Marine Geomorphology, Evolution, and Habitats Active
Seafloor resource managers and modelers need seafloor maps that can be combined in GIS, modeling, and statistical analysis environments and related successfully to biologic and oceanographic data. The Marine Geomorphology, Evolution, and Habitats Project encompasses mapping activities and the development of new mapping systems and methodologies. The emphasis is on the role of geologic processes in the evolution of habitats. Interest in USGS habitat maps and habitat change studies remains high.
OBJECTIVES
Develop seafloor habitat map products that directly apply to habitat and offshore energy impact modeling
Improve seafloor maps through combined technologies
Generate USGS map and data publications for California’s State Waters. The California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP) is a cooperative program to create a comprehensive coastal/marine geologic and habitat base map series for all of California’s State waters
Determine the geomorphology and seafloor character of the Gulf of Alaska, as a multi-agency cooperative
Generate geo-referenced video mosaics from seafloor video collected by other USGS projects at the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, in cooperation with the University of New Hampshire’s Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping
Understand the processes that control seafloor stability and the resulting modification of continental shelf geomorphology, sediment distribution, and benthic habitats
California Seafloor Mapping Program
Below are data releases associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
For the California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP), click “Map Series” for USGS Open-File Reports (OFR) and “More Map Series” for USGS Scientific Investigations Maps (SIM).
Characterization of deep coral and sponge communities in the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary: Rittenburg Bank, Cochrane Bank and the Farallon Escarpment.
California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog
Seafloor mapping and benthic habitat GIS for southern California, volume III
Exploring rippled scour depressions offshore Huntington Beach, CA
Nearshore benthic habitat GIS for the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Southern California State Fisheries Reserves, volume II
Multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data: Northeastern Channel Islands region, southern California
Nearshore benthic habitat GIS for the Channel Islands National Sanctuary and southern California State Fisheries Reserves. Volume 1
Rippled scour depressions on the inner continental shelf off central California
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
Seafloor resource managers and modelers need seafloor maps that can be combined in GIS, modeling, and statistical analysis environments and related successfully to biologic and oceanographic data. The Marine Geomorphology, Evolution, and Habitats Project encompasses mapping activities and the development of new mapping systems and methodologies. The emphasis is on the role of geologic processes in the evolution of habitats. Interest in USGS habitat maps and habitat change studies remains high.
OBJECTIVES
Develop seafloor habitat map products that directly apply to habitat and offshore energy impact modeling
Improve seafloor maps through combined technologies
Generate USGS map and data publications for California’s State Waters. The California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP) is a cooperative program to create a comprehensive coastal/marine geologic and habitat base map series for all of California’s State waters
Determine the geomorphology and seafloor character of the Gulf of Alaska, as a multi-agency cooperative
Generate geo-referenced video mosaics from seafloor video collected by other USGS projects at the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, in cooperation with the University of New Hampshire’s Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping
Understand the processes that control seafloor stability and the resulting modification of continental shelf geomorphology, sediment distribution, and benthic habitats
- Science
California Seafloor Mapping Program
The California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP) is a cooperative program to create a comprehensive coastal and marine geologic and habitat base map series for all of California's State waters. - Data
Below are data releases associated with this project.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
For the California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP), click “Map Series” for USGS Open-File Reports (OFR) and “More Map Series” for USGS Scientific Investigations Maps (SIM).
Filter Total Items: 32Characterization of deep coral and sponge communities in the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary: Rittenburg Bank, Cochrane Bank and the Farallon Escarpment.
Benthic surveys were conducted in the Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) aboard R/V Fulmar, October 3-11, 2012 using the large observation-class remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Beagle. The purpose of the surveys was to groundtruth mapping data collected in 2011, and to characterize the seafloor biota, particularly corals and sponges, in order to support Essential Fish Habitat desAuthorsP. Etnoyer, Guy R. Cochrane, E. Salgado, K. Graiff, J. Roletto, G.J. Williams, K. Reyna, J. HylandCalifornia State Waters Map Series Data Catalog
In 2007, the California Ocean Protection Council initiated the California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP), designed to create a comprehensive seafloor map of high-resolution bathymetry, marine benthic habitats, and geology within the 3-nautical-mile limit of California's State Waters. The CSMP approach is to create highly detailed seafloor maps and associated data layers through the collection, inAuthorsNadine E. GoldenSeafloor mapping and benthic habitat GIS for southern California, volume III
From August 8-27, 2005, more than 75 km of the continental shelf (Fig. 1) in water depths of 20-70m southeast of Santa Barbara, were surveyed during the USGS cruise S-1-05-SC (http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/infobank/s/s105sc/html/s-1-05-sc.meta.html). Both Interferometric sonar and 14 hours of both vertical and oblique georeferenced submarine digital video were collected to (1) obtain geophysical dataAuthorsGuy R. Cochrane, Nadine E. Golden, Pete Dartnell, Donna M. Schroeder, David P. FinlaysonExploring rippled scour depressions offshore Huntington Beach, CA
Morphological model computations based on uniform (non-graded) sediment revealed an unrealistically strong scour of the sea floor in the immediate vicinity to the west of Maasvlakte 2. By means of a state-of-the-art graded sediment transport model the effect of natural armouring and sorting of bed material on the scour process has been examined. Sensitivity computations confirm that the developmenAuthorsEleyne L. Phillips, Curt D. Storlazzi, Peter Dartnell, Brian D. EdwardsNearshore benthic habitat GIS for the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Southern California State Fisheries Reserves, volume II
No abstract available.AuthorsGuy R. Cochrane, James E. Conrad, Jane A. Reid, Sarah Fangman, Nadine E. GoldenMultibeam bathymetry and backscatter data: Northeastern Channel Islands region, southern California
No abstract available.AuthorsPeter Dartnell, Guy Cochrane, Mary Elaine DunawayNearshore benthic habitat GIS for the Channel Islands National Sanctuary and southern California State Fisheries Reserves. Volume 1
The nearshore benthic habitat of the Santa Barbara coast and Channel Islands supports diverse marine life that is commercially, recreationally, and intrinsically valuable. Some of these resources are known to be endangered including a variety of rockfish and the white abalone. Agencies of the state of California and the United States have been mandated to preserve and enhance these resources. DataAuthorsGuy R. Cochrane, Nicole M. Nasby, Jane A. Reid, Ben Waltenberger, Kristen M. LeeRippled scour depressions on the inner continental shelf off central California
Side-scan sonar records taken during the recent Coastal Ocean Dynamics Experiment (CODE) show elongate, shore-normal tippled depressions of low relief on the inner continental shelf off central California between Bodega Bay and Point Arena. These features extend up to 2 kin from the coast into water depths of up to 65 m. The proposed mechanism for their generation is storm- generated bottom cuAuthorsDavid A. Cacchione, David E. Drake, William D. Grant, George B. Tate - News
Below are news stories associated with this project.
- Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.