CMECS geoform, CMECS substrate, and surficial geology offshore of Cape Mendocino

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
CMECS geoform, CMECS substrate, and surficial geology offshore of Cape Mendocino
Abstract:
This shapefile has substrate, geomorphic, and geologic attributed polygons in the Offshore of Cape Mendocino, California, map area, one of 83 map areas of the California State Waters Map Series, USGS Data Series 781 (Golden, 2019). The polygons are derived from multibeam echosounder (MBES) data and derivatives of that data using video-supervised and unsupervised classification. Attributes and attribute values are named following the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS; Federal Geographic Data Committee, 2012) to be useful for ecosystems management.
Supplemental_Information:
Additional information about the USGS field activities from which some of these data were derived is available online at:
https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=C210NC
Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this Federal Geographic Data Committee-compliant metadata file is intended to document the data set in nonproprietary form, as well as in Esri format, this metadata file may include some Esri-specific terminology.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Cochrane, Guy R., 20231130, CMECS geoform, CMECS substrate, and surficial geology offshore of Cape Mendocino: data release DOI:10.5066/P9U0SUGL, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, California.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Cochrane, Guy R., 2023, Bathymetry, backscatter intensity, and benthic habitat offshore of Cape Mendocino, California: data release DOI:10.5066/P9U0SUGL, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Suggested Citation: Cochrane, G.R., 2023, Bathymetry, backscatter intensity, and benthic habitat offshore of Cape Mendocino, California: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9U0SUGL.
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -124.541806
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -124.372692
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.539138
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.376863
  3. What does it look like?
    CMECS_OffshoreCapeMendocino.jpg (JPEG)
    Preview image of classified CMECS geoforms offshore of Cape Mendocino
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Calendar_Date: 2011
    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 (350512)
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
      UTM_Zone_Number: 10
      Transverse_Mercator:
      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.9996
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -123.00000
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.00000
      False_Easting: 500000.0
      False_Northing: 0.00
      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 10.0
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 10.0
      Planar coordinates are specified in Meters
      The horizontal datum used is D_WGS_1984.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS_844.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.00.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257223563.
  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:350512
    Shape
    feature type (Source: Esri) polygon type vector object
    Shape_Area
    Area of polygon in square meters (Source: ESRI)
    Range of values
    Minimum:4
    Maximum:19287000
    Units:meters
    Resolution:1
    SubInd
    substrate induration class (Source: CMECS)
    ValueDefinition
    Hardrugged bedrock areas
    Mixedflat coarse sediment and bedrock areas
    Softflat fine grained sedimented areas
    Slope
    CMECS slope class (Source: CMECS)
    ValueDefinition
    Flatseafloor area sloping 0 to 5 degrees
    Slopingseafloor area sloping 5 to 30 degrees
    Steeply Slopingseafloor area sloping 30 to 60 degrees
    BPI
    bathymetry position index class (Source: Guy R. Cochrane)
    ValueDefinition
    Concaveareas with BPI values greater than 0.000001
    Convexarea with BPI values less than -0.000001
