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Web Map Service (WMS)

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GEBCO WMS

Upcoming changes to the GEBCO WMS

Please note that we are changing the URL names for access to our WMS.

It is intended to remove access to the current WMS URLs during the week starting 15th April 2024. This is extended from  28th March 2024.

Please see our news page for a list of the changes.

The links below are using the new URLs.


GEBCO WMS

On 1st August 2022 the GEBCO WMS layers were updated to be based on the GEBCO_2022 Grid. The WMS layers are accessible from the following URL:

https://wms.gebco.net/mapserv?

Previous versions of the GEBCO WMS layers will continue to be made available.

GEBCO WMS

The GEBCO grid is available as a Web Map Service (WMS), a means of accessing geo-referenced map images over the internet. These maps can be viewed in a web browser or Geographic Information System (GIS) and incorporated in your own web application.

Layers are available as a shaded relief image or 'flat' map and the GEBCO Type Identifier (TID) grid. These layers can be viewed in a web browser or Geographic Information System (GIS) and incorporated in your own web application.

Please note: the current WMS is based on the GEBCO_2022 Grid. We are working to generate the layers for the GEBCO_2023 Grid.

On 28th March 2024 we are changing the URL names for access to our WMS. Please see our news page for a list of the changes. The links below are using the new WMS URLs.

Accessing the WMS for the GEBCO Grid

To access the GEBCO WMS, enter the following address into your WMS client:

https://wms.gebco.net/mapserv?

Example map image from GetMap call
Example image from a GetMap call to the GEBCO WMS

Supported service requests

GetCapabilities

This request returns information about the layers contained in the service, for example, their content and geographic extent. The information is returned in the form of a XML file (you may need to save this to disk to view the information).

The following links provide access to example GetCapabilities calls to GEBCO's WMS.

GetMap

This request returns a map. Using the information given in the GetCapabilities request, the user can specify parameters such as the required layer, the geographic extent of the map and the size of the returned image.

Please note that the longitude range for the global WMS extends from -180 to 360 degrees to allow plotting centred on 180 degrees.

The following are example GetMap requests for GEBCO's WMS.

GEBCO_2022 Grid - with ice surface elevation information

  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the global GEBCO Grid displayed as a shaded relief image
  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the global GEBCO Grid displayed as a 'flat map' image, colour-coded for elevation
  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the global GEBCO Grid displayed as a 'flat map' image, colour-coded for elevation, showing areas based on measured data only

GEBCO_2022 Grid - with sub-ice topography/bathymetry information

  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the global GEBCO Grid displayed as a shaded relief image
  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the global GEBCO Grid displayed as a 'flat map' image, colour-coded for elevation

GEBCO_2022 Type Identifier (TID) Grid

  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the global TID Grid - grid cells based on measured data are shown in black
  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the global TID Grid - grid cells colour-coded by TID value

Test WMS layers for polar regions

WMS layers showing the bathymetry of the Arctic Ocean and Southern Ocean areas are available from the links below. Please provide any feedback on these layers to the Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project Global Center (GDACC) .

Arctic Ocean region

The data for this region are taken from version 4.2.13 of the International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO) and included as a regional compilation in the GEBCO_2023 grid. The WMS provides layers displayed in WGS 84 / IBCAO Polar Stereographic projection (EPSG:3996).

Example map image from GetMap call

Example image from a GetMap call to the Arctic Ocean region WMS

The WMS layers are accessible from the following URL:
https://wms.gebco.net/2023/north-polar/mapserv?

GetCapabilities

This request returns information about the layers contained in the service, for example, their content and geographic extent. The information is returned in the form of a XML file (you may need to save this to disk to view the information).

GetMap

This request returns a map. Using the information given in the GetCapabilities request, the user can specify parameters such as the required layer, the geographic extent of the map and the size of the returned image.

The following are example GetMap requests for GEBCO's WMS.

With ice surface elevation information

  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the Arctic region displayed as a shaded relief image
  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the Arctic region displayed as a 'flat map' image, colour-coded for elevation

With sub-ice topography/bathymetry information

  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the Arctic region displayed as a shaded relief image
  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the Arctic region displayed as a 'flat map' image, colour-coded for elevation

Type Identifier (TID) Grid

  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the TID Grid for the Arctic region - grid cells based on measured data are shown in black
  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the TID Grid for the Arctic region - grid cells colour-coded by TID value

Southern Ocean region

This data set was developed as part of version 2.0 of the International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO) and included as a regional compilation in the GEBCO_2022 grid. 

The WMS provides layers displayed in WGS 84/ IBCSO Polar Stereographic projection (EPSG: 9354).

Example map image from GetMap call

Example image from a GetMap call to the Southern Ocean region WMS

The WMS layers are accessible from the following URL:
https://wms.gebco.net/2022/south-polar/mapserv?

GetCapabilities

This request returns information about the layers contained in the service, for example, their content and geographic extent. The information is returned in the form of a XML file (you may need to save this to disk to view the information).

GetMap

This request returns a map. Using the information given in the GetCapabilities request, the user can specify parameters such as the required layer, the geographic extent of the map and the size of the returned image.

The following are example GetMap requests for GEBCO's WMS.

With ice surface elevation information

  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the Southern Ocean region displayed as a shaded relief image
  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the Southern Ocean region displayed as a 'flat map' image, colour-coded for elevation

With sub-ice topography/bathymetry information

  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the Southern Ocean region displayed as a shaded relief image
  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the Southern Ocean region displayed as a 'flat map' image, colour-coded for elevation

Type Identifier (TID) Grid

  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the TID Grid for the Southern Ocean region - grid cells based on measured data are shown in black
  • WMS 1.3.0 GetMap request for the TID Grid for the Southern Ocean region - grid cells colour-coded by TID value

How can I view a WMS?

WMS are designed to allow imagery to be shared over the internet, i.e. within your own application or software package you can access a map hosted on a remote server.

The GetMap request can be used to view a WMS in a web browser. Just cut and paste this URL into your browser to view the WMS image; changing the BBOX values alters the geographic extent of the area viewed.

The GetCapabilities request provides information about the image layers contained in the WMS.

There are a number of commercial and free GIS and mapping-type packages in which you can view WMS.

Please note that the quality of the viewed image may depend on how the software package interprets the WMS.

Data sources and WMS development

The GEBCO WMS is largely based on the latest GEBCO Grid. The grid is based on a database of ship-track soundings with interpolation between soundings guided by satellite-derived gravity data. However, in regions where they improve on the existing grid, data sets generated by other methods are included.

Further information can be found in the documentation that accompanies the data set.

Access previous GEBCO WMS layers

Find out how to access WMS layers for previous GEBCO grid releases.

Data set acknowledgement

If imagery from the WMS is included in web sites, reports and digital and printed imagery then we request that the source of the data set is acknowledged and be of the form:

Imagery reproduced from the GEBCO_2022 Grid, GEBCO Compilation Group (2022) GEBCO 2022 Grid (doi:10.5285/e0f0bb80-ab44-2739-e053-6c86abc0289c)

Disclaimer

GEBCO's WMS have been developed and made available, on behalf of GEBCO, by the British Oceanographic Data Centre (BODC).

Whilst every effort has been made to make sure that the imagery is as error free as possible, BODC and GEBCO give no warranty as to the quality, accuracy or completeness of the imagery contained within this WMS or to the non-interruption or continuation of the service. Furthermore we can give no warranty that this WMS is compatible with any other data with which the material is to be used.

The imagery within this WMS should not be used for navigation or for any purpose relating to safety at sea.

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