CMECS geoform, substrate, and biotopes offshore of Tacoma, Washington

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• What does this data set describe?
  1. How might this data set be cited?
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  3. What does it look like?
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  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
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What does this data set describe?

1. How might this data set be cited?
   Hodson, Timothy O., Cochrane, Guy R., and Dethier, Megan N., 20230315, CMECS geoform, substrate, and biotopes offshore of Tacoma, Washington: data release DOI:10.5066/P9KA6GH2, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/P9KA6GH2

   This is part of the following larger work.
   Cochrane, Guy R., 2023, Bathymetry and topography, video observation, and derived benthic habitat data offshore of Tacoma, Washington: data release DOI:10.5066/P9KA6GH2, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/P9KA6GH2

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.788145
   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.394044
   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.349263
   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.077903
   

3. What does it look like?

   CMECS_OffshoreTacoma.jpg (JPEG)

   Shaded-relief map of Offshore of Tacoma map area showing seafloor classified into CMECS substrate classes.

4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Calendar_Date: 2013

   Currentness_Reference:

   ground condition

5. What is the general form of this data set?

   Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
   

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • GT-polygon composed of chains (3422)
   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      The map projection used is NAD 1983 UTM Zone 10N.
      

      Projection parameters:

      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.9996
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -123.0
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.0
      False_Easting: 500000.0
      False_Northing: 0.0
      

      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000000002220024164500956
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000000002220024164500956
      Planar coordinates are specified in meter
      The horizontal datum used is D North American 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is GRS 1980.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.0.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222101.
      
7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   Polygon

   Polygons representing geologic/geomorphic map units (Source: This report)

   FID

   Internal feature number. (Source: Esri)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	3819

   Shape

   feature type (Source: Esri) polygon type vector object

   geoform

   CMECS level 1 geoform structure, blank values indicate polygon was not assigned a geoform (Source: CMECS)

   Value	Definition
   apron	extensive blanket-like deposit of alluvial unconsolidated material derived from an identifiable source and deposited at the base of a high standing area
   basin	low relief area that lies below the surrounding bottom/terrain elevation
   boulder field	an area dominated by large (boulder-sized) stones or pieces of rock
   channel	a linear or sinuous depression on an otherwise more flat area, for example, a small or large valley-like or groove-like feature through which rivers or tidal creeks flow
   delta	the low, nearly flat, alluvial tract of land at or near the mouth of a river, commonly forming a triangular or fan-shaped plain of considerable area
   depression	a low-lying area surrounded by higher ground often having no natural outlet.
   dredge deposit	fan or mound deposit of sediment from dredging
   dredged channel	anthropogenic dredging for navigation
   drumlin	mound or ridge formed beneath flowing glacier
   fan	a low, outspread, relatively flat to gently sloping mass of loose material, shaped like an open fan or a segment of a cone, deposited by a flow of water at the place where it issues from a narrower or steeper gradiant area into a broader area, valley, flat, or other feature
   gully	a ravine formed by the action of water
   jetty	anthropogenic structure to protect coastal feature from wave erosion
   lagoon	a shallow, highly enclosed, body of water with reduced exchange with the ocean, often experiencing high evaporation, and quiescent in terms of wind, current, and wave energy
   marina	anthropogenic structure for docking boats and ships
   moraine	mound, ridge, or other distinct accumulation of unsorted, unstratified glacial drift, predominantly till, deposited chiefly by direct action of glacier ice
   pier	anthropogenic near sea-level structure for access to the water
   platform	a level or nearly level surface, ranging in size from a terrace or bench to a plateau
   relic shore complex	submerged archeo-shoreline
   relic tidal flat	submerged archeo-tidal flat
   scarp	a relatively straight, cliff-like face or slope of considerable linear extent, breaking the general continuity of the land by separating surfaces lying at different levels, as along the margin of a plateau or mesa
   sediment wave field	area of coarse sediment worked into waves by bottom currents
   shore	intersection of a specified plane of water with the beach
   sill	rise at the mouth of a fjord caused by reduced erosion and added to by the glacier's terminal moraine
   slope	contiguous sloping area between shelf and basin
   submarine slide deposit	loose mass of angular rock fragments created by mass-movement downslope of soil and rock material en masse
   tidal channel	channel formed by erosion from tidal currents
   tidalite drift	an area of sediment deposited by tidal activity

   tect_setti

   tectonic setting of the polygon (Source: CMECS)

