Accurate knowledge of the seafloor is fundamental for understanding marine geomorphology, ecosystem distribution, and sustainable use of ocean resources, yet knowledge distribution remains uneven across ocean basins. This study presents the first spatially explicit bibliometric analysis of seafloor-mapping research (i.e., bathymetric studies) in the Mediterranean Sea, synthesizing georeferenced studies from nearly 700 peer-reviewed publications (1966–2020). Using GIS-based mapping and a novel classification matrix combining research density and impact metrics, the study quantifies geographic disparities in data coverage and research contribution. Results highlight strong geographic imbalances in research effort, with high-output “Consolidated High-Impact Hubs” concentrated in limited regions, while extensive “Underrepresented Areas” persist elsewhere. Importantly, research impact does not consistently align with studies density: some low-output zones host high-impact research, whereas certain high-density areas show weaker alignment between volume and influence of research effort. These findings highlight both structural and methodological imbalances in seafloor mapping research and underscore the need for more geographically balanced and integrated bathymetric research efforts. The framework developed here provides a transferable approach to other regional seas for evaluating the spatial distribution and impact of seabed-mapping research in marine geosciences. It provides a quantitative baseline for directing future mapping initiatives, optimizing collaborative surveys, and improving the representativeness of seabed data across the Mediterranean Sea and its regional basins.
Chrigui et al. (Sun,) studied this question.