Coastal Wave Exposure Indices for Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy

2022 calculations provide a relative wave exposure index (REI) and fetch-based metrics for the coastal zone of the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy bioregion. The dataset includes unweighted fetch for 32 compass headings and effective fetch for 8 headings per input point, derived from a 50-meter resolution grid within 5 km of the coastline and depths shallower than 50 meters. It supports regional-scale species distribution modeling and marine spatial planning.

Use Cases

• Model species distribution using the relative exposure index (REI) layer, which combines effective fetch with wind speed and frequency data.
• Analyze coarse wave exposure patterns using the sum of unweighted fetch lengths for each grid point.
• Assess proximity to land for coastal planning using the minimum unweighted fetch length metric.
• Compare wave exposure methodologies by evaluating unweighted fetch (32 headings) versus effective fetch (8 headings) calculations.

Strengths

• High spatial resolution data derived from a 50-meter grid and resampled REI layer at 35-meter resolution.
• Broad spatial coverage of the coastal zone within 5 km of the coastline and depths under 50 meters for the entire Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy bioregion.
• Multiple derived indices provided, including relative exposure index (REI), sum fetch, and minimum fetch from two fetch formulations.

Limitations

• Land feature data sources have mixed resolutions, with 1:50,000 scale for Canada but unknown resolution for St. Pierre and Miquelon and US states.
• The temporal coverage is a single snapshot from 2022, lacking time-series data on wave exposure changes.
• Sample data and specific row/column counts are unavailable, limiting pre-download assessment of data structure.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, derived from calculations by O'Brien JM, Wong MC, Stanley RRE (2022).

Collection Method

Calculated from wind fetch formulations using a 50-m fishnet grid, land features from NrCan (2017) and GADM (2012), and modeled wind data.

Time Range

Calculation based on 2022 methodology and referenced land data from 2012 and 2017.

Freshness

Data represents a 2022 calculation; the platform record was last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Coastal zone of the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy bioregion, Canada, including areas near St. Pierre and Miquelon and US states bordering the Gulf of Maine.