The seafloor has distinct features and characteristics that help us better understand Earth’s current and past conditions, potential resources, and natural hazards. However, less than 10% of the seafloor has been mapped globally. The USGS conducts high-resolution mapping to describe the physical features of the ocean floor, as well as the geologic layers and structure beneath it.
What's on the seafloor?
The ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth’ surface, yet only a small part of the seafloor has been mapped with enough detail to understand the basic structure, risks, and living and mineral resources that exist there. Characterizing the ocean floor expands our ability to better understand large scale Earth processes along with improved knowledge about the seafloor, deep sea minerals and associated ecosystems. Through this process we can build a more complete view of Earth history, begin to recognize changes, and provide predictions about how the seafloor, underwater environments, and marine geohazards may change in the future.
Technology and Innovation in Seafloor Mapping
Just like the Earth’s land surface, the seafloor contains significant geological and biological features. Geological features include mountains, canyons, plateaus, ledges, and submarine volcanoes, all of which have variable substrate that can range from rocky outcrops to extensive muddy plains, sand ripples, and giant sediment fans along with chemical seeps. Visit the Ocean 101 page to learn more. View a slideshow featuring thickets of coral reefs, sponges, mussels, and the many wondrous creatures that live and move among them.
The USGS designs mapping research programs to address a wide range of topics, and to expand our understanding of deep sea minerals, offshore energy, marine biological habitats, hazards, and more. The USGS uses acoustic techniques to collect detailed information about the seafloor, such as its shape, sediment composition and distribution, and underlying geologic structure and sediment type. Seafloor video, photographs, sediment cores, and other samples are also collected to validate the acoustics and provide a comprehensive foundation for studies of sediment and contaminant transport, landslide and tsunami hazards, gas hydrates, methane and carbon flux, benthic habitat quality, and sediment availability. Managers, policymakers, and other stakeholders use the map products derived from these studies to make informed decisions regarding the Nation’s safety and economic prosperity.
USGS Role in Seafloor Mapping
From habitats to hazards, here are some examples of USGS seafloor mapping efforts.
Mapping the Continental Shelf
The USGS maps continental shelf areas to understand coastal system evolution, from sediment transport to habitat use. Through marine geologic mapping and characterization of inner continental shelf areas, USGS science expands understanding of coastal vulnerability, sediment sources, transport pathways, habitat type and ecosystem characteristics. These activities advance the research and technology essential to coastal evolution and environmental change science while also supporting state and national partners in managing coastal and marine resources and related decisions.

Mapping Beyond the Continental Shelf
Mapping of seafloor and geologic structure beyond the continental shelf is foundational to enhancing stewardship of natural resources, promoting economic prosperity, and strengthening the nation’s security.
California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing (Cal DIG) I, volume 3 — Benthic habitat characterization offshore Morro Bay, California
Submarine landslide susceptibility mapping in recently deglaciated terrain, Glacier Bay, Alaska
A characterization of deep-sea coral and sponge communities along the California and Oregon coast using a remotely operated vehicle on the EXPRESS 2018 expedition
Mapping, exploration, and characterization of the California continental margin and associated features from the California-Oregon border to Ensenada, Mexico
A federal-state partnership for mapping Florida's coast and seafloor
The California Seafloor and Coastal Mapping Program – Providing science and geospatial data for California's State Waters
Detailed seafloor habitat mapping to enhance marine-resource management
Seafloor mapping and benthic habitat GIS for southern California, volume III
Mapping the seafloor geology offshore of Massachusetts
Seafloor habitat mapping of the New York Bight incorporating sidescan sonar data
Seafloor habitat mapping and classification in Glacier Bay, Alaska: Phase 1 & 2 1996-2004
Explore our science
Delineating the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf
USGS Law of the Sea
SQUID-5 camera system
Cascadia Subduction Zone Marine Geohazards
PCMSC MarFac Field Equipment and Capabilities
Marine Geomorphology, Evolution, and Habitats
California Seafloor Mapping Program
Seafloor Faults off Southern California
U.S. West Coast and Alaska Marine Geohazards
EXPRESS: Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems
PCMSC Marine Facility (MarFac)
High-Resolution Multichannel Seismic System
Bathymetry, backscatter intensity, and benthic habitat offshore of Morro Bay, California
Sub-bottom chirp data acquired in the Salton Sea, California, between 2006 and 2008
Bathymetry and topography, video observation, and derived benthic habitat data offshore of Seattle, Washington
Upper Florida Keys 2002-2016 Seafloor Elevation Stability Models, Maps, and Tables
High-resolution marine geophysical data collected by the USGS in the Belfast Bay, Maine pockmark field in 2006, 2008, and 2009.