   Value	Definition
   Convergent Active Continental Margin	area is located on an active continental margin

   physgrphc_

   physiograpinc setting of the area (Source: CMECS)

   Value	Definition
   fjord	a long, narrow, winding glacially eroded inlet or arm of the sea

   geoform_or

   Geoform Origin (Source: CMECS)

   Value	Definition
   anthropogenic	built by or created by human activity
   geologic	formed by abiotic processes

   geoform_ty

   Geoform Type, level 2 CMECS geoforms, blank values indicate polygon was not assigned a value for this attribute (Source: CMECS)

   Value	Definition
   basin floor fan	gravity flow sediment deposit in a basin from the surrounding higher terrain
   breakwater/jetty	structures extending more or less perpendicularly from the shore into a body of water and designed to direct and confine the current or tide, to protect a harbor, or to prevent shoaling of a navigable inlet aby littoral materials
   ebb tide delta	a largely subaqueous (sometimes intertidal) crudely fan-shaped deposit of sand-sized sediment formed on the seaward side of a tidal inlet
   erosion scarp	relatively straight, cliff-like face or slope of considerable linear extent, breaking the general continuity of the topography by separating surfaces lying at different levels, as along the margin of an erosional channel
   relic wave-cut platform	a level area formed by wave erosion during a time of lower sea level
   scour depression	a sedimented area deepened and winnowed by the action of bottom currents
   slope	contiguous sloping area between shelf and basin
   slope gully	small, discontinuous submarine valley, usually formed by slumping along a fault scarp or the slope of a basin, canyon, or valley
   tidal channel	channel formed by erosion from tidal currents

   geoform_DI

   Combination of level 1 or level 2 (if exists) CMECS geoforms for map symbolization, blank values indicate polygon was not assigned a value for this attribute (Source: CMECS)

   Value	Definition
   apron	extensive blanket-like deposit of alluvial unconsolidated material derived from an identifiable source and deposited at the base of a high standing area
   basin	low relief area that lies below the surrounding bottom/terrain elevation
   basin floor fan	gravity flow sediment deposit in a basin from the surrounding higher terrain
   boulder field	an area dominated by large (boulder-sized) stones or pieces of rock
   breakwater/jetty	anthropogenic structure to protect coastal feature from wave erosion
   delta	the low, nearly flat, alluvial tract of land at or near the mouth of a river, commonly forming a triangular or fan-shaped plain of considerable area
   depression	a low-lying area surrounded by higher ground often having no natural outlet.
   dredge deposit	fan or mound deposit of sediment from dredging
   dredged channel	anthropogenic dredging for navigation
   drumlin	mound or ridge formed beneath flowing glacier
   ebb tide delta	a largely subaqueous (sometimes intertidal) crudely fan-shaped deposit of sand-sized sediment formed on the seaward side of a tidal inlet
   erosion scarp	relatively straight, cliff-like face or slope of considerable linear extent, breaking the general continuity of the topography by separating surfaces lying at different levels, as along the margin of an erosional channel
   lagoon	a shallow, highly enclosed, body of water with reduced exchange with the ocean, often experiencing high evaporation, and quiescent in terms of wind, current, and wave energy
   marina	anthropogenic structure for docking boats and ships
   moraine	mound, ridge, or other distinct accumulation of unsorted, unstratified glacial drift, predominantly till, deposited chiefly by direct action of glacier ice
   pier	anthropogenic near sea-level structure for access to the water
   relic shore complex	submerged archeo-shoreline
   relic tidal flat	submerged archeo-tidal flat
   relic wave-cut platform	a level area formed by wave erosion during a time of lower sea level
   scour depression	a sedimented area deepened and winnowed by the action of bottom currents
   sediment wave field	area of coarse sediment worked into waves by bottom currents
   shore	intersection of a specified plane of water with the beach
   sill	rise at the mouth of a fjord caused by reduced erosion and added to by the glacier's terminal moraine
   slope	contiguous sloping area between shelf and basin
   slope gully	small, discontinuous submarine valley, usually formed by slumping along a fault scarp or the slope of a basin, canyon, or valley
   submarine slide deposit	loose mass of angular rock fragments created by mass-movement downslope of soil and rock material en masse
   tidal channel	channel formed by erosion from tidal currents
   tidalite drift	an area of sediment deposited by tidal activity

