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  4. Data Release 10.5066/P97QM7NF

Donated AUV bathymetry and Chirp seismic-reflection data collected during Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute cruises in 2018-2019 offshore of south-central California

By Daniel J. Kennedy, Maureen A. Walton, Guy R. Cochrane, Charlie K. Paull, Dave Caress, Krystle Anderson, and Eve M. Lundsten

https://doi.org/10.5066/P97QM7NF

Dates

Published: Aug. 23, 2021

Data Collected: April 25, 2018 – May 11, 2019

Summary

This data release consists of donated AUV bathymetry and Chirp seismic-reflection data collected using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in 2018 and 2019. The collection of these data was funded entirely by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), and the data have been donated to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The data were collected in collaboration with the USGS and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and they are located in the same study area as the collaborative California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing I (Cal DIG I) project. The purpose of the overall Cal DIG I study is to assess shallow geohazards, benthic habitats, and thereby the potential for alternative energy infrastructure (namely floating wind turbines) offshore south-central California due to the study area's proximity to power grid infrastructure associated with the Morro Bay power plant.

Seismic Data

  • Donated AUV Chirp seismic-reflection data collected during Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) cruise in April 2018 offshore of south-central California

    This dataset consists of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Chirp seismic-reflection data collected in April 2018 aboard the R/V Rachel Carson, which is owned and operated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). During the cruise, data were collected across eight AUV dives, six of which collected coincident bathymetry and Chirp seismic-reflection data (two dives collected Chirp seismic-reflection data only). The collection of these data was funded entirely by MBARI, and the data have been donated to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The data were collected in collaboration with the USGS and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and they are located in the same study area as the collaborative California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing I (Cal DIG I) project. The purpose of the overall Cal DIG I study is to assess shallow geohazards, benthic habitats, and thereby the potential for alternative energy infrastructure (namely floating wind turbines) offshore south-central California due to the study area's proximity to power grid infrastructure associated with the Morro Bay power plant. The AUV data in this portion of the data release provide ultra-high-resolution subsurface imaging of eight different patches of seafloor offshore of the south-central California coast. The AUV mapping navigation has not been accurately positioned and is considered as only partially processed.

    Preview of dataset
    Colored bathymetry map offshore of south-central California overlaid with MBARI-donated seismic data in purple.
  • Donated AUV Chirp seismic-reflection data collected during Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) cruise in March 2019 offshore of south-central California

    This dataset consists of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Chirp seismic-reflection data collected in March 2019 aboard the R/V Rachel Carson, which is owned and operated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). During the cruise, data were collected across eight AUV dives, all eight of which collected coincident bathymetry and Chirp seismic-reflection data. The collection of these data was funded entirely by MBARI, and the data have been donated to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The data were collected in collaboration with the USGS and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and they are located in the same study area as the collaborative California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing I (Cal DIG I) project. The purpose of the overall Cal DIG I study is to assess shallow geohazards, benthic habitats, and thereby the potential for alternative energy infrastructure (namely floating wind turbines) offshore south-central California due to the study area's proximity to power grid infrastructure associated with the Morro Bay power plant. The AUV data in this portion of the data release provide ultra-high-resolution subsurface imaging of eight different patches of seafloor offshore of the south-central California coast. The AUV mapping navigation has not been accurately positioned and is considered as only partially processed.

    Preview of dataset
    Colored bathymetry map offshore of south-central California overlaid with MBARI-donated seismic data in red.
  • Donated AUV Chirp seismic-reflection data collected during Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) cruise in May 2019 offshore of south-central California

    This dataset consists of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Chirp seismic-reflection data collected in May 2019 aboard the R/V Rachel Carson, which is owned and operated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). During the cruise, data were collected across four AUV dives, all four of which collected coincident bathymetry and Chirp seismic-reflection data. The collection of these data was funded entirely by MBARI, and the data have been donated to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The data were collected in collaboration with the USGS and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and they are located in the same study area as the collaborative California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing I (Cal DIG I) project. The purpose of the overall Cal DIG I study is to assess shallow geohazards, benthic habitats, and thereby the potential for alternative energy infrastructure (namely floating wind turbines) offshore south-central California due to the study area's proximity to power grid infrastructure associated with the Morro Bay power plant. The AUV data in this portion of the data release provide ultra-high-resolution subsurface imaging of four different patches of seafloor offshore of the south-central California coast. The AUV mapping navigation has not been accurately positioned and is considered as only partially processed.

