World Hydrography Day

Mary Glackin, NOAA's Deputy Under Secretary, honors the nation's hydrographers
as she explains how hydrography supports the U.S. economy, keeps mariners safe,
and protects our coastal communities and ecosystems.

From NOAA

World Hydrography Day, celebrated in maritime countries around the world, is a time to recognize the ocean surveyors who map the oceans.
Thanks to hydrographers — in NOAA, in other federal agencies, and in private industry — this nation's safe and efficient maritime transportation system supports increased trade and economic growth for American industry and agriculture.

NOAA hydrographers measure oceans depths and search for underwater dangers to navigation, acquiring data for the nation's nautical charts and ocean models.
They have a long history of service to this country, beginning with President Thomas Jefferson's Survey of the Coast in 1807.

Hydrographers have historically played an important role in America.
During the Civil War, following the Confederate evacuation of Charleston in 1865,
hydrographers identified obstructions to the harbor, facilitating the resumption of commerce.

Hydrographic products continue to support updated navigational tools and charts, but today's data is used far beyond purposes envisioned in prior centuries.
From helping scientists understand the movements of tsunamis, to characterizing essential underwater habitat for healthy fisheries, today's hydrographers contribute, more than ever, to a healthy ocean, vibrant coastal communities, and a growing maritime economy.