Sea-Floor Sediment and Imagery Data Collected in Long Island Sound, Connecticut and New York, 2017 and 2018
Location and analyses of sediment samples collected on Stellwagen Bank off Boston, Massachusetts from November 5, 2013 to April 30, 2019 on U.S. Geological Survey field activities
Geospatial Data Layers of Shallow Geology, Sea-Floor Texture, and Physiographic Zones from the Inner Continental Shelf of Martha's Vineyard from Aquinnah to Wasque Point, and Nantucket from Eel Point to Great Point
Seafloor elevation change in Maui, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and the Florida Keys
Seabed maps showing topography, ruggedness, backscatter intensity, sediment mobility, and the distribution of geologic substrates in Quadrangle 6 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts
Bathymetry of the waters surrounding the Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts
Multibeam bathymetry and selected perspective views offshore San Diego, California
Bathymetry and selected views of the fringing coral reef, South Moloka'i, Hawaii
Bathymetry at the head of the Cape Fear Slide, offshore North Carolina
Where can I find bathymetric data?
The USGS has made bathymetric surveys for many coastal areas and for a few selected rivers and lakes in the U.S., including Yellowstone Lake, Crater Lake, and Lake Tahoe. Information and data for some of those studies is on the USGS Maps of America's Submerged Lands website. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is the primary source of bathymetric data for the world's oceans. See...
What is marine geology?
Geology is the study of the Earth. This includes how the Earth was formed, how the Earth has changed since it was formed, the materials that make up the Earth, and the processes that act on it. Marine Geology focuses on areas affected by our oceans including the deep ocean floor, the shallower slopes and shelves that surround the continents, and coastal areas like beaches and estuaries. USGS...
- Overview
What's on the seafloor?
The ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth’ surface, yet only a small part of the seafloor has been mapped with enough detail to understand the basic structure, risks, and living and mineral resources that exist there. Characterizing the ocean floor expands our ability to better understand large scale Earth processes along with improved knowledge about the seafloor, deep sea minerals and associated ecosystems. Through this process we can build a more complete view of Earth history, begin to recognize changes, and provide predictions about how the seafloor, underwater environments, and marine geohazards may change in the future.
Technology and Innovation in Seafloor Mapping
Just like the Earth’s land surface, the seafloor contains significant geological and biological features. Geological features include mountains, canyons, plateaus, ledges, and submarine volcanoes, all of which have variable substrate that can range from rocky outcrops to extensive muddy plains, sand ripples, and giant sediment fans along with chemical seeps. Visit the Ocean 101 page to learn more. View a slideshow featuring thickets of coral reefs, sponges, mussels, and the many wondrous creatures that live and move among them.
The USGS designs mapping research programs to address a wide range of topics, and to expand our understanding of deep sea minerals, offshore energy, marine biological habitats, hazards, and more. The USGS uses acoustic techniques to collect detailed information about the seafloor, such as its shape, sediment composition and distribution, and underlying geologic structure and sediment type. Seafloor video, photographs, sediment cores, and other samples are also collected to validate the acoustics and provide a comprehensive foundation for studies of sediment and contaminant transport, landslide and tsunami hazards, gas hydrates, methane and carbon flux, benthic habitat quality, and sediment availability. Managers, policymakers, and other stakeholders use the map products derived from these studies to make informed decisions regarding the Nation’s safety and economic prosperity.
USGS Role in Seafloor Mapping
From habitats to hazards, here are some examples of USGS seafloor mapping efforts.
As part of the National Strategy for Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization (NOMEC) initiative, USGS is helping to guide strategic planning, determining priority areas for ocean mapping and characterization, and collecting data and information to better understand the functions and ecological balance of deep-sea environments. The White House Ocean Science and Technology Subcommittee released the NOMEC Strategy in June 2020 to coordinate mapping, exploration, and characterization activities across federal agencies. Check out USGS mapping efforts along the Atlantic margin and Pacific margin. USGS maps the seafloor to identify and characterize habitats such as mesophotic coral ecosystems, deepwater coral ecosystems, deep-ocean environments, and more.