   Shape_Area

   area of the polygon in square meters (Source: ESRI)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	80.935
   Maximum:	186910915.995
   Units:	square meters
   Resolution:	0.001

   substr_cls

   Substrate Class, grain size classes within CMECS, blank values indicate polygon was not assigned a value for this attribute (Source: CMECS)

   Value	Definition
   anthropogenic rock	substrate that is composed of natural mineral materials that were deposited by humans
   rock substrate	igneous, metamorhic, or sedimentary rock with particle sizes greater than or equal to 4.0 meters (4096 mm) in any dimension covers greater than or equal to 50 percent of the geologic substrate surface
   unconsolidated mineral substrate	geologic substrates with less than 50 percent cover of rock substrate; uses Folk (1954) terminology to describe any mix of loose mineral substrate occurring at any range of sizes, from boulders to clay

   sbstr_scls

   Substrate Subclass, grain size sub-classes within the CMECS Substrate Class, blank values indicate insufficient information to determine a Substrate Subcls (Source: CMECS)

   Value	Definition
   anthropogenic rock rubble	substrate that is dominated by anthropogenic rock with a median particle size of 64 mm to less than 4096 mm
   bedrock	substrate with largely continuous formations of bedrock covering 50 percent or more of the surface
   coarse unconsolidated substrate	substrate surface layer containing any amount of gravel (particles greater than or equal to 2 mm), from a single grannule to 100 percent boulders.
   fine unconsolidated substrate	substrate surface layer containing no trace of gravel (particles greater than or equal to 2mm).

   substr_grp

   Substrate Group, grain size sub-classes within the Substrate Group, blank values indicate insufficient information to determine a Substrate Group (Source: CMECS or Hodson when the substrate value is not in the CMECS standard)

   Value	Definition
   cobble mix	substrate surface layer contains 30 percent to less than 80 percent cobble
   gravel	substrate surface layer contains 80 percent or higher gravel
   gravel mix	substrate surface layer contains 30 percent to less than 80 percent gravel
   gravelly	substrate surface layer contains 5 percent to less than 30 percent gravel
   mud	substrate surface layer shows no trace of gravel and contains 90 percent or more mud
   muddy sand	substrate surface layer shows no trace of gravel and contains 50 percent to less than 90 percent sand, with the remainder composed of mud
   sand	substrate surface layer contains no trace of gravel and is composed of greater than or equal to 90 percent sand
   sandy mud	substrate surface layer shows no trace of gravel and contains 10 percent to less than 50 percent sand, with the remainder composed of mud
   slightly gravelly	substrate surface layer contains a trace to < 5 percent gravel

   substr_sgr

   Substrate Subgroup narrower grain size classes than the CMECS Substrate Group, blank values indicate insufficient information to determine a Subgroup (Source: CMECS)

