An Overview of the Bathymetry and Geomorphology of the Tanzania EEZ

Abstract

Bathymetry is one of the basic data for many studies in coastal and marine environments. It influences many of the coastal and oceanographic processes, and can explain the origin of some of the seafloor features. Knowledge of the bathymetry is important for navigation, planning of research, delineation of maritime boundaries and delineation of specific submarine ecosystems such as canyons. Despite its importance very little has done to map the Tanzania Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ), as is evidenced by the scarcity of locally collected bathymetric data. The lack of basic ocean capability is a major challenge that Tanzania must overcome, to make effective planning and utilization of the coastal and marine resources. It will also enable Tanzania to access other opportunities such as extension of its continental shelf limits. Based on the global database used in this study three distinct features i.e., an isolated seamount located at 5.1˚S/41.7˚E, a ridge located at south near 41.5˚E, and a depression located at 41.0˚E/9.5˚S, were identified on the Tanzanian EEZ seafloor. Also, the potential for Tanzania to pose a claim for extending its continental shelf is discussed.

Tanzania Craton, Serengeti Plain and Eastern Rift Valley: mapping of geospatial data by scripting techniques

“…Using GEBCO for topographic mapping is reported in literature (Masalu 2008;Lindh and Lemenkova 2021;Gauger et al 2007;Lemenkova 2019cLemenkova , 2020e, 2021d. Its popularity can be explained by its availability (https://www.gebco.net/) and unprecedentedly high resolution.…”

If hippopotamuses cannot swim, how did they colonize islands: a reply to Mazza

“…Mazza correctly dismisses Zanzibar and Mafia (Tanzania) as evidence for the swimming capacities of hippos as these island lie on a continental shelf and are connected to the mainland during low sea‐level stands (water depths less than 200 m; for bathymetry, see Masalu ). The hippopotamuses reported here as Kersten () may indeed have been confined there after sea level rising instead of having actively swum there.…”