SRTM15_PLUS Global Topography Grid with 494 Million Depth Soundings

SRTM15_PLUS is a global elevation grid at 15 arcsecond resolution (~500 meters) fusing land, ice, and seafloor topography. The dataset integrates 494 million edited depth soundings with gravity model predictions from CryoSat-2 and Jason. It serves as the foundational bathymetry layer for Google Earth and is produced by NOAA.

Use Cases

• Analyzing abyssal hill amplitude and orientation for tectonic studies.
• Mapping seafloor fabric and identifying propagating rifts or microplates.
• Providing foundational bathymetry for 3D visualization platforms like Google Earth.
• Comparing seafloor orientation predictions from age gradient analysis.
• Studying ice topography of Greenland and Antarctica using CryoSat-2 and IceSat data.

Strengths

• Integrates 494 million carefully edited depth soundings at 15 arcsecond resolution.
• Fuses multiple authoritative data sources: SRTM/ASTER for land, CryoSat-2/IceSat for ice, and IBCAO for Arctic bathymetry.
• Cross-platform presence on Data.gov and NASA EarthData indicates recognized importance and utility.

Limitations

• Sources disagree on last updated date: Data.gov lists 2026-03 05, while NASA EarthData lists 2014-12-31.
• Specific column names, file formats, row counts, and license information are not provided by any source.
• The dataset's size and exact data structure are unknown.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.

Collection Method

Data fusion of satellite altimetry (CryoSat-2, Jason-1), radar topography (SRTM), optical topography (ASTER), and edited shipborne soundings.

Time Range

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Freshness

2026-03-05 22:43:03.024524

Geography

Global coverage of land, ice sheets, and ocean bathymetry.