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Data Release for USGS Field Activity 2014-607-FA

Oregon OCS Seafloor Mapping: Selected Lease Blocks Relevant to Renewable Energy

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BOEM Intra-agency Agreement M13PG00037

By Guy R. Cochrane, Peter Dartnell, Lenaig G. Hemery, and Gerry Hatcher

Suggested Citation:

Cochrane, G.R., Dartnell, P., Hemery, L.G., and Hatcher, G., 2017, Data release for USGS field activity 2014-607-FA, Oregon OCS seafloor mapping: selected lease blocks relevant to renewable energy (ver. 2.0, July 2017), U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7V40S8V.

First posted June 23, 2015
Revised July 25, 2017, ver. 2.0

Version History 2.0

 

Photograph of the bow, or front, of our boat R/V Snavely.

Figure 1. R/V Parke Snavely on site. [Larger version]

Operations

Operations were conducted using the USGS R/V Parke Snavely (Figure 1) equipped with a Reson 7111 multibeam sonar mounted on starboard side pole and a towed high definition video sled. Sonar data were acquired using Reson PDS 2000 software. Horizontal positions for navigation and data collection were determined by using a POS M/V V5 operating in Differential GPS (DGPS) mode. The horizontal datum was Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 10 North and the vertical datum was MLLW.

The survey was conducted using 12 hour day operations out of Charleston Harbor near Coos Bay, Oregon. The cruise plan consisted of 23 days on site split between sonar mapping and video ground truth surveying. Activities parsed out to nine days of sonar mapping, three days of video surveying, eight days of no operations due to weather, and three days mobilizing and demobilizing (Table 1). Typically the Snavely would transit out to the survey area in an hour at a speed of 20 knots. Multibeam sonar operations were conducted on north or south oriented tracklines at a speed of 4 to 5 knots depending on sea state. The optimal heading for sonar operations is isobath parallel. Video operations were conducted by deploying up drift of a target and drifting over it at speeds of 1 knot or less.

Table 1. Summary of daily activities.
Day Month Date BOEM Participant USGS Scientist Operations
Tu August 19     Sonar mobilization
We August 20   Guy Cochrane Sonar patch testing
Th August 21 Dave Pereksta Guy Cochrane Sonar mapping
Fr August 22 Dave Pereksta Guy Cochrane Sonar mapping
Sa August 23   Guy Cochrane No operations due to weather
Su August 24   Guy Cochrane No operations due to weather
Mo August 25   Guy Cochrane No operations due to weather
Tu August 26   Guy Cochrane No operations due to weather
We August 27 Dave Ball Guy Cochrane Sonar mapping
Th August 28 Dave Ball Guy Cochrane Sonar mapping
Fr August 29 Dave Ball Guy Cochrane Sonar mapping
Sa August 30 Frank Pendleton Guy Cochrane Sonar mapping
Su August 31 Frank Pendleton Guy Cochrane Sonar mapping
Mo September 1 Kevin Smith Peter Dartnell Sonar mapping
Tu September 2   Peter Dartnell Video mobilization
We September 3   Peter Dartnell No operations due to weather
Th September 4   Peter Dartnell No operations due to weather
Fr September 5   Peter Dartnell No operations due to weather
Sa September 6 Lisa Gilbane Peter Dartnell Video surveying
Su September 7 Lisa Gilbane Peter Dartnell Video surveying
Mo September 8   Peter Dartnell No operations due to weather
Tu September 9   Peter Dartnell Video surveying
We September 10   Peter Dartnell Demobilization

Sonar data were processed using Caris HIPS/SIPS software for the bathymetry and Fledermaus Geocoder for the backscatter intensity.

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Results

Approximately 95 square kilometers of area were mapped with multibeam sonar. The survey expanded the extent of mapping data collected by Solmar Hydro Inc. in 2013 under a contract with WindFloat Pacific. When added to the Solmar Hydro data the total area mapped is approximately 140 square kilometers (Figure 2).

Figure 2. See caption that follows.

Figure 2. Shaded relief image of all the available multibeam sonar bathymetry data. Small numbers are OCS lease blocks. Large numbers are depths in meters for bathymetry contours. Inset map shows location of survey as dark polygon off the State of Oregon. [Larger version]

Figure 3. See caption that follows.

Figure 3. Image of the multibeam sonar bathymetry data from the USGS survey. Numbers are depths in meters for bathymetry contours. [Larger version]


Figure 4. See caption that follows.

