Boston Harbor Seafloor Bottom Types Interpretative Map

2000 and 2001 data collection defines bottom types of the seafloor in Boston Harbor and its approaches. Approximately 170 square kilometers of sidescan sonar and bathymetric data were collected by NOAA Ship Whiting. The data were reprocessed and gridded by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management and the U.S. Geological Survey.

Use Cases

• Classifying seafloor bottom types (e.g., rock, sediment) using the interpretative polygon features for habitat modeling.
• Analyzing the relationship between bathymetric depth data and bottom type classifications for geological studies.
• Using the polygon shapefile to create maps for coastal management decisions, such as marine protected area design or cable routing.

Strengths

• Covers approximately 170 square kilometers of seafloor.
• Integrates multiple data sources: sidescan sonar and bathymetric data.
• Data was reprocessed and gridded by authoritative agencies (CZM and USGS).

Limitations

• Data is from 2000-2001 and may not reflect recent seafloor changes.
• The description indicates the data is 'qualitatively-derived', suggesting potential for subjective interpretation.
• Specific sample size (row count) and column details are unknown.

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ship Whiting, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Collection Method

Sidescan sonar and bathymetric data collection, followed by reprocessing and gridding.

Time Range

2000-2001

Freshness

Last updated 2001-10-30; static historical snapshot.

Geography

Boston Harbor and harbor approaches, Massachusetts, USA.