   Value	Definition
   boulder	boulders (256 mm to <4096 mm) constitute the median gravel size
   cobble	cobbles constitute the median gravel size
   gravelly sand	substrate is 5 percent to less than 30 percent gravel, with sand composing 90 percent or more of the remaining sand-mud mix
   sandy cobble	substrate is 30 percent to < 80 percent cobble, with sand composing 90 percent or more of the remaining sand-mud mix
   sandy cobble mix	substrate surface layer contains 30 percent to less than 80 percent cobble, with sand composing 90 percent or more of the remaining sand-mud mix
   sandy gravel mix	substrate surface layer contains 30 percent to less than 80 percent gravel, with sand composing 90 percent or more of the remaining sand-mud mix
   slightly gravelly sand	trace to < 5 percent gravel, with sand composing 90 percent or more of the remaining sand-mud mix

   sbstr_orig

   Substrate Origin Federal Geographic Data Committee, 2012), blank values indicate insufficient information to determine a value (Source: CMECS)

   Value	Definition
   anthropogenic substrate	dominant source of the substrate is man-made
   geologic substrate	dominant source of the substrate is either geologic or biogenic (but no longer living)

   substrate

   the value of the highest order substrate class attribute for the polygon for map symbolization (Source: CMECS)

   Value	Definition
   anthropogenic rock rubble	substrate that is dominated by anthropogenic rock with a median particle size of 64 mm to less than 4096 mm
   bedrock	substrate with largely continuous formations of bedrock covering 50 percent or more of the surface
   boulder	boulders (256 mm to <4096 mm) constitute the median gravel size
   coarse unconsolidated substrate	substrate surface layer containing any amount of gravel (particles greater than or equal to 2 mm), from a single grannule to 100 percent boulders.
   cobble	cobbles constitute the median gravel size
   cobble mix	substrate surface layer contains 30 percent to less than 80 percent cobble
   fine unconsolidated substrate	substrate surface layer containing no trace of gravel (particles greater than or equal to 2mm).
   gravel	substrate surface layer contains 80 percent or higher gravel
   gravel mix	substrate surface layer contains 30 percent to less than 80 percent gravel
   gravelly	substrate surface layer contains 5 percent to less than 30 percent gravel
   gravelly sand	substrate is 5 percent to less than 30 percent gravel, with sand composing 90 percent or more of the remaining sand-mud mix
   mud	substrate surface layer shows no trace of gravel and contains 90 percent or more mud
   muddy sand	substrate surface layer shows no trace of gravel and contains 50 percent to less than 90 percent sand, with the remainder composed of mud
   sand	substrate surface layer contains no trace of gravel and is composed of greater than or equal to 90 percent sand
   sandy cobble	substrate is 30 percent to < 80 percent cobble, with sand composing 90 percent or more of the remaining sand-mud mix
   sandy cobble mix	substrate surface layer contains 30 percent to less than 80 percent cobble, with sand composing 90 percent or more of the remaining sand-mud mix
   sandy gravel mix	substrate surface layer contains 30 percent to less than 80 percent gravel, with sand composing 90 percent or more of the remaining sand-mud mix
   sandy mud	substrate surface layer shows no trace of gravel and contains 10 percent to less than 50 percent sand, with the remainder composed of mud
   slightly gravelly sand	trace to < 5 percent gravel, with sand composing 90 percent or more of the remaining sand-mud mix
   unconsolidated mineral substrate	geologic substrates with less than 50 percent cover of rock substrate; uses Folk (1954) terminology to describe any mix of loose mineral substrate occurring at any range of sizes, from boulders to clay

   depthzone

   Water depth classes from Dethier (1992) (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   1	water depths from 0 to less than 15 meters
   2	water depths from 15 to less than 25 meters
   3	water depths from 25 to less than 50 meters
   4	water depths from 50 to less than 150 meters
   5	water depths 150 meters or deeper

   group_a

   Biotic group characterized by any sea whip, bat, slime, sand, or leather sea stars, any species of surface-dwelling cucumber other than Parastichopus, and any flatfish on sand substrate in water depths greater than 50 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_b

   Biotic group characterized by any rockfish on bedrock in water depths of 50 to 150 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_c

   Biotic group characterized by any barnacle species, any encrusting invertebrate or corallines, colonial and solitary tube worms, and any Pisaster on coarse unconsolidated substrate, boulder, cobble, and megaclast substrate in water depths of 50 to 150 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_d