Figure 4. Image of the multibeam sonar backscatter intensity data from the USGS survey. Numbers are depths in meters for bathymetry contours. Rectangular patches of darker or lighter shade are artifacts of sonar equipment malfunction and data processing. [Larger version]

Mammal observations were made during multibeam operations (Table 2). The USGS voluntarily staffs its seismic and sonar ships with a trained mammal observer for seismic and sonar operations in Federal waters. The observer monitored the survey area for 30 minutes prior to the start up of the sonar system to ensure that no marine mammals were in the area. The observer called for system shut-downs when marine mammals entered the 160dB isopleth (safety zone). Whenever a marine mammal entered the safety zone the sound source was shut down until it was confirmed that the marine mammal had either left the safety zone, 15 minutes had passed after its last sighting, or the vessel transited to another trackline. The Reson 7111 multibeam sonar operates at a frequency of 213.5 kHz and has a peak source level of 213 db. The radius of the safety zone for the Reson 711 is 200 m.

Photograph of a whale showing its tail in the ocean. See caption that follows.

Figure 5. Whale observed during video transect portion of the research cruise. [Larger version]

Figure 6. See caption that follows.

Figure 6. Location of marine mammal observations during USGS multibeam sonar operations. [Larger version]

Table 2. Shipboard navigation log excerpts of marine mammal observations. The shipboard navigation log is not the official marine mammal observation log. The official log is hand written on paper forms.
Date Time Longitude Latitude Log Entry
8/20/14 18:13:43 -124.31808 43.350487 harbor seal on surface
8/20/14 18:17:10 -124.32232 43.35485 harbor seal
8/21/14 14:05:04 -124.37917 43.369942 dolphins, heading north
8/21/14 14:39:26 -124.60442 43.451747 Sea lion, 10m off port, heading south
8/22/14 13:50:17 -124.41097 43.382251 sea lion at 330 degrees - stationary
8/22/14 14:19:08 -124.58645 43.451191 Sea lion 100 m
8/22/14 14:27:25 -124.64228 43.472003 Sea lion
8/22/14 16:26:28 -124.71935 43.510209 northernfur seal. 300m, 130 degrees
8/22/14 18:47:25 -124.7357 43.49717 sea lion, 200m, basking, 20 degrees
8/27/14 14:28:14 -124.56894 43.394431 sea lion
8/27/14 17:45:42 -124.66834 43.364503 whale dove below headed south 200 m
8/27/14 17:50:06 -124.66949 43.363019 Whale - Humpback - Diving 20 meters shutdown
8/27/14 20:04:00 -124.68174 43.307434 sea lion
8/27/14 22:33:31 -124.69575 43.316124 sea lion 200m
8/27/14 23:15:19 -124.61425 43.34958 whale
8/28/14 14:30:40 -124.56534 43.352571 SEA LION SWIMMING EAST 200M 40DEG
8/28/14 19:44:55 -124.71582 43.31192 N. FUR SEAL, 300M 110DEG
8/28/14 19:50:20 -124.71561 43.303514 POD OF PILOT WHALES? >1KM 70DEG, SWIMMING SOUTH
8/28/14 20:08:06 -124.72305 43.297155 4 N. FUR SEALS 270DEG 200M
8/29/14 14:17:13 -124.63372 43.326282 whale 300m 40deg
8/29/14 17:10:56 -124.73133 43.340598 1 sea lion 60m 300deg
8/29/14 17:41:02 -124.73048 43.29956 pod of dolphins 350deg 1km
8/29/14 18:54:52 -124.74016 43.377214 1 sea lion sleeping 500m 20deg
8/29/14 19:00:06 -124.74029 43.383568 1 humpback 2km 70deg breaching
8/29/14 21:32:40 -124.75484 43.361145 2 Fur seals sleeping 500m 340deg
8/29/14 22:35:46 -124.76106 43.33091 1 fur seal 500 m 340deg
8/29/14 22:44:03 -124.76076 43.319687 1 fur seal basking 500m 90deg
8/29/14 22:48:24 -124.76069 43.314169 1 fur seal basking 300m 270deg
8/30/14 17:13:08 -124.77351 43.308634 1 seal or sea lion dove 300 m 270deg
8/30/14 17:58:27 -124.77469 43.36634 numerous white sided porpoise and sea lions approaching bow riding 40deg
8/30/14 22:10:01 -124.64403 43.516969 1 fur seal basking 50m 290deg
8/30/14 23:25:01 -124.59553 43.450814 2 humpback swimmingnw 1km 40deg
8/31/14 15:56:44 -124.63674 43.471274 numerous white sided dolphin approaching, bow riding 290deg and 1 sea lion
8/31/14 17:09:30 -124.63009 43.467337 1 whale dove 200m 40deg
8/31/14 17:12:59 -124.63005 43.462348 2 blue whale swimming 2km 270deg
8/31/14 17:43:27 -124.62835 43.425318 Fur Seal basking 200m 160deg
8/31/14 18:07:12 -124.62414 43.439729 numerous dolphin swimming away 40deg 300m
8/31/14 19:49:05 -124.61835 43.468075 2 blue whales? 300m 0deg shutdown move east
8/31/14 21:33:03 -124.60516 43.446283 1 humpback dove 300m 30deg
8/31/14 22:57:24 -124.59028 43.456526 numerous white sided 500m 20 deg
8/31/14 23:01:38 -124.55857 43.443094 2 humpback 1 km 40deg
8/31/14 23:15:22 -124.45578 43.401591 3 sea lions swimming 200 m 0deg
9/1/14 16:01:06 -124.65498 43.513044 sealion 1m starboard side, jump.