    Preview of dataset
    Colored bathymetry map offshore of south-central California overlaid with MBARI-donated seismic data in blue.

Sonar Data

  • Donated AUV bathymetry data collected during Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) cruise in April 2018 offshore of south-central California

    This dataset consists of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) bathymetry data collected in April 2018 aboard the R/V Rachel Carson, which is owned and operated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). During the cruise, bathymetry data were collected across six AUV dives, all six of which collected coincident bathymetry and Chirp seismic-reflection data. A seventh bathymetric survey, 201804_LuciaChica2m, consists of MBARI data from several AUV dives that were conducted pre-2018 but were compiled in April 2018; these data are not being released with coincident Chirp data. The collection of these data was funded entirely by MBARI, and the data have been donated to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The data were collected in collaboration with the USGS and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and they are located in the same study area as the collaborative California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing I (Cal DIG I) project. The purpose of the overall Cal DIG I study is to assess shallow geohazards, benthic habitats, and thereby the potential for alternative energy infrastructure (namely floating wind turbines) offshore south-central California due to the study area's proximity to power grid infrastructure associated with the Morro Bay power plant. The AUV data in this part of the data release provide ultra-high-resolution seafloor imaging of seven different patches of seafloor offshore of the south-central California coast. The AUV mapping navigation has not been accurately positioned and is considered as only partially processed.

    Preview of dataset
    Colored bathymetry map offshore of south-central California overlaid with MBARI-donated bathymetry data in greyscale.
  • Donated AUV bathymetry data collected during Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) cruise in March 2019 offshore of south-central California

    This dataset consists of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) bathymetry data collected in March 2019 aboard the R/V Rachel Carson, which is owned and operated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). During the cruise, bathymetry data were collected across eight AUV dives, all eight of which collected coincident bathymetry and Chirp seismic-reflection data. The collection of these data was funded entirely by MBARI, and the data have been donated to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The data were collected in collaboration with the USGS and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and they are located in the same study area as the collaborative California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing I (Cal DIG I) project. The purpose of the overall Cal DIG I study is to assess shallow geohazards, benthic habitats, and thereby the potential for alternative energy infrastructure (namely floating wind turbines) offshore south-central California due to the study area's proximity to power grid infrastructure associated with the Morro Bay power plant. The AUV data in this part of the data release provide ultra-high-resolution seafloor imaging of eight different patches of seafloor offshore of the south-central California coast. The AUV mapping navigation has not been accurately positioned and is considered as only partially processed.

    Preview of dataset
    Colored bathymetry map offshore of south-central California overlaid with MBARI-donated bathymetry data in greyscale.
  • Donated AUV bathymetry data collected during Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) cruise in May 2019 offshore of south-central California

    This dataset consists of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) bathymetry data collected in May 2019 aboard the R/V Rachel Carson, which is owned and operated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). During the cruise, bathymetry data were collected across four AUV dives, all four of which collected coincident bathymetry and Chirp and seismic-reflection data. The collection of these data was funded entirely by MBARI, and the data have been donated to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The data were collected in collaboration with the USGS and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and they are located in the same study area as the collaborative California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing (Cal DIG I) project. The purpose of the overall Cal DIG I study is to assess shallow geohazards, benthic habitats, and thereby the potential for alternative energy infrastructure (namely floating wind turbines) offshore south-central California due to the study area's proximity to power grid infrastructure associated with the Morro Bay power plant. The AUV data in this part of the data release provide ultra-high-resolution seafloor imaging of four different patches of seafloor offshore of the south-central California coast. The AUV mapping navigation has not been accurately positioned and is considered as only partially processed.

    Preview of dataset
    Colored bathymetry map offshore of south-central California overlaid with MBARI-donated bathymetry data in greyscale.

Related Field Activities

  • 2021-603-DD - View Details
  • 2021-604-DD - View Details
  • 2021-605-DD - View Details

    • Suggested Citation

    Kennedy, D.J., Walton, M.A.L., Cochrane, G.R., Paull, C., Caress, D., Anderson, K., and Lundsten, E., 2021, Donated AUV bathymetry and Chirp seismic-reflection data collected during Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute cruises in 2018-2019 offshore of south-central California: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P97QM7NF

Overview Image

Overview image of data release
Bathymetry map offshore of south-central California showing areas of MBARI-donated AUV survey data.