USGS seafloor mapping efforts help identify potential hazards like subduction zones where earthquakes could occur and trigger tsunamis, and areas of resource interest such as mineral deposits and areas for offshore wind energy. Mapping the Continental Shelf
The USGS maps continental shelf areas to understand coastal system evolution, from sediment transport to habitat use. Through marine geologic mapping and characterization of inner continental shelf areas, USGS science expands understanding of coastal vulnerability, sediment sources, transport pathways, habitat type and ecosystem characteristics. These activities advance the research and technology essential to coastal evolution and environmental change science while also supporting state and national partners in managing coastal and marine resources and related decisions.
The Delmarva Peninsula is a 220-kilometer-long headland, spit, and barrier island complex that was significantly affected by Hurricane Sandy. To better constrain controls on coastal vulnerability and evolution, the region’s sediment sources, transport pathways and sediment sinks must be identified. This project defines the geologic framework of the Delmarva coastal system through geophysical mapping of the inner continental shelf. Learn more The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) is conducting geologic mapping of the sea floor of the Massachusetts inner continental shelf to characterize the surface and shallow subsurface geologic framework within the Massachusetts coastal zone. The overall goal of this project is to determine the geologic framework of the sea floor within the Massachusetts coastal zone, using high-resolution geophysical techniques, sediment sampling, and sea floor photography. Learn more Sources/Usage: Public Domain. Visit Media to see details.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. The CSMP has collected bathymetry (underwater topography) and backscatter data (providing insight into the geologic makeup of the seafloor) that are being turned into habitat and geologic base maps for all of California's State Waters (mean high water line out to three nautical miles). Learn more Mapping Beyond the Continental Shelf
Mapping of seafloor and geologic structure beyond the continental shelf is foundational to enhancing stewardship of natural resources, promoting economic prosperity, and strengthening the nation’s security.
According to Article 76 of the Convention on the Law of the Sea, the United States may extend its offshore seafloor domain beyond 200 M when certain criteria are met. The U.S. has an inherent interest in knowing the full extent of its ECS so that it can better protect, manage, and/or use the resources contained therein. USGS is committed to maintaining and applying state-of-the art ocean technology to increase understanding of earth history, document potential marine hazards, and identify U.S. ocean resources. Learn more. USGS combines expertise in mapping from the continental land mass to deep offshore areas including the continental slope, rise and abyssal plain. These mapping products inform science related to natural hazards, resource management and legal authorities regarding international boundaries. - Publications
Filter Total Items: 18
California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing (Cal DIG) I, volume 3 — Benthic habitat characterization offshore Morro Bay, California
Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) geoform, substrate, and biotic component geographic information system (GIS) products were developed for the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (U.S. EEZ) of south-central California in the region of Santa Lucia Bank motivated by interest in development of offshore wind-energy capacity and infrastructure. The Bureau of Ocean Energy ManagementAuthorsGuy R. Cochrane, Linda A. Kuhnz, Lisa Gilbane, Peter Dartnell, Maureen A. L. Walton, Charles K. PaullSubmarine landslide susceptibility mapping in recently deglaciated terrain, Glacier Bay, Alaska
Submarine mass wasting events have damaged underwater structures and propagated waves that have inundated towns and affected human populations in nearby coastal areas. Susceptibility to submarine landslides can be pronounced in degrading cryospheric environments, where existing glaciers can provide high volumes of sediment, while cycles of glaciation and ice-loss can damage and destabilize slopes.AuthorsNikita N. Avdievitch, Jeffrey A. CoeA characterization of deep-sea coral and sponge communities along the California and Oregon coast using a remotely operated vehicle on the EXPRESS 2018 expedition
Deep-sea coral and sponge (DSCS) communities serve as essential fish habitats (EFH) by providing shelter and nursery habitat, increasing diversity, and increasing prey availability (Freese and Wing, 2003; Bright, 2007; Baillon et al., 2012; Henderson et al., 2020). Threats to these long-lived, fragile organisms from bottom contact fishing gear, potential offshore renewable energy development, andAuthorsTom Laidig, Diana Watters, Nancy G. Prouty, Meredith Everett, Lizzie Duncan, Liz Clarke, Chris Caldow, Amanda DemopoulosMapping, exploration, and characterization of the California continental margin and associated features from the California-Oregon border to Ensenada, Mexico
