Measurements made near the mid-Atlantic coastal region of the continental shelf in 2005.

As a member of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO), Virginia, through its Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program, collected information on how the public uses the Atlantic coast of Virginia through a two day particpatory GIS workshop in July of 2012. These baseline data were collected to inform planning efforts being undertaken by Virginia CZM to help develop a Virginia Ocean Plan, to help Virginia CZM and the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission (A-NPDC) to continue development of the Seaside Special Area Management Plan, and to be incorporated into a regional recreational ocean use dataset that will eventually be displayed on the MARCO data portal.

Measurements made near the mid-Atlantic coastal region of the continental shelf in 2005 and 2006.

The dataset archives observed and model-simulated turbulence intensity and meteorological profiles and timeseries at the Air-Sea Interaction Tower (ASIT) of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Martha’s Vineyard Coastal Observatory (MVCO). The observational data were measured by lidar and buoy deployed at ASIT. The simulated profiles and timeseries data are interpolated in time and/or space according to observations. Simulations were carried out for the mid-Atlantic region using the revised Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model version 4.2 that incorporates the implementation of online turbulence intensity (TI) calculations (Tai et al. 2023). The simulated atmospheric profiles at the Shell Exploration and Production Corporation's Tension Leg Platforms Ursa and Mars are archived. Physics parameterizations chosen for the simulations include the Thompson microphysics parameterization, Mellor-Yamada-Nakanishi Niino (MYNN) boundary layer parameterization, Mellor-Yamada-Janjic surface layer parameterization, Unified Noah land-surface parameterization, and the RRTMG longwave and shortwave radiation parameterization. Initial and boundary conditions are taken from NOAA’s High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) product. The JPL 0.01-degree Level 4 Multiscale Ultrahigh Resolution (MUR) Global Foundation Sea Surface Temperature (SST) Analysis (V4.1) data are used as the model’s SST forcing.

Measurements made near the mid-Atlantic coastal region and Monterey Bay in 2005 and 2006.

The Ocean Data Inventory database is an inventory of all of the oceanographic time series data held by the Ocean Science Division at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography. The data archive includes about 5800 current meter and acoustic doppler time series, 4500 coastal temperature time series from thermographs, as well as a small number (200) of tide gauges. Many of the current meters also have temperature and salinity sensors. The area for which there are data is roughly defined as the North Atlantic and Arctic from 30° - 82° N, although there are some minor amounts of data from other parts of the world. The time period is from 1960 to present. The database is updated on a regular basis.

MAR-ECO (2003 - 2010)was an international exploratory study of the animals inhabiting the northern mid-Atlantic. Scientists from 16 nations around the northern Atlantic Ocean participated in research of the waters around the mid-Atlantic Ridge from Iceland to the Azores. This data set is subset of the data collected, and comprises presence/absence records (sightings) for mammals and birds, collected in 2004 on R/V G.O. Sars. Skov,H, T. Gunnlaugsson, W.P. Budgell, J. Horne, L. Nøttestad, E. Olsen, H. Søiland, G. Víkingsson and G. Waring (2008) Small-scale spatial variability of sperm and sei whales in relation to oceanographic and topographic features along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Deep-sea Research II. 55: 254-268.

Species Distribution Models (SDM) were used to predict and identify priority areas for enhanced monitoring of cetaceans in eastern Canadian waters off Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador. This data set represents information presented in Gomez et al. (2020) and includes sighting records and SDM outputs for ten cetacean species with sufficient records (n > 450) and sightings only for an additional six species. For more information about sighting records including which were included in each SDM, please see Gomez et al. 2020. This study used a compilation of aerial- and vessel-based cetacean sightings data from 1975-2015 assembled in Gomez et al. (2017) from variety of sources. Note that sightings data from many of these sources are not effort-corrected and apparent distribution patterns based on these opportunistic sightings data are biased by when and where survey activities were conducted. Unfavorable weather and reduced visual effort in winter, spring, and autumn likely account for the fewer sighting records in these seasons compared to summer. The dataset does not include dead animal, stranding, entanglement or entrapment data. While some of the databases include records obtained during the whaling period (catches or sightings recorded prior to 1975), for all analyses/modelling conducted in this study, only sightings of free-swimming whales obtained during the post-whaling period (1975-2015) were used. Quality control checks included discarding all records outside of our study area and removing redundant records (identical species, day, month, latitude and longitude).The data used do not reflect any updates or corrections to the databases that have occurred since the data were compiled in 2016. Sightings are not available for download here, please contact the original data sources listed below to obtain raw sightings data. This study represents an important initiative in eastern Canada to highlight key areas for cetacean monitoring in waters off Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador. Habitats with high suitability are interpreted as areas where cetacean monitoring efforts may be prioritized, and results can help direct future survey efforts. These model outputs used cetacean sightings from several decades and dynamic environmental predictors that used seasonal averages across multiple years. As proxies for prey availability, five predictor environmental variables were selected for the SDM: ocean depth, compound topographic index, sea surface temperature, areas of persistently high chlorophyll-a concentration, and regional chlorophyll-a magnitude. See Gomez et al. (2020) for further details on modelling methods. Persistent patterns over time (between 1975-2015) are the main patterns expected to be captured by these models. Further, SDM results presented here are not the same as species density maps; rather, they portray predicted suitable habitat based on environmental characteristics and sightings data that were not always derived from effort-based surveys. Consequently, the use of these models in marine spatial planning processes should be accompanied by complimentary approaches such as acoustic and visual validation of the SDM results as well as additional monitoring and modeling efforts. Please refer to Gomez et al. (2020) for examples on how to best use these data outputs. Future efforts will focus on using more recent data and improving these models to facilitate the inclusion of cetaceans in marine spatial planning processes that are currently underway. Data sources: Fisheries and Oceans Canada Maritimes region and Newfoundland and Labrador region (Whale Sightings Database, Ocean and Ecosystem Sciences Division, Dartmouth, NS; http://www.inter.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Maritimes/SABS/popec/sara/Database, MacDonald et. al. 2017) Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS; http://www.iobis.org/), North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium (NARWC; http://www.narwc.org/) Whitehead Lab at Dalhousie University (http://whitelab.biology.dal.ca/) Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (Canadian Wildlife Service) Eastern Canada Seabirds at Sea (ECSAS) program (Gjerdrum et al. 2012). References: Gomez, C., Konrad, C.M., Vanderlaan, A., Moors-Murphy, H.B., Marotte, E., Lawson, J., Kouwenberg, A-L., Fuentes-Yaco, C., Buren, A. 2020. Identifying priority areas to enhance monitoring of cetaceans in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3370: vi + 103 p. http://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/40869155.pdf Gomez C, Lawson J, Kouwenberg A, Moors-Murphy H, Buren A, Fuentes-Yaco C, Marotte E, Wiersma YF, Wimmer T. 2017. Predicted distribution of whales at risk: identifying priority areas to enhance cetacean monitoring in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Endangered Species Research 32:437-458 https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/esr/v32/p437-458/ Gjerdrum, C., D.A. Fifield, and S.I. Wilhelm. 2012. Eastern Canada Seabirds at Sea (ECSAS) standardized protocol for pelagic seabird surveys from moving and stationary platforms. 31 Canadian Wildlife Service Technical Report Series No. 515. Atlantic Region. vi + 37 p. MacDonald, D., Emery, P., Themelis, D., Smedbol, R.K., Harris, L.E., and McCurdy, Q. 2017. Marine mammal and pelagic animal sightings (Whalesightings) database: a user’s guide. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3244: v + 44 p.

