project Terrain Relative Navigation Improving vehicle navigation in real-time by localizing relative to an existing map. Axial Seamount Volcanic Processes Project Axial Seamount Volcanic Processes Mapping the hydrothermal sites, lava flows, and geodetics of this active volcano. Low Altitude Survey System Project Low Altitude Survey System Bringing mapping systems closer to the seafloor to achieve precision-controlled centimeter-scale bathymetry and millimeter-scale imagery. Related ProjectsArctic Shelf EdgeCascadia Subduction ZoneDeep-Sea Coral and Sponge Community StudiesCoordinated Canyon ExperimentMorro Bay Windfarm PockmarksThe Octopus GardenSubmarine Volcanism Publications All Publications Paduan, J.B., D.A. Clague, D.W. Caress, R. Portner, M. Le Saout, and B. Dreyer. 2026. Voluminous inflated lobate flows on the distal rift zones of Axial Seamount, Juan de Fuca Spreading Ridge. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 27(1): e2025GC012675. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GC012675 Hill, J.C., J.T. Watt, C.K. Paull, D.W. Caress, D.S. Brothers, K. Arizmendi, R. Gwiazda, J. Kluesner, E. Lundsten, N.M. Nieminski, J.S. Padgett, J.B. Paduan, and G. Snyder. 2026. Widespread abyssal turbidites record megathrust earthquake-triggered landslides and coseismic deformation in the Cascadia subduction zone. Science Advances, 12: eadx6028. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adx6028 Caress, D.W., E. Martin, M. Risi, G. Troni, A. Hamilton, C. Kecy, J. Paduan, H. Thomas, S. Rock, M. Wolfson-Schwehr, R. Henthorn, B. Hobson, and L. Bird. 2025. The MBARI Low-Altitude Survey System for 1-cm-scale seafloor surveys in the deep ocean. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, 50(3): 1573–1584. https://doi.org/10.1109/JOE.2024.3521256 Coscia, A., H.M. Sapers, N. Deutsch, M. Khurana, J.S. Magyar, S.A. Parra, D.R. Utter, R.L. Wipfler, D.W. Caress, E.J. Martin, J.B. Paduan, M. Hendrie, S. Santiago Lombeyda, H. Mushkin, A. Endert, S. Davidoff, and V.J. Orphan. 2024. DeepSee: Multidimensional Visualizations of Seabed Ecosystems. In Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI ’24), May 11–16, 2024, Honolulu, HI, USA. https://doi.org/10.1145/3613904.3642001 Girard, F., D.W. Caress, J.B. Paduan, L.A. Kuhnz, S.Y. Litvin, E. Flattery, A.S. Kahn, A. DeVogelaere, E.J. Burton, C. Lovera, E.J. Martin, and J.P. Barry. 2025. Habitat heterogeneity over multiple scales supports dense and diverse megafaunal communities on a northeast Pacific ridge. Limnology and Oceanography, 70(2): 377–392. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.12766 Latest News All News News Expedition led by MBARI researchers reveals remarkable, and rare, form of deep-sea hydrothermal vents News 07.07.26 News MBARI researchers share latest seafloor science and technology at GeoHab 2026 conference News Brief 05.21.26 News MBARI researchers join expedition to study fluid seeps offshore of Southern California News Brief 02.26.26 News MBARI research helps explain how massive lava fields formed in the Pacific Northwest News Brief 02.19.26 News MBARI researchers participate in seafloor science symposium hosted by Stanford University News Brief 02.12.26 News MBARI’s advanced underwater technology reveals history of earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest News Brief 01.14.26 Technologies All Technologies Software MB-System Technology MB-System Open source software for processing and display of multibeam and sidescan sonar data. Vehicle, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), Dorado Class Seafloor Mapping AUV Technology Seafloor Mapping AUV The Dorado class autonomous underwater vehicles are optimized for meter-scale seafloor mapping. Data All Data Data Monterey Bay Coordinated Canyon Experiment (CCE) Repeat Mapping Bathymetry Data from repeat, high-resolution, multibeam, bathymetric surveys of the Monterey Canyon floor with MBARI’s mapping AUVs Data Coordinated Canyon Experiment (CCE) Data Report The CCE was an extensive long-term effort to monitor the passage of sediment gravity flows at multiple locations simultaneously Data Seafloor Mapping Database The Seafloor Mapping Database (SMDB) provides access to MBARI's entire mapping data archive External Data MARINE GEOSCIENCE DATA SYSTEM
CoMPAS Lab Project CoMPAS Lab The Control, Modeling, Perception for Autonomous Systems (CoMPAS) Laboratory aims to develop and transfer technology for making ocean exploration more accessible and widespread, and to help answer several questions that remain open about our planet.
Bioinspiration Lab Project Bioinspiration Lab The Bioinspiration Lab brings the ocean into the lab, and the lab into the ocean, by developing advanced imaging systems and algorithms to study marine life.
Continental Margin Processes Project Continental Margin Processes This team investigates the movement of sediment across continental margins and how it shapes the existing submarine morphology.
Gulf of California Tectonics and Hydrothermal Systems Project Gulf of California Tectonics and Hydrothermal Systems Mapping and multidisciplinary investigations in the southern Gulf of California.
Terrain Relative Navigation Project Terrain Relative Navigation Improving vehicle navigation in real-time by localizing relative to an existing map.
Axial Seamount Volcanic Processes Project Axial Seamount Volcanic Processes Mapping the hydrothermal sites, lava flows, and geodetics of this active volcano.
Low Altitude Survey System Project Low Altitude Survey System Bringing mapping systems closer to the seafloor to achieve precision-controlled centimeter-scale bathymetry and millimeter-scale imagery.
