Description: This data displays the predicted occurrence of benthic sediment types off southern New England. Input data sources include regional bathymetric data from acoustic surveys and seafloor sediment data from in-situ sampling (i.e., photos, grabs, cores). A maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model was used to predict the likelihood of specific sediment classes occurring at a given location using bathymetric characteristics. Sediment data were generalized into classes derived from the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS), including Gravel, Gravel Mixes, Mixed Gravel Classes, Gravel and Mixed Gravel Classes, Gravelly, Sand, Sand-Mud Mix, Sand-Mud Mix & Mixed Gravel Classes, and Sand-Mud Mix with Gravel. For processing purposes, the study area was split into two sections: nearshore and offshore. This data displays the output from both the nearshore and offshore results, and combines the predicted probability and uncertainty data for five different sediment classes for each cell of the grid.
Description: The boundaries of the study area were determined by the spatial location of publicly available bathymetric data. Offshore land features (i.e., Block Island, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, etc.) were removed from the study area to reduce the chance of outliers when running the model. For processing purposes, the study area was split into two sections: nearshore and offshore. The coordinate system is NAD1983 UTM 19N meters.
Description: This data was compiled from the following sources: usSeabed database, East Coast Sediment Texture Database, McMullen et al 2012, Orsted (Revolution Wind, Sunrise Wind, South Fork Wind), RPS (New England Wind), Umass Dartmouth School of Marine Science (SMAST) and Mayflower Wind. This data was collected by sediment grabs, images and video footage. The datasets were categorized into different sediment classes using multiple classification schemes. For consistency throughout the modeling process, INSPIRE converted these classifications into five CMECS based sediment classes: Gravel, Gravel Mixes, Gravelly, Sand, Sand-Mud Mix.The following classification schemes were used originally for each listed source:1. Mayflower Wind (2019): CMECS Substrate Group/Subgroup2. McMullen et al (2012): Wenthworth (CLASSIFICA)3. RPS (New England Wind grabs, 2019): CMECS Substrate Subgroup4. Revolution Wind (2019): CMECS Substrate Group/Subgroup5. SMAST (2013): % sediment cover type in video footage & CMECS Substrate Group (Per_Mud, Per Sand, Per_Gravel, Per_Cobble, Per_Boulder)6. South Fork Wind (2017): CMECS Substrate Group (Sediment_Type)7. Sunrise Wind Farm (2020): CMECS Substrate Group/Subgroup8. UsSeabed: Grain Size (mm) - Wentworth9. USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database: Wenthworth (CLASSIFICA)
Description: This bathymetric grid was created as a single continuous surface for the sea floor of Vineyard and western Nantucket Sounds. These data helped define the sediment texture and distribution maps presented as interpretive data layers in USGS OFR 2016-1119. Geologic, sediment texture, and physiographic zone maps characterize the sea floor of Vineyard and western Nantucket Sounds, 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 mapping of glacial and Holocene marine units provided a foundation on which the surficial maps were created. This mapping is a result of a collaborative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management to characterize the surface and subsurface geologic framework offshore of Massachusetts.
Description: Bathymetric data from 25 NOAA NOS surveys were collected and merged together to create this raster. The goal of doing so was to obtain as much high resolution bathymetric data coverage within the study area as possible. The following surveys were conducted between 2008 and 2015 at various resolutions (between 2 and 6 m): H12296, H12015, H12139, H12137, H12023, H12011, H12033, H12010, H12429, H12386, H12431, H12430, H12009, H12700, H11996, H12702, H12802, H11995, H11922, H12707, H12801, H12811, W00488, H11920.Rasters were downloaded from: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/maps/bathymetry/When merged using ArcGIS's Mosaic tool, the resolution was set to 2m.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: NOAA - National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey, Hydrographic Surveys Division
Description: This data product was created as part of the Northwest Atlantic Marine Ecoregional Assessment. The Nature Conservancy developed this science-based ecoregional assessment for the Northwest Atlantic Marine region (Bay of Fundy to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina). This assessment synthesizes information on oceanography, chemistry, geology, biology, and social science to inform decisions about coastal and marine ecosystems. By integrating this information at a regional level, the Conservancy is able to provide both a greater understanding of the interrelated biological diversity of the marine ecoregion, and a clearer picture of the current condition of its natural areas and the challenges to their continued persistence. The ten categories of targets identified as the primary structure for the marine ecoregional assessment are: coastal and estuarine habitats, benthic habitats, diadromous fish, demersal fish, pelagic fish, forage fish, nearshore shellfish, shorebirds and seabirds, marine mammals, and sea turtles. For more information and a detailed report, please visit http://nature.org/namera/.A comprehensive bathymetry grid was used to characterize seafloor depths across the ecoregion, uncover organisms' depth preferences, and to create the seabed form layer described later. The source data includers National Geographic Data Center's Coastal Relief Model (CRM), augmented the data with insets from the NOS Bathymetric & Fishing Maps (BFM). The BFM contours were drawn by hand, by cartographers interpreting topography from soundings. The BFM contour maps provide a more credible topography in some of the problematic sections of the CRM. The Canadian portion of the ecoregion, including the Bay of Fundy, was covered by USGS' Gulf of Maine 15' Bathymetry. Because the spatial resolution of this layer (~350 meter cell size) is coarser than the CRM (~82 m cell size), it was used only to fill in areas north of the Hague line and in a section of eastern Georges Bank. We removed a fringe from the CRM where data had been inferred up to 9 km beyond actual soundings.To reduce file size, this raster was clipped to the southern new england study area.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative