Interpretation of Sea Floor Features of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) H11320 Sidescan Sonar and Bathymetric Data from Rhode Island Sound (H11320INTERP)

• Main Author: K.Y. McMullen
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: USGS Science Data Catalog 2007
• Subjects: U.S. Geological Survey; USGS; Coastal and Marine Geology Program; CMGP; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; NOAA; Woods Hole Science Center; WHSC; NOAA Ship RUDE; sidescan sonar interpretation; backscatter; Quaternary; polygon shapefile; Open-File Report 2007-1150; OFR 2007-1150; Holocene; interpretation; oceans; geoscientificInformation; Rhode Island Sound; Rhode Island; U.S. East Coast; North America; United States; Atlantic Ocean; North Atlantic Ocean; northeast United States; Sakonnet Point; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://search.dataone.org/view/d191d435-e998-4475-8b50-5373d8de0ade

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is working cooperatively with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to interpret the surficial geology in estuaries along the coast of the northeastern United States. The purpose of our present study is to define the sea floor morphology and sedimentary environments in an area of Rhode Island Sound using sidescan sonar imagery, multibeam bathymetry and seismic records. The mosaic, bathymetry, 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 and bathymetry images 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 interpretations of point measures.