Dataset Identification:
Resource Abstract:
- description: The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Connecticut
Department of Environmental Protection, has produced detailed geologic maps of the sea floor in Long Island Sound, a major
East Coast estuary surrounded by the most densely populated region of the United States. These studies have built upon cooperative
research with the State of Connecticut that was initiated in 1982. The current phase of this research program is directed
toward studies of sea-floor sediment distribution, processes that control sediment distribution, nearshore environmental concerns,
and the relation of benthic community structures to the sea-floor geology. Anthropogenic wastes, toxic chemicals, and changes
in land-use patterns resulting from residential, commercial, and recreational development have stressed the environment of
the Sound, causing degradation and potential loss of benthic habitats (Koppelman and others, 1976; Long Island Sound Study,
1994). Detailed maps of the sea floor are needed to help evaluate the extent of adverse impacts and to help manage resources
wisely in the future. Therefore, in a continuing effort to better understand Long Island Sound, we have constructed and interpreted
sidescan sonar mosaics (complete-coverage acoustic images of the sea floor) within specific areas of special interest (Poppe
and Polloni, 1998; fig. 1). The mosaic presented herein covers a 41.1 km2 of the sea floor in north-central Long Island Sound
off Branford, Connecticut. The mosaics and their interpretations serve many purposes, including: (1) defining the geological
variability of the sea floor, which is one of the primary controls of benthic habitat diversity; (2) improving our understanding
of the processes that control the distribution and transport of bottom sediments and the distribution of benthic habitats
and associated infaunal community structures; and (3) providing a detailed framework for future research, monitoring, and
management activities. The sidescan sonar mosaics also serve as base maps for subsequent sedimentological, geochemical, and
biological observations, because precise information on environmental setting is important for selection of sampling sites
and for accurate interpretation of point measurements.; abstract: The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, has produced detailed geologic
maps of the sea floor in Long Island Sound, a major East Coast estuary surrounded by the most densely populated region of
the United States. These studies have built upon cooperative research with the State of Connecticut that was initiated in
1982. The current phase of this research program is directed toward studies of sea-floor sediment distribution, processes
that control sediment distribution, nearshore environmental concerns, and the relation of benthic community structures to
the sea-floor geology. Anthropogenic wastes, toxic chemicals, and changes in land-use patterns resulting from residential,
commercial, and recreational development have stressed the environment of the Sound, causing degradation and potential loss
of benthic habitats (Koppelman and others, 1976; Long Island Sound Study, 1994). Detailed maps of the sea floor are needed
to help evaluate the extent of adverse impacts and to help manage resources wisely in the future. Therefore, in a continuing
effort to better understand Long Island Sound, we have constructed and interpreted sidescan sonar mosaics (complete-coverage
acoustic images of the sea floor) within specific areas of special interest (Poppe and Polloni, 1998; fig. 1). The mosaic
presented herein covers a 41.1 km2 of the sea floor in north-central Long Island Sound off Branford, Connecticut. The mosaics
and their interpretations serve many purposes, including: (1) defining the geological variability of the sea floor, which
is one of the primary controls of benthic habitat diversity; (2) improving our understanding of the processes that control
the distribution and transport of bottom sediments and the distribution of benthic habitats and associated infaunal community
structures; and (3) providing a detailed framework for future research, monitoring, and management activities. The sidescan
sonar mosaics also serve as base maps for subsequent sedimentological, geochemical, and biological observations, because precise
information on environmental setting is important for selection of sampling sites and for accurate interpretation of point
measurements.
Citation
- Title 1-meter composite digital sidescan sonar mosaic of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) survey H11043 in
north-central Long Island Sound off Branford, Connecticut (H11043_GEO_WGS84.TIF).
-
- creation Date
2017-12-11T20:18:59.755247
Resource language:
Processing environment:
Back to top:
Metadata data stamp:
2018-08-06T20:54:56Z
Resource Maintenance Information
- maintenance or update frequency:
- notes: This metadata record was generated by an xslt transformation from a dc metadata record; Transform by Stephen M. Richard, based
on a transform by Damian Ulbricht. Run on 2018-08-06T20:54:56Z
Metadata contact
-
pointOfContact
- organisation Name
CINERGI Metadata catalog
-
- Contact information
-
-
- Address
-
- electronic Mail Address cinergi@sdsc.edu
Metadata language
eng
Metadata character set encoding:
utf8
Metadata standard for this record:
ISO 19139 Geographic Information - Metadata - Implementation Specification
standard version:
2007
Metadata record identifier:
urn:dciso:metadataabout:104c68a9-4ab9-4bd6-a96c-40ac576e05ba
Metadata record format is ISO19139 XML (MD_Metadata)