About the Faroese Depth Model

The Faroese Depth Model (FODM50_2026) is a digital bathymetric model, within the coverage of the Faroese Fisheries and continental shelf zones  The model has a grid resolution of 50 metres and is based on a collection of hydrographic survey datasets and historical sources.

The model was created using a regularly spaced grid with a resolution of 50 meters, using the true position of the selected sounding within the grid area. The horizontal datum of the model is WGS84. The vertical datum is Lowest Astronomical Tide (LAT).  The extent of the model is constrained between the boundary of the Faroese waters and the coastline, generalized at 1:100,000 scale.

The selection of the depths is based on a priority mechanism so that data from modern datasets are preferred to historical sources (e.g., multibeam vs. single beam surveys). Then, the representative depth is obtained by choosing the depth closest to the centre of the grid cell. When there is a lack of available bathymetric data, a depth estimate is provided using interpolation.  The interpolated points are in the centre of the 50m grid squares.  The model consists of 107,4 Mio. depths, consisting of 17,4 Mio. measured depths and 87,7 Mio. interpolated depths and 2,2 Mio depths from the EMODnet Digital Terrain Model (2024).

The model is not designed for navigation and must not be used for safety of navigation.

The original bathymetric datasets themselves are not distributed with the model but described in the auxiliary layers to provide information about the bathymetric sources used for FODM50_2026.

Distribution
The model is made available through the Faroese Environment Agency. 
The Depth Model can be downloaded as GeoTIFF files in WGS84/UTM Zone 29N (EPSG:32629).

The model consists of:
1. FODM2026_50m_Depth.TIF: The primary layer containing the depth values (in metres).
2. FODM2026_50m_Int.TIF: An auxiliary layer providing the source of the data, as either Single Beam/Multibeam (0), Interpolated and EMODnet (1).

The model is also made available as ascii files:
1. FODM2026_50m_Depth.xyz: The primary layer containing the depth values (in metres).
2. FODM2026_50m_Dint.xyz: An auxiliary layer providing the source of the data, as either Single Beam/Multibeam (0), Interpolated and EMODnet (1).

Terms and Conditions
The Faroese Environment Agency holds the copyright to the Faroese Depth Model.  Please see the terms and conditions.

Acknowledgements
Many datasets were used to create the model, including the data gathered by Umhvørvisstovan on board the Jákup Sverri and Andrias Reinert.  The following organisations have provided substantial datasets:

EMODnet Digital Bathymetry (2024), https://sextant.ifremer.fr/record/cf51df64-56f9-4a99-b1aa-36b8d7b743a1/
Havstovan, www.hav.fo
NOAA, National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/bathymetry/
Jarðfeingi, www.jf.fo
Landsverk, www.lv.fo
Kiel University, https://www.uni-kiel.de/en/
British Antartic Survey, https://www.bas.ac.uk/
SHOM Service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine, www.shom.fr