Predicted Nearshore Benthic Substrates with Depth: Northern California Coast, 2012

Placeholder Show Content

Abstract/Contents

Abstract
This polygon shapefile depicts the "hard" and "soft" substrate categories, however the limitations of the classification methods should be considered when using these terms. Original gridded data were mosaiced and resampled to 5m cell size. The benthic substrate classifications provided here are not derived through traditional geologic interpretations, but are algorithmically defined using seafloor roughness (rugosity analysis) as a proxy for determining areas likely to consist of rocky reef with significant relief and sandy bottoms with lower relief. This method is used for the practical purposes of broadly generalizing habitats for Marine Protected Area (MPA) planning and expedient delivery of information to the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative process. Note that results derived using the approach above may be confounded by factors, including noise and artifacts from the original mapping data, steep slopes and unusual geomorphic features. One consideration is that some areas where rocky bottom occurs may be underestimated by the "rough" category, including canyon slopes, deep water, and rock that is smooth, plateau-like, and/or lightly draped with sediment. While it is important to recognize the above considerations, this information should be considered in the MLPA Initiative process as the best readily available scientific data.
Purpose
Data shown here were gathered through a comprehensive state waters mapping program managed by the California State Coastal Conservancy, Ocean Protection Council, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Sanctuary Program. The ultimate goal of this program is the creation of a high-resolution 1:24,000 scale geologic and habitat base map series covering all of California's 14,500 km2 state waters out to the 3-mile limit for planning and evaluation of habitats in the Northern California coast study region.

Description

Type of resource cartographic, software, multimedia
Form Shapefile
Extent 27.663
Place Monterey, CA, US
Publisher California. Department of Fish and Game. Marine Resources Region
Date valid 2012
Publication date 2012
Language English
Digital origin born digital
Map data Scale not given. ; Custom projection W 124°38ʹ2ʺ--W 123°41ʹ/N 42°57ʺ--N 38°58ʹ44ʺW 124°32ʹ6ʺ--W 123°41ʹ21ʺ/N 42°--N 39°14ʺ, Scale not given ; EPSG::4326

Creators/Contributors

Creator California. Department of Fish and Game. Marine Resources Region

Subjects

Subject Coasts
Subject Ocean bottom
Subject Submarine geology
Subject California
Subject Pacific Ocean
Subject 2012
Subject Geoscientific Information
Subject Oceans
Genre Geospatial data
Genre Cartographic dataset

Bibliographic information

WGS84 Cartographics This layer is presented in the WGS84 coordinate system for web display purposes. Downloadable data are provided in native coordinate system or projection.
Location https://purl.stanford.edu/mg094gv5519

Access conditions

Use and reproduction
This item is in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use.
Copyright
This work is in the Public Domain, meaning that it is not subject to copyright.

Preferred citation

Preferred citation
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Marine Resources Region. (2012). Predicted Nearshore Benthic Substrates with Depth: Northern California Coast, 2012. California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Marine Resources Region. Available at: http://purl.stanford.edu/mg094gv5519.

Collection

California Department of Fish and Wildlife GIS Maps & Data

View other items in this collection in SearchWorks

Also listed in

Loading usage metrics...