   Biotic group characterized by any species of hydroid, any encrusting invertebrate or corallines, rock and swimming scallops, and sunflower star on cobble and gravel in water depths of 15 to 50 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_e

   Biotic group characterized by any sculpins, crabs in the Cancer genus, and any sunstar on sand substrate in all water depths (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_f

   Biotic group characterized by any green algae, any bony fish not otherwise coded, and sunflower star on sand substrate in all water depths (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_g

   Biotic group characterized by any species of hydroid, any encrusting invertebrate or corallines, mottled, rainbow, black sea stars,orange sea pen, and colonial and solitary tube worms on gravel and cobble substrate in water depths of 50 to 150 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_h

   Biotic group characterized by any species of hydroid, colonial and solitary tube worms, and metridium anemones on sand substrate in water depths of 25 to 150 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_i

   Biotic group characterized by any species of hydroid, colonial and solitary tube worms, any burrowing anemone, and any Bryozoan, epilithic or epiphytic on sand and bedrock substrate in water depths of 25 to 150 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_j

   Biotic group characterized by any species of hydroid, any burrowing anemone, and any sunstar on cobelly sand substrate in water depths of 25 to 150 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_k

   Biotic group characterized by any Pisaster, any red algae, any encrusting invertebrate or corallines, and metridium anemones on sandb substrate in water depths of 15 to 150 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_l

   Biotic group characterized by sunflower star, any brown algae, and metridium anemones on sand substrate in water depths of 0 to 50 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_m

   Biotic group characterized by any brown algae, and any attached kelp species on sand substrate in water depths of 0 to 15 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_n

   Biotic group characterized by any brown algae, any species of hydroid, any bivalve species not scallops, mostly mussels, any eelpout, and any sunstar on sand substrate in water depths of 50 to 150 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_o

   Biotic group characterized by any species of hydroid, any attached kelp species, any brown algae, any sunstar, any burrowing anemone, and colonial and solitary tube worms on sand substrate in water depths of 50 to 150 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_p

   Biotic group characterized by any species of hydroid, any red algae, any brown algae, any attached kelp species, and any green algae on sand, gravel substrate in water depths of 0 to 150 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_q

   Biotic group characterized by colonial and solitary tube worms, colonial and solitary tube worms, any burrowing anemone, and blood star on unconsolidated substrate in all water depths (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_r

   Biotic group characterized by colonial and solitary tube worms, any burrowing anemone, and any species of hydroid on unconsolidated substrate in water depths of 50 to 150 mete (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_s

   Biotic group characterized by giant sea cucumber, colonial and solitary tube worms, and any burrowing anemone on unconsolidated substrate in water depths of 50 to 150 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_t

   Biotic group characterized by any burrowing anemone, colonial and solitary tube worms, any nudibranch, and any sea whip on sand substrate in water depths of 25 to 50 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_u

   Biotic group characterized by any burrowing anemone, any shrimp, and any sea whip on sand substrate in water depths greater than 50 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   group_v

   Biotic group characterized by any eelpout, any species of hydroid, any sea whip, any shrimp, and colonial and solitary tube worms on sand substrate in water depths of 50 to 150 meters (Source: M.N. Dethier)

   Value	Definition
   0	Biotic group is likely absent from area
   1	Biotic group is likely present in area

   biotope

   Combination of Dethier depth class and CMECS substrate subclass. (Source: M.N. Dethier and CMECS)

   Value	Definition
   11	fine unconsolidated sediment in depth zone 1
   12	coarse unconsolidated sediment in depth zone 1
   21	fine unconsolidated sediment in depth zone 2
   22	coarse unconsolidated sediment in depth zone 2
   31	fine unconsolidated sediment in depth zone 3
   32	coarse unconsolidated sediment in depth zone 3
   33	bedrock substrate in depth zone 3
   40	unknown grain size unconsolidated sediment in depth zone 4
   41	fine unconsolidated sediment in depth zone 4
   42	coarse unconsolidated sediment in depth zone 4
   43	bedrock substrate in depth zone 4
   50	unknown grain size unconsolidated sediment in depth zone 5
   51	fine unconsolidated sediment in depth zone 5
   52	coarse unconsolidated sediment in depth zone 5
   53	bedrock substrate in depth zone 5