Arctic Shelf Edge Project Arctic Shelf Edge Investigating rapid changes in the seafloor morphology that have been discovered to occur under the Arctic Ocean.
Cascadia Subduction Zone Project Cascadia Subduction Zone Deciphering the geologic records left by earthquake stimulated turbidity currents along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Community Studies Project Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Community Studies Studies of deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems at Sur Ridge and Davidson Seamount focus on oceanographic and biological factors influencing their diversity and abundance.
Coordinated Canyon Experiment (CCE) Project Coordinated Canyon Experiment (CCE) The Coordinated Canyon Experiment (CCE) is an extensive long-term effort to monitor turbidity currents in situ and at multiple locations simultaneously. Here you can find all the data and relevant metadata collected throughout this groundbreaking study.
Morro Bay Wind Farm Pockmarks Project Morro Bay Wind Farm Pockmarks Understanding the origins and activity of the pockmarks and submarine channels offshore of Morro Bay is paramount to developing a proposed floating wind farm.
Octopus Garden Project Octopus Garden MBARI research and technology have revealed that thermal springs at the base of Davidson Seamount are an important nursery for the deep-sea pearl octopus (Muusoctopus robustus).
Gulf of California Tectonics and Hydrothermal Systems Project Gulf of California Tectonics and Hydrothermal Systems Mapping and multidisciplinary investigations in the southern Gulf of California.
Terrain Relative Navigation Project Terrain Relative Navigation Improving vehicle navigation in real-time by localizing relative to an existing map.
Axial Seamount Volcanic Processes Project Axial Seamount Volcanic Processes Mapping the hydrothermal sites, lava flows, and geodetics of this active volcano.
Low Altitude Survey System Project Low Altitude Survey System Bringing mapping systems closer to the seafloor to achieve precision-controlled centimeter-scale bathymetry and millimeter-scale imagery.
Paduan, J.B., D.A. Clague, D.W. Caress, R. Portner, M. Le Saout, and B. Dreyer. 2026. Voluminous inflated lobate flows on the distal rift zones of Axial Seamount, Juan de Fuca Spreading Ridge. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 27(1): e2025GC012675. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GC012675
Hill, J.C., J.T. Watt, C.K. Paull, D.W. Caress, D.S. Brothers, K. Arizmendi, R. Gwiazda, J. Kluesner, E. Lundsten, N.M. Nieminski, J.S. Padgett, J.B. Paduan, and G. Snyder. 2026. Widespread abyssal turbidites record megathrust earthquake-triggered landslides and coseismic deformation in the Cascadia subduction zone. Science Advances, 12: eadx6028. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adx6028
Caress, D.W., E. Martin, M. Risi, G. Troni, A. Hamilton, C. Kecy, J. Paduan, H. Thomas, S. Rock, M. Wolfson-Schwehr, R. Henthorn, B. Hobson, and L. Bird. 2025. The MBARI Low-Altitude Survey System for 1-cm-scale seafloor surveys in the deep ocean. IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering, 50(3): 1573–1584. https://doi.org/10.1109/JOE.2024.3521256
Coscia, A., H.M. Sapers, N. Deutsch, M. Khurana, J.S. Magyar, S.A. Parra, D.R. Utter, R.L. Wipfler, D.W. Caress, E.J. Martin, J.B. Paduan, M. Hendrie, S. Santiago Lombeyda, H. Mushkin, A. Endert, S. Davidoff, and V.J. Orphan. 2024. DeepSee: Multidimensional Visualizations of Seabed Ecosystems. In Proceedings of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI ’24), May 11–16, 2024, Honolulu, HI, USA. https://doi.org/10.1145/3613904.3642001
Girard, F., D.W. Caress, J.B. Paduan, L.A. Kuhnz, S.Y. Litvin, E. Flattery, A.S. Kahn, A. DeVogelaere, E.J. Burton, C. Lovera, E.J. Martin, and J.P. Barry. 2025. Habitat heterogeneity over multiple scales supports dense and diverse megafaunal communities on a northeast Pacific ridge. Limnology and Oceanography, 70(2): 377–392. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.12766
News Expedition led by MBARI researchers reveals remarkable, and rare, form of deep-sea hydrothermal vents News 07.07.26
News MBARI researchers share latest seafloor science and technology at GeoHab 2026 conference News Brief 05.21.26
News MBARI researchers join expedition to study fluid seeps offshore of Southern California News Brief 02.26.26
News MBARI research helps explain how massive lava fields formed in the Pacific Northwest News Brief 02.19.26
News MBARI researchers participate in seafloor science symposium hosted by Stanford University News Brief 02.12.26
News MBARI’s advanced underwater technology reveals history of earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest News Brief 01.14.26
Software MB-System Technology MB-System Open source software for processing and display of multibeam and sidescan sonar data.
Vehicle, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), Dorado Class Seafloor Mapping AUV Technology Seafloor Mapping AUV The Dorado class autonomous underwater vehicles are optimized for meter-scale seafloor mapping.
Data Monterey Bay Coordinated Canyon Experiment (CCE) Repeat Mapping Bathymetry Data from repeat, high-resolution, multibeam, bathymetric surveys of the Monterey Canyon floor with MBARI’s mapping AUVs
Data Coordinated Canyon Experiment (CCE) Data Report The CCE was an extensive long-term effort to monitor the passage of sediment gravity flows at multiple locations simultaneously
Data Seafloor Mapping Database The Seafloor Mapping Database (SMDB) provides access to MBARI's entire mapping data archive