    Flatareas with BPI values between 0.000001 and -0.000001
    DepthZone
    ocean depth zones (Source: CMECS)
    ValueDefinition
    Circalittoraldepths ranging from 30 to 200 meters
    Deep Infralittoraldepths from 5 to 30 meters
    Mesobenthicdepths ranging from 200 to 1000 meters
    Shallow Infralittoradepths ranging from 0 to 5 meters
    Modifier
    CMECS code for modifier values (Source: CMECS)
    ValueDefinition
    SI1S1BDZ3substrate induration 1, slope 1, benthic depth zone 3
    SI1S1BDZ4substrate induration 1, slope 1, benthic depth zone 4
    SI1S1BDZ5substrate induration 1, slope 1, benthic depth zone 5
    SI1S2BDZ2substrate induration 1, slope 2, benthic depth zone 2
    SI1S2BDZ3substrate induration 1, slope 2, benthic depth zone 3
    SI1S2BDZ4substrate induration 1, slope 2, benthic depth zone 4
    SI1S2BDZ5substrate induration 1, slope 2, benthic depth zone 5
    SI1S3BDZ2substrate induration 1, slope 3, benthic depth zone 2
    SI1S3BDZ3substrate induration 1, slope 3, benthic depth zone 3
    SI1S3BDZ4substrate induration 1, slope 3, benthic depth zone 4
    SI1S3BDZ5substrate induration 1, slope 3, benthic depth zone 5
    SI2S1BDZ3substrate induration 2, slope 1, benthic depth zone 3
    SI2S1BDZ4substrate induration 2, slope 1, benthic depth zone 4
    SI2S1BDZ5substrate induration 2, slope 1, benthic depth zone 5
    SI2S2BDZ3substrate induration 2, slope 2, benthic depth zone 3
    SI2S2BDZ4substrate induration 2, slope 2, benthic depth zone 4
    SI2S2BDZ5substrate induration 2, slope 2, benthic depth zone 5
    SI2S3BDZ4substrate induration 2, slope 3, benthic depth zone 4
    SI3S1BDZ3substrate induration 3, slope 1, benthic depth zone 3
    SI3S1BDZ4substrate induration 3, slope 1, benthic depth zone 4
    SI3S1BDZ5substrate induration 3, slope 1, benthic depth zone 5
    SI3S2BDZ3substrate induration 3, slope 2, benthic depth zone 3
    SI3S2BDZ4substrate induration 3, slope 2, benthic depth zone 4
    SI3S2BDZ5substrate induration 3, slope 2, benthic depth zone 5
    SI3S3BDZ5substrate induration 3, slope 3, benthic depth zone 5
    ModDesc
    description of modifier codes (Source: CMECS)
    ValueDefinition
    Hard flat bottom at circalittoral depthdefinition of code SI1S1BDZ4
    Hard flat bottom at deep infralittoral depthdefinition of code SI1S1BDZ3
    Hard flat bottom at mesobenthic depthdefinition of code SI1S1BDZ5
    Hard sloping bottom at circalittoral depthdefinition of code SI1S2BDZ4
    Hard sloping bottom at deep infralittoral depthdefinition of code SI1S2BDZ3
    Hard sloping bottom at mesobenthic depthdefinition of code SI1S2BDZ5
    Hard sloping bottom at shallow infralittoral depthdefinition of code SI1S2BDZ2
    Hard steeply sloping bottom at circalittoral depthdefinition of code SI1S3BDZ4
    Hard steeply sloping bottom at deep infralittoral depthdefinition of code SI1S3BDZ3
    Hard steeply sloping bottom at mesobenthic depthdefinition of code SI1S3BDZ5
    Hard steeply sloping bottom at shallow infralittoral depthdefinition of code SI1S3BDZ2
    Mixed flat bottom at circalittoral depthdefinition of code SI2S1BDZ4
    Mixed flat bottom at deep infralittoral depthdefinition of code SI2S1BDZ3
    Mixed flat bottom at mesobenthic depthdefinition of code SI2S1BDZ5
    Mixed sloping bottom at circalittoral depthdefinition of code SI2S2BDZ4
    Mixed sloping bottom at deep infralittoral depthdefinition of code SI2S2BDZ3
    Mixed sloping bottom at mesobenthic depthdefinition of code SI2S2BDZ5
    Mixed steeply sloping bottom at circalittoral depthdefinition of code SI2S3BDZ4
    Soft flat bottom at circalittoral depthdefinition of code SI1S1BDZ4
    Soft flat bottom at deep infralittoral depthdefinition of code SI3S1BDZ3
    Soft flat bottom at mesobenthic depthdefinition of code SI1S1BDZ5
    Soft sloping bottom at circalittoral depthdefinition of code SI1S2BDZ4
    Soft sloping bottom at deep infralittoral depthdefinition of code SI3S2BDZ3
    Soft sloping bottom at mesobenthic depthdefinition of code SI1S2BDZ5
    Soft steeply sloping bottom at mesobenthic depthdefinition of code SI3S3BDZ5
    Geoform
    geoform code for polygon (Source: CMECS)
    ValueDefinition