In collaboration with state, regional, and federal partners, New York Department of State (DOS) employed participatory methods to gather detailed information about the characteristics and locations of New York’s offshore recreational uses in order to better understand how and where New York residents are using and enjoying ocean resources. These data are intended to support New York's marine spatial planning efforts. DOS staff worked with NOAA’s Coastal Services Center (CSC) to design and develop a participatory mapping process. Leaders from 30 partner organizations and other knowledgeable individuals were invited to participate in one of five offshore use workshops conducted during the summer of 2011: two each in Riverhead and Baldwin, and one in Manhattan.At the workshops, DOS and CSC trained organizational contacts and knowledgeable individuals to work with their colleagues, constituents, and memberships to collect ocean use information. At the conclusion of the workshops, participants were provided with information-collecting kits containing navigation charts, information tables, guidance for meeting with their members and collecting information, sample charts and tables, and copies of several one-pagers explaining DOS’s marine spatial planning process, ocean uses, offshore habitats, and offshore renewable energy development.Workshop participants collected ocean use information from their peers over several months, and the marked-up charts with corresponding information tables were returned to DOS, representing over 130 records of new ocean use information. DOS digitized the geographic information provided by ocean users and created an aggregate dataset, including linked attribute data characterizing each mapped use area. DOS staff returned to the organizations that provided ocean use information to “ground truth” the digitized data during the winter of 2011 and through the spring of 2012. These geographic data were updated/corrected based on participant feedback.View Dataset on the Gateway

SeaDataNet is the Pan-European infrastructure for marine and ocean data management and delivery services. It is supported by the EU under its Research Infrastructures programme. It connects 40 National Oceanographic Data Centres (NODC's) and 50 other data centres from 35 countries, bordering the European seas and Atlantic Ocean. The centres are mostly part of major marine management and research organisations that are acquiring and managing a large collection of marine and ocean data from various disciplines. This includes major international organisations, ICES and IOC-IODE. The overall objective is provide overview and access to marine and oceanographic data and data-products from government and research institutes in Europe. SeaDataNet contributes to the implementation of the EU INSPIRE and Marine Strategy Framework Directives. It also plays a key role in the development and operation of the EU EMODNet initiative. The SeaDataNet infrastructure is fully operational and INSPIRE compliant. It includes a versatile SeaDataNet portal (https://www.seadatanet.org) that provides users with a range of metadata, data and data product access services as well as standards, tools and guides for good marine data management. The Common Data Index (CDI) data discovery and access service provides harmonised access to the large volumes of datasets that are managed by the connected data centres. The CDI service contains already references and gives access to more than 1,5 milllion marine and oceanographic datasets as managed by 90 data centres. These numbers are increasing regularly because of further data population and more connected data centres as part of SeaDataNet II, EMODnet and other EU projects. For inclusion in the SeaDataNet INSPIRE compliant CSW service, the CDI records (at granule level) have been aggregated into CDI collections by a combination of Discipline, Data Centre, and geometric type. Each CSW XML record therefore represents a large collection of individual metadata records and associated datasets. By following the specified URL to the SeaDataNet portal users can evaluate these metadata in detail and request access by downloading of interesting datasets via the shopping cart transaction system that is integrated in the SeaDataNet portal.

Measurements of Cyanate and CDOM made in the mid-Atlantic Bight by researchers at NASA's Ocean Ecology Lab's Field Support Group.

This dataset cntains habitat-based Cetacean Density Models for the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, prepared by the Marine-life Data and Analysis Team (MDAT). In 2014, the Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab (MGEL) of Duke University began work with the Northeast Regional Ocean Council(NROC), the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science(NCCOS), the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) and Loyola University Chicago, as part of the Marine-life Data Analysis Team (MDAT), to characterize and map marine life in the Northeast region in support of the In 2015, the Mid Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean (MARCO) contracted with MDAT to build upon and expand this effort into the Mid-Atlantic planning area, and in support of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Plan. These research groups collaborated to produce “base layer” predictive model products with associated uncertainty products for 29 marine mammal species or species guilds and 40 avian species, and three geospatial products for 82 fish species. MDAT member MGEL had already begun developing habitat-based density models for marine mammals as part of the US Navy funded project Habitat-based cetacean density models for the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.” The publication, downloadable model results, and supplementary information (https://seamap.env.duke.edu/models/mdat/) compiled the Atlantic habitat-based density model results and four products characterizing model uncertainty. The individual species maps represent the results of distance sampling modeling methodology applied to 23 years of aerial and shipboard cetacean surveys, linked with remote sensing and ocean model environmental covariates. The models extend to the US EEZ boundary along the entire US Atlantic coast, and some model results extend into Canadian waters. The 95% and 5% Confidence Interval, the Coefficient of Variation, and Standard Error grids are provided as supporting statistical measures of model uncertainty. The MGEL model efforts were funded by the U.S. Navy and NASA. MGEL led this assessment to inform several concurrent processes: The renewable energy policy decisions in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) waters by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM); The Environmental Impact Statement by the U.S. Navy to assess the effects of training activities; Re-assessment of the designated Critical Habitat areas for the North Atlantic right whale by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS); Re-evaluation of the status of regional populations of humpback and Bryde’s whales under the Endangered Species Act. MDAT incorporated the Atlantic models and uncertainty products into the products delivered to the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic (US) Regional Planning Bodies to inform ocean planning.View Dataset on the Gateway