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   shapefile consisting of 3,819 polygons classified into CMECS geoforms and substrate classes, and M.N. Dethier depth zones

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Federal Geographic Data Committee, 2012, Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, 343 p., accessed March 10, 2022, at https://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/cmecs-folder/CMECS_Version_06-2012_FINAL.pdf

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Dethier, M.N., 1992, Classifying marine and estuarine natural communities: An alternative to the Cowardin system: Natural Areas Journal, v. 12, p. 90-100, accessed July 23, 2022 at https://www.jstor.org/stable/43911274

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Timothy O. Hodson
   • Guy R. Cochrane
   • Megan N. Dethier
2. Who also contributed to the data set?
3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

   Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator

   2885 Mission Street

   Santa Cruz, CA
   

   831-427-4747 (voice)

   pcmsc_data@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: 2012 (process 1 of 3)

   Map unit Geoform polygons were digitized over underlying 2-meter base layers developed from multibeam bathymetry data, available elsewhere in this data release (BathyTopo_OffshoreTacoma data). The specificity of our CMECS geoform interpretations reflects the resolution of the underlying NOS bathymetry. Where there was sufficient resolution to attribute a particular genetic process to a geoform, we ascribed an appropriately specific geoform type. Where bathymetric resolution was low and the genetic interpretation equivocal, our geoform classifications were more generic. Seafloor geoforms were classified based on their physical attributes as observed in the NOS bathymetric surveys and USGS seismic reflection profiles from field activities G395PS and G297PS (Triezenberg and others, 2016) in combination with knowledge of common glacial and estuarine processes and interpretations from the regional geologic literature (Ballantyne, 2002; Booth, 1994; Burns, 1985).

   Date: 2012 (process 2 of 3)

   Areas near USGS seafloor video transects were classified with more specificity, down to Substrate Group or Substrate Subgroup, depending on proximity to ground-truthed transects and the local heterogeneity of the seafloor. Our classification of substrates in areas outside the primary study region was based primarily upon geomorphological interpretations drawn from historical NOS surveys and historical NOS seabed descriptions. Consequently, these interpretations are less specific; substrate classifications in these areas are typically limited to the Substrate Class or Substrate Subclass. The CMECS Substrate Component values are described in Federal Geographic Data Committee (2012).

   Date: 2012 (process 3 of 3)

   Depth zones classes in the biotope map are based on Dethier (1992). The biotope polygons were derived by merging (using the ArcGIS union tool) depth zone polygons with the CMECS geoform-substrate polygons and creating an integer code to represent the substrate class and depth zone of each polygon. A depthzone attribute was created that has Dethier (1992) attribute values.

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
   Folk, R.L., 1954, The Distinction between Grain Size and Mineral Composition in Sedimentary Rock Nomenclature.

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Folk, R.L., The Distinction between Grain Size and Mineral Composition in Sedimentary Rock Nomenclature: J. Geol., v. 62, p. 344-359.

   Cochrane, Guy R., 2014, Southern Salish Sea Habitat Map Series Data Catalog.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.3133/ds935

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Cochrane, G.R., compiler, 2014, Southern Salish Sea Habitat Map Series Data Catalog: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 935

   Dethier, Megan N., 1992, Classifying marine and estuarine natural communities: An alternative to the Cowardin system.

   Online Links:

   • https://www.jstor.org/stable/43911274

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Dethier, M.N., 1992, Classifying marine and estuarine natural communities: An alternative to the Cowardin system: Natural Areas Journal, v. 12, p. 90-100.

   Federal Geographic Data Committee, 2012, Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard.

   Online Links:

   • https://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/cmecs-folder/CMECS_Version_06-2012_FINAL.pdf

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Federal Geographic Data Committee, 2012, Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, 343 p.

