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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NCCOS Mapping: Geospatial products of water depth, acoustic backscatter, and ROV data collected from NOAA Ship Nancy Foster in the US Caribbean off the coast of St. Thomas, USVI from 2023-05-01 to 2023-05-10 (NCEI Accession 0303335)

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Multibeam and acoustic backscatter data collected from NOAA Ship Nancy Foster from 2023-05-01 to 2023-05-10. The majority of these data were collected using a Kongsberg EM2040.

Bathymetry grids were created using Qimera, and corrected to Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW). Backscatter mosaics were created using Fledermaus Geocoder Toolbox (FMGT). Data were acquired and processed to meet IHO Order 1 specifications. Survey depths vary from 33m to 58m. Processed data are available at 2m resolution.

During the field mission, a Mohawk 18 Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), operated by the University of North Carolina Undersea Vehicles Program collected HD photo and ground validation video. Video data is not included with this dataset. HD photos and video data are not included with this dataset.
  • Cite as: Battista, Timothy A. (2025). NCCOS Mapping: Geospatial products of water depth, acoustic backscatter, and ROV data collected from NOAA Ship Nancy Foster in the US Caribbean off the coast of St. Thomas, USVI from 2023-05-01 to 2023-05-10 (NCEI Accession 0303335). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/58fj-9506. Accessed [date].
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Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
+1-301-713-3277
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2023-05-01 to 2023-05-10
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -65.2535731
East: -65.0612274
South: 18.374516
North: 18.493229
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • Seafloor Characterization of the U.S. Caribbean
  • Benthic Habitat Viewer
  • Battista, Timothy (2023). NCCOS Mapping: Geospatial products of water depth, acoustic backscatter, and ROV data collected from NOAA Ship Nancy Foster in the Northeast Caribbean Sea surrounding St. Croix and St. Thomas, US. Virgin Islands from 2019-07-02 to 2019-07-12 (NCEI Accession 0276772). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/t188-9739.
  • Battista, Timothy A. (2023). NCCOS Mapping: Geospatial products of water depth, acoustic backscatter, and ROV data collected from NOAA Ship Nancy Foster in the Northeast Caribbean Sea in the off the coast of Guanica and Ponce, Puerto Rico from 2018-06-29 to 2018-06-07 (NCEI Accession 0276935). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/6ect-e988.
  • Battista, Timothy A. (2023). NCCOS Mapping: Geospatial products of water depth, acoustic backscatter, and ROV data collected from NOAA Ship Nancy Foster in the US Caribbean off the coast of Northwest Puerto Rico from 2022-03-14 to 2022-03-31 (NCEI Accession 0279008). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/81yf-2290.
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2025-04-16
  • creation: 2025-04-09
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Supplemental Information
This survey was performed in accordance with the NOAA Hydrographic Survey Specifications and Deliverables (HSSD) and Field Procedures Manual (FPM). NOAA Ship Nancy Foster (R352) was the platform for this survey.
Purpose Data were collected as part of an ongoing effort to characterize seafloor habitats within U.S. States, Territories, and Commonwealths. The objective of this project was to collect a multibeam bathymetry dataset with 100% seafloor ensonification, along with multibeam backscatter suitable for seafloor characterization. Fishery acoustics data was collected to characterize broad-scale fish abundance, biomass, and utilization patterns, as well as to locate and document fish spawning aggregations. Multibeam data collected conforms to IHO Order 1 (<100m) and Order 2 (>100m) accuracy standards. A moderate-depth Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) was used to capture ground validation imagery. The vehicle video and frame camera rated for depths of up to 300 meters and was used for transect sampling within areas mapped during this mission. A towed video sled was used intermittently to capture high resolution imagery of seafloor habitats. The strategies developed for each survey area took into account the minimum depths, general bathymetry, and time allotment.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Battista, Timothy A. (2025). NCCOS Mapping: Geospatial products of water depth, acoustic backscatter, and ROV data collected from NOAA Ship Nancy Foster in the US Caribbean off the coast of St. Thomas, USVI from 2023-05-01 to 2023-05-10 (NCEI Accession 0303335). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/58fj-9506. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Principal Investigators
Collaborators
Contributors
Resource Providers
Points of Contact
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • Funding Agency: NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)
  • NCCOS Partners: US DOC; NOAA; NOS; National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science; Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (NCCOS/CCMA)
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords NCCOS Research Data Type
  • Geospatial
NCCOS Research Priority
  • Marine Spatial Ecology
NCCOS Research Topic
  • Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments
  • Habitat Mapping
Provider Keywords
  • Depth
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Platform keywords NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords ICES/SeaDataNet Ship Codes Provider Platform Names
  • NOAA Ship Nancy Foster
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords Provider Instruments
  • Kongsberg EM2040 Multibeam Sonar
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords NCCOS Research location
  • Region > Caribbean Sea
  • U.S. States and Territories > USVI
Provider Place Names
  • US Caribbean Sea
Project keywords Cruise ID
  • NF-23-01
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Keywords Send2NCEI Submission Package ID
  • 7NC86E
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Battista, Timothy A. (2025). NCCOS Mapping: Geospatial products of water depth, acoustic backscatter, and ROV data collected from NOAA Ship Nancy Foster in the US Caribbean off the coast of St. Thomas, USVI from 2023-05-01 to 2023-05-10 (NCEI Accession 0303335). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/58fj-9506. Accessed [date].
Data License
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2025-04-16T17:41:16Z - NCEI Accession 0303335 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Parameter or Variable: Depth (measured); Units: Meters; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Kongsberg EM2040 Multibeam Sonar; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Sounding data were collected by Kongsberg multibeam sonars on board R/V Nancy Foster. Multibeam, sound speed, and GPS position data were incorporated and processed using Qimera where soundings were also reduced to mean lower low water as a vertical datum. Raster grids were created as a final product which show water depth in meters.; Data Quality Method: Data was acquired and processed in accordance with NOAA’s Hydrographic Survey Specifications and Deliverables (HSSD). For more information on QC standards please refer to the HSSD.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • acoustic sensor
  • multibeam sonar
Platform
  • NOAA Ship Nancy Foster
Last Modified: 2026-02-05T19:08:22Z
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