 

Figure 8. See caption that follows.

Figure 8. Locations of video transects to be used for geologic and biologic modeling. [Larger version]

The second half of the cruise was devoted to ground-truth video surveying. The video survey was designed after the sonar mapping to investigate sea floor features of interest. Features of interest include bathymetric features such as ridges and depressions, areas that represent the spectrum of backscatter intensity observed in the survey area, and areas that represent the spectrum of water depths surveyed. The camera sled (Figure 7) has downward and adjustable oblique-forward facing HD video cameras. A fiber optic cable is used to allow real time on board viewing of both camera feeds. There is a forward scanning sonar for collision avoidance. Conductivity and temperature are continuously recorded using a SeaBird Seacat 37-SM. Depth and altitude are measured to aid operations but not recorded. There is a downward facing still camera for small invertebrate identification but lighting was insufficient on this new camera sled for usable still images. Observations of the major and minor substrate type are made (Figure 8) as well as occasional comments about organisms, features, or objects of interest. There were 18 video transects; 11.6 hours of video were collected; the mean length of time per transect was 38 minutes.

Figure 7. See caption that follows.

Figure 7. Towed high-definition video sled. [Larger version]


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Web Services

Web services were created using an ArcGIS service definition file. The ArcGIS REST service and OGC WMS service include all the data layers listed in "GIS Data Files" table. Individual web services for each GIS file are available from the main service pages provided in the links below.

ArcMap Users: Instructions to use these services in ArcMap version 10.0 or above.

ArcGIS REST Service

OGC WMS Service

ArcGIS Project File

OregonOCSArcMap.zip (0.5 MB) is a compressed version of the ArcMap document (.mxd) that has all the data layers loaded in the table of contents and has all the data symbolized as on the view images provided below. Download and save this ArcGIS project file to the directory you created for this GIS. Download the individual layers you want from the list below and unzip them into a subdirectory named "data".

GIS Data Files

Each GIS data file is listed below with a brief description, a small image, and links to the metadata files and the downloadable data files. The data were compiled in ArcMap (version 10.1). Raster data layers are registered TIFF images and are in the UTM Zone 10 coordinate system. Point, line, and polygon features are in shapefile format and are projected in WGS 84 coordinates. We recommend that you create a single new folder named "data" within which to unzip the files you want to use.

The downloadable data files can be unzipped with Winzip (or other tool) on Windows systems. The .zip file for a TIFF image includes the image (.tif), the world registration file (.tfw), and the text (.txt) and XML (.tif.xml) versions of the metadata. The .zip for a shapefile includes the .aux, .dbf, .shp, .shx, .sbx, and .sbn files, as well as the text (.txt) and XML (.shp.xml) versions of the metadata.

Theme Description View File Format Metadata File Compressed File Size
Bathymetry (12m/pixel), Oregon OCS Survey 2014-607-FA Thumbnail of file. TIFF
32 bit float		 txt,
xml,
html,
faq		 OregonOCSbathym.zip 13 MB
Bathymetry Hillshade (2m/pixel), Oregon OCS Survey 2014-607-FA Thumbnail of file. TIFF
8 bit integer		 txt,
xml,
html,
faq		 OregonOCShillsh.zip 4 MB
Contours, Oregon OCS Survey 2014-607-FA Thumbnail of file. ESRI
Shapefile (line)		 txt,
xml,
html,
faq		 OregonOCScontou.zip 5 MB
Backscatter (12m/pixel), Oregon OCS Survey 2014-607-FA Thumbnail of file. TIFF
8 bit integer		 txt,
xml,
html,
faq		 OregonOCSbacksc.zip 10 MB
Visual observations of geologic substrate, Oregon OCS Survey 2014-607-FA Thumbnail of file. ESRI
Shapefile (points)		 txt,
xml,
html,
faq		 OregonOCSgeolog.zip 2.6 MB
Visual observations of Marine Mammals, Oregon OCS Survey 2014-607-FA Thumbnail of file. ESRI
Shapefile (points)		 txt,
xml,
html,
faq		 OregonOCSmammal.zip 2.4 MB
Video, Oregon OCS Survey 2014-607-FA Dive location map thumbnail. Digital Video Files (.zip) txt,
xml,
html,
faq		 See Video Page for individual .zip downloads Files range from
3.8 GB to
26 GB each

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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: https://doi.org/10.5066/F7V40S8V
Contact: Guy Cochrane