   Triezenberg, P.J., Hart, P.E., and Childs, J.R., 2016, National Archive of Marine Seismic Surveys (NAMSS): A USGS data website of marine seismic reflection data within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/F7930R7P

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Triezenberg, P.J., Hart, P.E., and Childs, J.R., 2016, National Archive of Marine Seismic Surveys (NAMSS): A USGS data website of marine seismic reflection data within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): U.S. Geological Survey data release

   Reid, J.A., Jenkins, C.J., Zimmermann, M., Williams, S. Jeffress, and Field, M.E., 2006, usSEABED: Pacific Coast (California, Oregon, Washington) Offshore Surficial-Sediment Data Release, version 1.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.3133/ds182

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Reid, J.A., Reid, J.M., Jenkins, C.J., Zimmermann, M., Williams, S.J., and Field, M.E., 2006, usSEABED: Pacific Coast (California, Oregon, Washington) offshore surficial-sediment data release: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 182, version 1.0

   Ballantyne, C.K., 2002, Paraglacial geomorphology.

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Ballantyne, C.K., 2002, Paraglacial geomorphology: Quaternary Science Reviews, v. 21, p. 1935�2017

   Booth, D.B., 1994, Glaciofluvial infilling and scour of the Puget Lowland, Washington, during ice-sheet glaciations.

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Booth, D.B., 1994, Glaciofluvial infilling and scour of the Puget Lowland, Washington, during ice-sheet glaciations: Geology, v. 22, p. 695�698

   Burns, R., 1985, The shape and form of Puget Sound.

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Burns, R., 1985, The shape and form of Puget Sound: Seattle, Wash., University of Washington Press, Washington Sea Grant.

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

1. How well have the observations been checked?
   Polygons were hand delineated; the accuracy of substrate and biota observations cannot be quantified. Polygons were visually checked for overshoots, undershoots, duplicate features, polygon closure, and other errors by the lead author and by the GIS technician who created the digital database.
2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
   Polygons were primarily mapped by interpretation of 2-meter-resolution hillshaded bathymetry data interpreted from bathymetric lidar and sonar surveys (see BathyTopo data available in this data release), from visual observations of underwater sea floor video (also available in this data release), and from sediment samples (Reid and others, 2006). Sea floor video and sediment sample information positions are highly variable, on the order of 10 meters. Horizontal position given is ship position. Towed camera can be on the order of 10 meters distance from the ship during deployment. Map Unit contact locations were interpreted typically at a scale of 1:2,000 using the above base data. Bathymetric sonar and LiDAR data have a horizontal accuracy greater than the resolution of the base data. Map unit contacts were digitized by heads-up screen digitization of line data on 2-meter-resolution DEMs described above. Horizontal accuracy is estimated to be between 2 and 5 meters depending on how clearly contacts can be resolved. Most digitized positions on the map are estimated to have better than 5 m horizontal accuracy.
3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
   
4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
   Data are complete, no offshore features that could be accurately identified and represented at the compilation scale of 1:30,000 were eliminated or generalized. All geospatial database elements are attributed.
5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
   No checks for consistency were performed on this data.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   
   U.S. Geological Survey - CMGDS

   2885 Mission Street

   Santa Cruz, CA
   

   831-427-4747 (voice)

   pcmsc_data@usgs.gov
2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? These data are available in shapefile format (CMECS_OffshoreTacoma.shp and associated files) contained in a single zip file (CMECS_OffshoreTacoma.zip).
3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
   Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.
4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	Zip file contains the polygons shapefile and the associated metadata in format shapefile (version ArcGIS 10.8.1) Esri polygon shapefile Size: 4.2
     Network links:	https://doi.org/10.5066/P9KA6GH2 https://doi.org/10.3133/ds935

   • Cost to order the data: None.

5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
   These data can be viewed with GIS software.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 15-Mar-2023

Metadata author:

U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator

2885 Mission Street

Santa Cruz, CA

831-427-4747 (voice)

pcmsc_data@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)