    Gt2p20convergent active continental margin tectonic setting, submarine canyon physiographic setting
    Gt2p20g55.2convergent active continental margin tectonic setting, submarine canyon physiographic setting, slump scar geoform
    Gt2p6convergent active margin tectonic setting, continental shelf physiographic setting, depression geoform
    Gt2p6g14convergent active margin tectonic setting, continental shelf physiographic setting, depression geoform
    Gt2p6g14.1convergent active margin tectonic setting, continental shelf physiographic setting, scour depression geoform
    Gt2p6g48convergent active continental margin tectonic setting, continental shelf physiographic setting, ridge geoform
    Gt2p6g50convergent active continental margin tectonic setting, continental shelf physiographic setting, rock outcrop geoform
    Gt2p6g9convergent active continental margin tectonic setting, continental shelf physiographic setting, channel geoform
    Gt2p8g48convergent active continental margin tectonic setting, continental slope physiographic setting, ridge geoform
    Gt2p8g50convergent active continental margin tectonic setting, continental slope physiographic setting, channel geoform
    Gt2p8g62convergent active continental margin tectonic setting, continental slope physiographic setting, slope geoform
    GeofrmDesc
    description of geoform (Source: CMECS)
    ValueDefinition
    Channelchannel formed by gravitational transport of sediment across the shelf
    Depressiona soft bottom depression not part of a channel
    Ridgea convex linear hard- or mixed-bottom feature
    Rock outcropan exposure of bedrock on the seafloor
    Scour depressionshallow depressed area of coarse sediment and flat bedrock formed by bottom current winnowing of shelf sediment
    Shelfflat sediment covered continental shelf
    Slopesloping or steeply sloping area on the shelf
    Slump scarhard steeply sloping area created by slumping
    Submarine canyonsubmarine canyon physiographic setting
    Geology
    geologic unit (Source: Guy R. Cochrane)
    ValueDefinition
    QccfHolocene canyon fill sand, gravel, landslide deposits, and bedrock outcrops
    QmgLate holocene gravel with sand and shell hash
    QmsMarine nearshore and shelf deposits (late Holocene); mostly sand; ripples common
    QmscCoarse-grained marine nearshore and shelf deposits (late Holocene); Coarse sand and gravel to boulders
    QmsdMarine shelf scour depressions (Holocene); Inferred to be coarse sand and gravel, in low-relief scour depressions
    QmsfFine-grained marine shelf deposits (Holocene); Mostly mud, and fine sand
    coBedrock exposed by landslide
    co2Melange
    co3Sandstone and argillite
    fcSedimentary rocks of the False Cape terrane
    GeolgyDesc
    geologic unit description (Source: Guy R. Cochrane)
    ValueDefinition
    Bedrock exposed by landslideabbreviated description of geologic unit co
    Holocene coarse sand and gravelabbreviated description of geologic unit Qmsd
    Holocene mud and fine sandabbreviated description of geologic unit Qmsf
    Late Holocene gravel with sand and shell hashabbreviated description of geologic unit Qmg
    Holocene submarine canyon fillabbreviated description of geologic unit Qccf
    Late Holocene sand commonly rippledabbreviated description of geologic unit Qms
    Holocene coarse sand and possible gravelabbreviated description of geologic unit Qmsc
    Melangeabbreviated description of geologic unit co2
    Sandstone and argilliteabbreviated description of geologic unit co3
    Sedimentary rocks of the False Cape terraneabbreviated description of geologic unit fc
    Substrate
    substrate code for polygon (Source: CMECS)
    ValueDefinition
    S1.1.1Bedrock
    S1.2.1.1Gravel
    S1.2.1.2Gravel mix
    S1.2.1.3.1Gravelly sand
    S1.2.2.2Sand
    S1.2.2.3Muddy sand
    S1.2.2.4Sandy mud
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    shapefile consisting of 350512 polygons classified into 11 CMECS geoforms
    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

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Guy R. Cochrane
  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?

