Final answer:
Maps of the seafloor were created through concerted efforts by scientists and cartographers, with significant contributions by Elliott Lim for the 'Age of Oceans' image, Alfred Wegener for the theory of continental drift, and technological advances that enhanced marine geology and geophysics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The creation of maps of the seafloor can be attributed to various scientists and cartographers over the years, with initial attempts at mapping the ocean floor being rudimentary and evolving significantly with technological advancements. In more recent times, people like Elliott Lim from the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences have contributed to this field by creating images illustrating geological data, such as the Age of Oceans image from NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center. This effort in geophysics and marine geology is part of a collective scientific endeavor to understand Earth's geology on a grand scale.
Throughout history, individuals such as Alfred Wegener put forward the idea of continental drift and thereby indirectly influencing our understanding of seafloor topography.
Moreover, diverse efforts in cartography, such as those by William Maclure who produced the first geologic map of the U.S. and Gerardus Mercator with his map projection, have all contributed pieces to the puzzle of Earth's physical geography and the mapping of various terrains, including the seafloor.