NORTH-EAST scientists are to build up a better picture of the ocean floor.
Durham University is one of five universities sharing a Joint Research Equipment Initiative grant of £826,000 for sea bed imaging sonars.
Durham geological sciences researchers will explore underwater volcanoes on the mid-Atlantic ridge off Iceland, map ice sheets in the North Sea and investigate the stability of sediments on the continental shelf.
The research will provide information that will help the shipping, mineral and offshore oil industries.
Professor of Geophysics Roger Searle said: "All the various university elements of the project are in the depth range of up to 1,000 metres, which is economically the most important.'
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