To expand geologic mapping to the seafloor within California's State Waters, to update coastal habitat mapping, and to contribute to a uniform regional habitat database. Additionally, to provide a habitat map for the public and Eco-science community to aid in land-use and land-management decisions both onshore and offshore.

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: 2023 (process 1 of 3)
    Mosaics of bathymetry and backscatter intensity data for the map area were created from component surveys conducted by Fugro Pelagos Inc. and the California Seafloor Mapping Lab at California State University Monterey Bay in 2005.
    Date: 2023 (process 2 of 3)
    Seafloor induration was derived from the backscatter intensity and derived ruggedness rasters using the video-supervised method of Cochrane (2008). The CMECS Substrate Induration values are described in Federal Geographic Data Committee (2012).
    Date: 2023 (process 3 of 3)
    The seafloor induration raster was combined with a CMECS slope class raster, a bathymetry index raster and a CMECS depth zone raster resulting in 62 unique classes of seafloor. The raster was filtered to reduce the number of small areas and converted to polygons. The resulting shapefile has a few geoforms that were classified by hand in places where geologic interpretation was used.
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Golden, Nadine, 2019, California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog: Data Series DS 781, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Golden, N.E., compiler, 2019, California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog, https://doi.org/10.3133/ds781.
    Federal Geographic Data Committee, 2012, Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Federal Geographic Data Committee, 2012, Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, 343 p.
    Cochrane, Guy R., 2008, Video-supervised classification of sonar data for mapping seafloor habitat.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Cochrane, G.R., 2008, Video-supervised classification of sonar data for mapping seafloor habitat, in Reynolds, J.R., and Greene, H.G., eds., Marine habitat mapping technology for Alaska: Fairbanks, University of Alaska, Alaska Sea Grant College Program, p. 185-194.
    McLaughlin, R.J., S.D. Ellen, M.C. Blake, Jr.,, A.S. Jayko, W.P. Irwin, K.R. Aalto, G.A. Carver, and, and S.H. Clarke, Jr., 2000, Geology of the Cape Mendocino, Eureka, Garberville, and Southwestern part of the Hayfork 30 x 60 Minute Quadrangles and Adjacent Offshore Area, Northern California.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    R.J. McLaughlin, S.D. Ellen, M.C. Blake, Jr., A.S. Jayko, W.P. Irwin, K.R. Aalto, G.A. Carver, and S.H. Clarke, Jr., 2000, USGS Miscellaneous Field Studies MF-2336.

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    Polygons were derived using video supervised classification and unsupervised classification, and attribute values assigned to polygons are based in part on geologic interpretation; the accuracy of the attribute values and of substrate observations from video 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 technicians who created the digital database.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Polygons were mapped by numerical classification of 2-meter-resolution backscatter intensity, and derivatives of bathymetry data, and from visual observations of underwater sea floor video. Sea floor video information position accuracies are highly variable, on the order of 10 meters. Horizontal position given is ship position. A towed camera can be on the order of 10 meters distance from the ship during deployment. MBES data have a horizontal accuracy of approximately 2 meters in continental shelf depths. A horizontal accuracy of polygon boundaries cannot be quantified.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Data are complete, in the conversion of rasters with 2-m resolution some small areas were eliminated by filtering to reduce the number of small polygons. The smallest area represented is approximately 0.5 square meters. 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?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints None
Use_Constraints USGS-authored or produced data and information are in the public domain from the U.S. Government and are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize and acknowledge the U.S. Geological Survey as the originator of the dataset and in products derived from these data.
  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_OffshoreCapeMendocino.shp and associated files) contained in a single zip file (CMECS_OffshoreCapeMendocino.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?
  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: 30-Nov-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)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/pcmsc/DataReleases/CMGDS_DR_tool/DR_P9U0SUGL/CMECS_OffshoreCapeMendocino_metadata.faq.html>
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