Researchers have succeeded in creating first digital map of the seafloor's geology. According to the researchers, the digital map is going to play an important role in understanding how oceans around the globe will act in response to changes in the planet's environment in near future.

While providing information about the new digital map, the University of Sydney stated the last map of seafloor's geology was hand-drawn more than four decades ago, and it covered about 70% of the planet's surface.
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Adriana Dutkiewicz, lead researcher from the University of Sydney, said it is important to understand the seafloor's geology in order to understand how oceans respond to environment change. "The deep ocean floor is a graveyard with much of it made up of the remains of microscopic sea creatures called phytoplankton. The composition of these remains can help decipher how oceans have responded in the past to climate change", Dutkiewicz added.

Phytoplankton are photosynthesizing microscopic organisms known for producing about 25% of oxygen humans breath, and play an important role in fight against global warming. The new digital map shows the concentrations of phytoplankton on an ocean's surface.

According to Dutkiewicz, the digital map is going to help in knowing in depth about the carbon cycle inside an ocean. A research vessel Investigator of Australia has been placed to understand the effects of environmental change on phytoplankton productivity. Change in climate is an issue and it is important to know how oceans respond to it, Dutkiewicz added.