This data displays the location of shipwreck diving locations. In collaboration with state, regional, and federal partners, New York Department of State (DOS) employed participatory methods to gather detailed information about the characteristics and locations of New York’s offshore recreational uses in order to better understand how and where New York residents are using and enjoying ocean resources. These data are intended to support New York's marine spatial planning efforts. DOS staff worked with NOAA’s Coastal Services Center (CSC) to design and develop a participatory mapping process. Leaders from 30 partner organizations and other knowledgeable individuals were invited to participate in one of five offshore use workshops conducted during the summer of 2011: two each in Riverhead and Baldwin, and one in Manhattan.At the workshops, DOS and CSC trained organizational contacts and knowledgeable individuals to work with their colleagues, constituents, and memberships to collect ocean use information. At the conclusion of the workshops, participants were provided with information-collecting kits containing navigation charts, information tables, guidance for meeting with their members and collecting information, sample charts and tables, and copies of several one-pagers explaining DOS’s marine spatial planning process, ocean uses, offshore habitats, and offshore renewable energy development.Workshop participants collected ocean use information from their peers over several months, and the marked-up charts with corresponding information tables were returned to DOS, representing over 130 records of new ocean use information. DOS digitized the geographic information provided by ocean users and created an aggregate dataset, including linked attribute data characterizing each mapped use area. DOS staff returned to the organizations that provided ocean use information to “ground truth” the digitized data during the winter of 2011 and through the spring of 2012. These geographic data were updated/corrected based on participant feedback.View Dataset on the Gateway

Ocean Biogeographic Information System USA (OBIS-USA) aims to include all available marine data from USA sources (programs, institutions, and people), all available data about marine species in USA waters, which include portions of the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico, and data of special interest to USA researchers, for example from polar expeditions and other remote areas. The NBII OBIS-USA portal brings data together for USA waters and research programs, ensuring consistency, quality, and usability in the region. To search this extensive USA marine database click on the link below.

SeaDataNet is the Pan-European infrastructure for marine and ocean data management and delivery services. It is supported by the EU under its Research Infrastructures programme. It connects 40 National Oceanographic Data Centres (NODC's) and 50 other data centres from 35 countries, bordering the European seas and Atlantic Ocean. The centres are mostly part of major marine management and research organisations that are acquiring and managing a large collection of marine and ocean data from various disciplines. This includes major international organisations, ICES and IOC-IODE. The overall objective is provide overview and access to marine and oceanographic data and data-products from government and research institutes in Europe. SeaDataNet contributes to the implementation of the EU INSPIRE and Marine Strategy Framework Directives. It also plays a key role in the development and operation of the EU EMODNet initiative. The SeaDataNet infrastructure is fully operational and INSPIRE compliant. It includes a versatile SeaDataNet portal (http://www.seadatanet.org) that provides users with a range of metadata, data and data product access services as well as standards, tools and guides for good marine data management. The Common Data Index (CDI) data discovery & access service provides harmonised access to the large volumes of datasets that are managed by the connected data centres. The CDI service contains already references and gives access to more than 1,5 milllion marine and oceanographic datasets as managed by 90 data centres. These numbers are increasing regularly because of further data population and more connected data centres as part of SeaDataNet II, EMODnet and other EU projects. For inclusion in the SeaDataNet INSPIRE compliant CSW service, the CDI records (at granule level) have been aggregated into CDI collections by a combination of Discipline, Data Centre, and geometric type. Each CSW XML record therefore represents a large collection of individual metadata records and associated datasets. By following the specified URL to the SeaDataNet portal users can evaluate these metadata in detail and request access by downloading of interesting datasets via the shopping cart transaction system that is integrated in the SeaDataNet portal.

