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Spatial extent and examples of seafloor mapping data sets (multibeam bathymetry and sidescan sonar) available to the MLPA Initiative for state waters along the Central California Coast, compiled by Carrie Bretz & Rikk Kvitek, Seafloor Mapping Lab, California State University, Monterey Bay. http://seafloor.csumb.edu

Figure 1. Extent of marine habitat mapping data along the Central California Coast. Data sets represented include those from various state and federal agencies, educational institutions and private companies willing and able to share information. Most modern multibeam sonar systems produce both multibeam bathymetry and sidescan sonar data, so where multibeam surveys are shown on the following chart, sidescan data also exist. Where sidescan surveys are shown, only sidescan data are available.

The following figures illustrate the differences in the types of seafloor mapping data available along the California coast.

Figure 2. Yankee Point area along the Big Sur coast as depicted on NOAA nautical chart showing depth contours and bathymetric soundings. This image is representative of the type of seafloor habitat data available for the majority of California State Waters.

Figure 3.  High-resolution DEM (digital elevation model) in shaded relief of the seafloor at Yankee Point created using multibeam sonar. Rocky relief and soft sediment habitats are easily discernible, and can be quickly and accurately classified into habitat types using automated computer programs. DEM’s created at different times of the same area can be subtracted from each other to precisely quantify environmental change (e.g. sediment transport, erosion and burial).

Figure 4. A sidescan sonar image of the Yankee Point area, in which different bottom types (sand, gravel, rock) appear as various shades of gray.

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