Buck Island Bathymetry from 2011 Airborne LiDAR Survey

NOAA_NCEI provides a 3x3 meter resolution bathymetric surface for Buck Island Reef National Monument and surrounding waters in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Fugro LADS, NOAA, the University of New Hampshire, and the National Park Service collected 35.9 square kilometers of LiDAR data between February 21 and 22, 2011. Depth values are referenced to Mean Lower Low Water and cover a range from 0 to 49 meters.

Use Cases

• Model seafloor topography and slope using the 3x3 meter resolution depth values for coastal engineering projects.
• Map coral reef and seagrass habitats by correlating bathymetric depth with relative seafloor reflectivity data.
• Analyze sediment transport and erosion patterns from high-resolution bathymetric changes over time.
• Calibrate and validate satellite-derived bathymetry products using the precise airborne LiDAR depth measurements.

Strengths

• 35.9 square kilometers of high-resolution LiDAR coverage.
• 3x3 meter spot spacing with 200% seabed coverage for detailed modeling.
• Depth data is precisely referenced to Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) heights.

Limitations

• Data is from a single snapshot in February 2011 and does not reflect recent changes.
• Coverage is limited to a specific 35.9 sq km area around Buck Island, St. Croix.
• Data acquisition was influenced by daily environmental factors like water clarity and cloud cover.

Provenance

Source

Fugro LADS, NOAA's NOS/NCCOS/CCMA Biogeography Branch, University of New Hampshire, National Park Service.

Collection Method

Airborne LiDAR survey using a LADS Mark II system with a 900 Hz Nd:YAG laser, processed with CARIS HIPS and SIPS.

Time Range

2011-02-21 to 2011-02-22

Freshness

2011-02-22

Geography

Buck Island Reef National Monument and surrounding waters, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (UTM Zone 20N NAD83).