Priority Geographic Area: Both within and outside US Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). California continental margin. This area includes and continues south of the geographic area captured in the Watt et al. white paper. Description of Priority Area: The California continental margin, from the narrow shelf to abyssal depths, contains diverse seafloor features that influence benthic community types, bAuthorsAmanda Demopoulos, Nancy G. Prouty, Daniel S. Brothers, Janet Watt, James E. Conrad, Jason Chaytor, Chris CaldowA federal-state partnership for mapping Florida's coast and seafloor
The Florida Coastal Mapping Program, a partnership of state and federal agencies, has a goal of having modern, consistent, high- resolution sea-floor data for all of Florida’s coastal zone in the next decade to support a myriad of coastal zone science and management applications. One of the early steps in the implementation process is to prioritize and justify mapping needs. This is accomplished bAuthorsCheryl J. Hapke, Ryan Druyor, Rene D. Baumstark, Philip Kramer, Ekaterina Fitos, Xan Fredericks, Elizabeth H. Fetherston-ReschThe California Seafloor and Coastal Mapping Program – Providing science and geospatial data for California's State Waters
The California Seafloor and Coastal Mapping Program (CSCMP) is a collaborative effort to develop comprehensive bathymetric, geologic, and habitat maps and data for California's State Waters. CSCMP began in 2007 when the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) allocated funding for high-resolution bathymetric mapping, largely to suppoAuthorsSamuel Y. Johnson, Guy R. Cochrane, Nadine E. Golden, Peter Dartnell, Stephen Hartwell, Susan A. Cochran, Janet WattDetailed seafloor habitat mapping to enhance marine-resource management
Pictures of the seafloor capture important information about the sediments, exposed geologic features, submerged aquatic vegetation, and animals found in a given habitat. With the emergence of marine protected areas (MPAs) as a favored tactic for preserving coral reef resources, knowledge of essential habitat components is paramount to designing effective management strategies. Surprisingly, detaiAuthorsDavid G. Zawada, Kristen M. HartSeafloor 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. FinlaysonMapping the seafloor geology offshore of Massachusetts
Geologic and bathymetric maps help us understand the evolutionary history of the Massachusetts coast and the processes that have shaped it. The maps show the distribution of bottom types (for example, bedrock, gravel, sand, mud) and water depths over large areas of the seafloor. In turn, these two fundamental parameters largely determine the species of flora and fauna that inhabit a particular areAuthorsWalter A. Barnhardt, Brian D. AndrewsSeafloor habitat mapping of the New York Bight incorporating sidescan sonar data
The efficacy of using sidescan sonar imagery, image classification algorithms and geographic information system (GIS) techniques to characterize the seafloor bottom of the New York Bight were assessed. The resulting seafloor bottom type map was compared with fish trawl survey data to determine whether there were any discernable habitat associations. An unsupervised classification with 20 spectralAuthorsR.G. Lathrop, M. Cole, N. Senyk, B. ButmanSeafloor habitat mapping and classification in Glacier Bay, Alaska: Phase 1 & 2 1996-2004
Glacier Bay is a diverse fjord ecosystem with multiple sills, numerous tidewater glaciers and a highly complex oceanographic system. The Bay was completely glaciated prior to the 1700’s and subsequently experienced the fastest glacial retreat recorded in historical times. Currently, some of the highest sedimentation rates ever observed occur in the Bay, along with rapid uplift (up to 2.5 cm/year)AuthorsPhilip N. Hooge, Paul R. Carlson, Jennifer Mondragon, Lisa L. Etherington, G.R. Cochran - Science
Explore our science
Filter Total Items: 25Delineating the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf
The United States has an interest in knowing the full extent of its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from shore (called the extended continental shelf, or ECS) so that it can better protect, manage and use the resources of the seabed and subsoil contained therein. The USGS contributes to the ECS effort through membership and leadership on the interagency U.S. ECS Task Force, a group...USGS Law of the Sea
The USGS Law of the Sea project helps to determine the outer limits of the extended continental shelf (ECS) of the United States. The ECS is that portion of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles. It is an important maritime zone that holds many resources and vital habitats for marine life. Its size may exceed one million square kilometers, encompassing areas in the Arctic, Atlantic...SQUID-5 camera system
