rolling. >> reporter: side scan sonar will produce a high-resolution, three-dimensional map, while searchers are hoping to spot evidence of flight 370. oceanographers want to take this chance to learn as much as they can about this part of the ocean. >> we know so little that we will learn something about the sea floor there. the hills and valleys, how rough it is. >> reporter: arnold gordon is a professor of oceanography at columbia university. on a personal note, do you find yourself glued to the television, reading articles, seeing what the latest is? >> i'm really curious what they're going to find. and this is fascinating. so yes, i am glued to the television and the stories coming out about this. >> reporter: oceanographers are on site, offering their knowledge of the deep and benefitting from a multi-million