Fetch and Wave Exposure Indices for Canadian Coastal Bioregions

Fetch and wave exposure indices cover the coastal zones of the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy and Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves bioregions. The data includes unweighted fetch lengths for 32 compass headings per point and effective fetch for 8 headings. It provides derived indices like sum fetch, minimum fetch, and a relative exposure index for regional-scale modeling and planning.

Use Cases

• Model coastal species distribution using the relative exposure index (REI) and fetch lengths as physical gradients.
• Support marine spatial planning by analyzing effective fetch and unweighted fetch across 32 compass headings to assess wave exposure patterns.
• Calculate distance to land proxies using the minimum unweighted fetch length for each grid point.
• Derive custom exposure layers by applying alternative wind data to the provided effective fetch calculations for 8 headings.

Strengths

• Provides two distinct fetch measures (unweighted and effective) and three derived exposure indices for comprehensive analysis.
• Covers coastal zones of two major Canadian bioregions, offering broad spatial coverage for regional studies.
• Includes high-resolution data with unweighted fetch calculated for 32 compass headings at 11.25° intervals per point.

Limitations

• Sample data and specific row/column counts are unavailable, limiting preliminary assessment of data structure and volume.
• Data pre-processing methods and spatial resolution differ between the two regional analyses, requiring careful integration.
• The relative exposure index (REI) is provided only in raster format, which may require specific GIS tools for use.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Calculated from input points in an evenly spaced fishnet grid for each coastal region, using methodologies detailed in supplementary information.

Freshness

Last updated on 2026-03-24.

Geography

Coastal zones of the Scotian Shelf-Bay of Fundy and Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves bioregions in Canada.