The SQUID-5 is a Structure-from-Motion Quantitative Underwater Imaging Device with 5 cameras.Cascadia Subduction Zone Marine Geohazards
Societal Issue: Uncertainty related to rupture extent, slip distribution, and recurrence of past subduction megathrust earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest (northern CA, OR, WA, and southern BC) leads to ambiguity in earthquake and tsunami hazard assessments and hinders our ability to prepare for future events.ByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, 3-D CT Core Imaging Laboratory, Core Preparation and Analysis Laboratory and Sample Repositories, Multi-Sensor Core Logger Laboratory, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization, Subduction Zone SciencePCMSC MarFac Field Equipment and Capabilities
Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility’s vast array of field equipment, sampling devices, and mapping systems, and our capabilities. Our engineers, designers, mechanics, and technicians have also designed and developed some of the specialized field equipment we use in field operations in the nearshore, in the deep sea, and on land.Marine Geomorphology, Evolution, and Habitats
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...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.Seafloor Faults off Southern California
More than 22 million people live along Southern California’s coast, and many more migrate there every year. Faults and earthquake threats in this region have been heavily studied on land. USGS aims to boost our knowledge about faults on the seafloor, so they can be included in hazard assessments.U.S. West Coast and Alaska Marine Geohazards
Marine geohazards are sudden and extreme events beneath the ocean that threaten coastal populations. Such underwater hazards include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, and tsunamis.ByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, 3-D CT Core Imaging Laboratory, Core Preparation and Analysis Laboratory and Sample Repositories, Big Sur Landslides, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization, Subduction Zone ScienceEXPRESS: Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems
EXPRESS is a multi-year, multi-institution cooperative research campaign in deep sea areas of California, Oregon, and Washington, including the continental shelf and slope. EXPRESS data and information are intended to guide wise use of living marine resources and habitats, inform ocean energy and mineral resource decisions, and improve offshore hazard assessments.ByCoastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, 3-D CT Core Imaging Laboratory, Core Preparation and Analysis Laboratory and Sample Repositories, Multi-Sensor Core Logger Laboratory, Organic Geochemistry Laboratory, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and CharacterizationPCMSC Marine Facility (MarFac)
Learn about the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility, or MarFacHigh-Resolution Multichannel Seismic System
Description of the high-resolution multichannel seismic system at the Marine Facility (MarFac) of the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, for seafloor mapping - Data and More
Bathymetry, backscatter intensity, and benthic habitat offshore of Morro Bay, California
The surveys were conducted to map surficial geology and benthic habitat as part of the USGS California Seafloor Mapping Program, a collaboration with California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These data are intended to provide regional bathymetric information in California State waters for offshore resource and ecosystem manageSub-bottom chirp data acquired in the Salton Sea, California, between 2006 and 2008
More than 1,000 line-km of sub-bottom chirp data were collected with an Edgetech 0.5-16 kHz subscan system by Scripps Institution of Oceanography between 2006 and 2008 in the Salton Sea, California, with assistance from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Data were subsequently donated by Scripps to the USGS for public release (USGS field activity identifier 2006-603-DD).Bathymetry and topography, video observation, and derived benthic habitat data offshore of Seattle, Washington
In 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, initiated the Puget Sound Scientific Studies and Technical Investigations Assistance Program, which was designed to support research for implementing the Puget Sound Action Agenda. The Action Agenda was created because Puget Sound was designated as one of 28 estuaries of National Significance under section 320 of the Clean Water Act, anUpper Florida Keys 2002-2016 Seafloor Elevation Stability Models, Maps, and Tables
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (SPCMSC) conducted research to identify areas of seafloor elevation stability and instability based on elevation changes between the years of 2002 and 2016 in the Upper Florida Keys (UFK) from Triumph Reef to Pickles Reef within a 242.4 square-kilometer area. USGS SPCMSC staff used seafloor elevation-change data froHigh-resolution marine geophysical data collected by the USGS in the Belfast Bay, Maine pockmark field in 2006, 2008, and 2009.