The dataset comprises 67 hydrographic data profiles, collected by a conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) sensor package, from across the Irish Sea and St. George's Channel, and the North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W) areas specifically the North and west coasts of Scotland, Minches and Clyde, during February and March of 2003. A complete list of all data parameters are described by the SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary (PDV) keywords assigned in this metadata record. The data were collected by the Fisheries Research Services Aberdeen Marine Laboratory.

This data set represents smoothed, 2-foot bare earth contours (isolines) for the Hampton River-Frontal Atlantic Ocean (0106000310) HUC 10 unit. It was derived from a data set which was compiled from LIDAR collections in NH available as of spring, 2019. The raster was filtered using the ArcGIS FOCAL STATISTICS tool with a 3x3 circular neighborhood. The contours were generated using the ArcGIS CONTOUR tool while applying a Z factor of 3.2808 to convert the elevation values from meters to feet. The filtered contours were then smoothed using the ArcGIS SMOOTH LINE tool. The data include an INDEX field with values of 10 and 100 to flag 10 and 100-foot contours. Note on HUC 01060000310: Due to limitations in the source LIDAR data, some anomalies exist in the generated contours in coastal areas of the state. These were left in the data so that users can determine what further processing best meets their application needs.

Original provider: NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)

Dataset credits: Southeast Fisheries Science Center, NOAA

Abstract: Mid Atlantic Tursiops Surveys (MATS) were conducted in 1995 by NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center to examine the distribution and estimate an index of relative abundance for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) inhabiting the nearshore coastal waters in mid-and southern Atlantic bight. This data set contains sightings of not only the target dolphins but also other species including cetaceans, sea turtles, fish and shark observed during the aerial surveys.

The same transects were traced three times on different dates during the survey period. This data set is the second one. The other two are provided, too, with the number following MATS95s indicating the first, second and last.

Cetacean and sea turtles observed include as follows. << Cetacean >> Atlantic spotted dolphin Standard Bottlenose dolphin

<< Sea Turtle >> Hardshell Kemp's ridley Leatherback Loggerhead

Survey's transects information is available in MATS95s2Efforts.

Purpose: The purpose of this survey was to examine the distribution and estimate an index of relative abundance for Atlantic bottlenose dolphins inhabiting the nearshore coastal waters of the U.S. mid- and southern Atlantic bight.

Supplemental information: Records with no common name are some pollution observed (e.g. plastic).

Records were assigned a sequential number LineNo. LineNo can be used to match observations with corresponding transects, each of which has BegLineNo and EndLineNo fields. Observation records with their LineNo between BegLineNo and EndLineNo in a transect are related to that transect.

A duplicated LineNo indicates more than one species were observed at the same time.

Records include 'off-effort' sightings as well. Card 'F' indicates that the observation was done while off-effort. Card D is used for observation while on effort.

When searching for a specific species, note that some records don't identify animals observed at a species level. If this is the case, the common/scientific name may be genus/family or higher (e.g. Balaenoptera sp.).

The dataset comprises 5 hydrographic data profiles, collected by a conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) sensor package, from across the North Sea and the North East Atlantic Ocean (limit 40W) areas specifically the Fair Isle - Munken (Faroe) [SEFOS standard section 19], Nolso (Faroe) - Flugga (Shetland) [SEFOS standard section 18], along the Faroe Bank - Butt of Lewis [SEFOS standard section 17], the standard JONSIS, East Shetland (ES) [SEFOS standard section 20] and northern North Sea (EC) sections. The data were collected during April of 1994. A complete list of all data parameters are described by the SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary (PDV) keywords assigned in this metadata record. The data were collected by the Scottish Office Agriculture Environment and Fisheries Department Aberdeen Marine Laboratory.