ABSTRACT 



The Synthetic Bathymetric Profiling System (SYNBAPS) 

 consists of 10 FORTRAN IV computer programs, a random-access 

 storage device, and an initial bathymetric data base of over 

 3 million data points. SYNBAPS is designed for rapid 

 generation of random omnidirectional bathymetric profiles 

 in digital form along great— circle paths. The initial data 

 base will cover most of the Northern Hemisphere and will be 

 extended to other regions as suitable bathymetric contour 

 charts become available. 



Data derived from the bathymetric contour charts are 

 structured into a gridded data surface by the application of 

 a cubic spline algorithm. The gridded data are stored on a 

 random-access storage device by 5-degree-square areas. An 

 accessing program, initiated by a user's request, extracts the 

 5-degree-square blocks of data for processing. The interpolation 

 of the final profile is accomplished by orienting a cubic spline 

 algorithm along a great-circle path and interpolating the depth 

 values from the 5-degree squares falling on the path. A status 

 program checks the content and condition of the random-access 

 storage device. 



SYNBAPS will provide bathymetric profiles at about one-fifth 

 the cost and one-hundredth the time of present semiautomated 

 methods. 



Ocean Science Department 

 Science and Engineering Center 