The U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center in cooperation with the University of Maine mapped approximately 50 square kilometers of the seafloor within Belfast Bay, Maine. Three geophysical surveys conducted in 2006, 2008 and 2009 collected swath bathymetric (2006 and 2008) and chirp seismic reflection profile data (2006 and 2009). The project characterized the spatiaSea-Floor Sediment and Imagery Data Collected in Long Island Sound, Connecticut and New York, 2017 and 2018
Two marine geological surveys were conducted in Long Island Sound, Connecticut and New York, in fall 2017 and spring 2018 by the U.S. Geological Survey, University of Connecticut, and University of New Haven through the Long Island Sound Mapping and Research Collaborative. Sea-floor images and videos were collected at 210 sampling sites within the survey area, and surficial sediment samples were cLocation and analyses of sediment samples collected on Stellwagen Bank off Boston, Massachusetts from November 5, 2013 to April 30, 2019 on U.S. Geological Survey field activities
These data are part of the effort to map geologic substrates of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) region off Boston, Massachusetts. The overall goal is to develop high-resolution (1:25,000) interpretive maps, based on multibeam sonar data and seabed sampling, showing surficial geology and seabed sediment dynamics. The data were collected in collaboration with the Stellwagen BanGeospatial Data Layers of Shallow Geology, Sea-Floor Texture, and Physiographic Zones from the Inner Continental Shelf of Martha's Vineyard from Aquinnah to Wasque Point, and Nantucket from Eel Point to Great Point
Geologic, sediment texture, and physiographic zone maps characterize the sea floor south and west of Martha's Vineyard and north of Nantucket, Massachusetts. These maps were derived from interpretations of seismic-reflection profiles, high-resolution bathymetry, acoustic-backscatter intensity, bottom photographs, and surficial sediment samples. The interpretation of the seismic stratigraphy and maSeafloor elevation change in Maui, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and the Florida Keys
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center conducted research to quantify the combined effect of all constructive and destructive processes on modern coral reef ecosystems by measuring regional-scale changes in seafloor elevation. USGS staff assessed five coral reef ecosystems in the Atlantic Ocean (Upper and Lower Florida Keys), Caribbean Sea (U.S. Virgin I - Maps
Seabed maps showing topography, ruggedness, backscatter intensity, sediment mobility, and the distribution of geologic substrates in Quadrangle 6 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Sanctuary Program, has conducted seabed mapping and related research in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) region since 1993. The area is approximately 3,700 square kilometers (km2) and is subdivided into 18 quadrangles. Seven maps, at a scale of 1:25,000,Bathymetry of the waters surrounding the Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts
The Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts that separate Vineyard Sound from Buzzards Bay are the remnants of a moraine (unconsolidated glacial sediment deposited at an ice sheet margin; Oldale and O’Hara, 1984). The most recent glacial ice retreat in this region occurred between 25,000 and 20,000 years ago, and the subsequent rise in sea level that followed deglaciation caused differences in the seafMultibeam bathymetry and selected perspective views offshore San Diego, California
This set of two posters consists of a map on one sheet and a set of seven perspective views on the other. The ocean floor image was generated from multibeam-bathymetry data acquired by Federal and local agencies as well as academic institutions including: - U.S. Geological Survey mapped from the La Jolla Canyon south to the US-Mexico border using a Kongsberg Simrad multibeam echosounder system (Bathymetry and selected views of the fringing coral reef, South Moloka'i, Hawaii
No abstract available.Bathymetry at the head of the Cape Fear Slide, offshore North Carolina
The Cape Fear Slide is the largest mass-movement that has been observed on the U.S. Atlantic Margin. It is located off the Carolinas on the continental rise in approximately 1,200-5,500 m water depth and extends downslope for over 300 km (Popenoe, 1982). These maps show the bathymetry at the head of the Cape Fear Slide as interpreted from single-channel 3.5 kHz seismic-reflection profiles and mid- - Multimedia
Filter Total Items: 113
- News
Filter Total Items: 16
- FAQ
Where can I find bathymetric data?
The USGS has made bathymetric surveys for many coastal areas and for a few selected rivers and lakes in the U.S., including Yellowstone Lake, Crater Lake, and Lake Tahoe. Information and data for some of those studies is on the USGS Maps of America's Submerged Lands website. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is the primary source of bathymetric data for the world's oceans. See...
What is marine geology?
Geology is the study of the Earth. This includes how the Earth was formed, how the Earth has changed since it was formed, the materials that make up the Earth, and the processes that act on it. Marine Geology focuses on areas affected by our oceans including the deep ocean floor, the shallower slopes and shelves that surround the continents, and coastal areas like beaches and estuaries. USGS...