Identification_Information:
  Citation:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator: Stephen D. Treacy, Minerals Management Service
      Publication_Date: Annually 1979-2001
      Title: BWASP_Data
      Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
      Other_Citation_Details: Previous survey reports (e.g., Treacy, S.D. 2002. Aerial surveys of endangered whales in the Beaufort Sea, Fall 2001. OCS Study MMS 2002-061. 117 pp.) are available from the Minerals Management Service, Office of Public Information, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4363.  Copies are available free of charge, as long as the supply lasts, from the above address.  Telephone requests may be placed at 1-800-764-2627 or (907) 334-5282.  E-mail requests may be posted to akwebmaster@mms.gov.  Once the limited supply is gone, copies will be available from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161, or may be inspected at selected Federal Depository Libraries.
      Online_Linkage: \\columbia\LE_GIS\projects\bwasp\Archive_CD\9_NODC\NODC_Aerial_Master.MDB
  Description:
    Abstract:
      The Minerals Management Service (MMS), previously Bureau of Land Management, has funded fall bowhead whale aerial surveys in this area each year since 1978, using a repeatable protocol from 1982 to the present.  Bowhead monitoring by MMS Environmental Studies Section, Alaska Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Region, normally overlaps the September-October "open-water" season when offshore drilling and geophysical exploration are feasible and when the fall subsistence hunt for bowhead whales takes place near Kaktovik, Nuiqsut, and Barrow, Alaska.

      The primary survey aircraft was a de Havilland Twin Otter Series 300.  The aircraft was equipped with three medium-size bubble windows that afforded complete viewing of the track-line.  Geographic positions of the aircraft were logged onto a laptop computer from a Global Navigation System (1982-1991) or a Global Positioning System (1992-2000).  Prior to 1992, many surveys in Block 12 (See Browse Graphic) were conducted from a Grumman Turbo Goose Model G21G.

      All bowhead (and beluga) whales observed were recorded, along with incidental sightings of other marine mammals.  Particular emphasis was placed on regional surveys to assess large-area shifts in the migration pathway of bowhead whales and on the coordination of effort and management of data necessary to support seasonal offshore-drilling and seismic-exploration regulations.  The selection of survey blocks to be flown on a given day was nonrandom, based primarily on criteria such as observed and predicted weather conditions over the study area and offshore oil-industry activities.  Otherwise, the project attempted to distribute effort fairly evenly east-to-west across the entire study area.  Aerial coverage favored inshore survey blocks (See Browse Graphic), since bowheads were rarely sighted north of these blocks in previous surveys (1979-1986).  Surveys were flown at a target altitude of 458 m in order to maximize visibility and to minimize potential disturbance to marine mammals.  Flights were normally aborted when cloud ceilings were consistently less than 305 m or the wind force was consistently above Beaufort 4.

      Daily flight patterns were based on sets of non-repeating transect grids computer-generated for each survey block.  Transect grids were derived by dividing each survey block into sections 30 minutes of longitude across.  One of the minute marks along the northern edge of each section was selected at random then connected by a straight line to a similarly selected endpoint along the southern edge of that same section.  This procedure was followed for all sections of that survey block.  These transect legs were then connected alternately at their northernmost or southernmost ends to produce one continuous flight grid within each survey block.  Gridlines were occasionally lengthened to cover both an inshore block and the block north of it. Lines were occasionally truncated due to extended poor visibility or to avoid potential interference with subsistence whaling activities.  For bowheads encountered "on transect", the aircraft sometimes circled for a brief (< 10 min) period to observe behavior, obtain better estimates of their numbers, and/or determine whether calves were present.  Any new groups sighted when circling were recorded as "on search".
    Purpose:
      The goals of the ongoing study Bowhead Whale Aerial Survey Project (BWASP) are:

      1.      Define the annual bowhead fall migration, significant inter-year differences, and long-term trends in distance from shore and water depth at which whales migrate.

      2.      Monitor temporal and spatial trends in the distribution, relative abundance, habitat, and behaviors (especially feeding) of endangered whales in arctic waters.

      3.      Provide real-time data to MMS and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) on the general progress of the fall migration of bowhead whales across the Alaskan Beaufort Sea for use in protection of this Endangered Species.

      4.      Provide an objective area-wide context for management interpretation of bowhead migrations and site-specific study results.

      5.  Record and map beluga whale distribution and incidental sightings of other marine mammals; and

      6.  Determine seasonal distribution of endangered whales in other planning areas of interest to MMS.
  Time_Period_of_Content:
    Time_Period_Information:
      Range_of_Dates/Times:
        Beginning_Date: April, 1979
        Ending_Date: October, 2001
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition
  Status:
    Progress: In work
    Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: Annually
  Spatial_Domain:
    Bounding_Coordinates:
      West_Bounding_Coordinate: -174.0134
      East_Bounding_Coordinate: -125.2533
      North_Bounding_Coordinate: 76.146
      South_Bounding_Coordinate: 57.725
  Keywords:
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: BLM-State Keyword Thesaurus
      Theme_Keyword: bowhead whale
      Theme_Keyword: gray whale
      Theme_Keyword: Balaena mysticetus
      Theme_Keyword: Eschrichtius robustus
      Theme_Keyword: endangered whales
      Theme_Keyword: marine mammals
      Theme_Keyword: wildlife
      Theme_Keyword: Alaska
    Place:
      Place_Keyword: Beaufort Sea
      Place_Keyword: Chuckchi Sea
      Place_Keyword: Bering Sea
  Access_Constraints: Discretionary, contains no sensitive information - generally considered releasable
  Use_Constraints:
    Any hardcopies or published data using these data shall clearly indicate their source.
    Any users wishing to modify these data are obligated to report the extent of their modifications to the Minerals Management Service.  User specifically agrees not to misrepresent modifications made to these data.
  Point_of_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Person_Primary:
        Contact_Person: Charles Monnett
        Contact_Organization: Minerals Management Service
      Contact_Position: Research Manager, Bowhead Whale Aerial Survey Project
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 907-334-5282
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 907-334-5242
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Charles.Monnett@MMS.Gov
      Contact_Instructions: Previous survey reports (e.g., Treacy, S.D. 2002. Aerial surveys of endangered whales in the Beaufort Sea, Fall 2001. OCS Study MMS 2002-061. 117 pp.) are available from the Minerals Management Service, Office of Public Information, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4363.  Copies are available free of charge, as long as the supply lasts, from the above address.  Telephone requests may be placed at 1-800-764-2627 or (907) 334-5282.  E-mail requests may be posted to akwebmaster@mms.gov.  Once the limited supply is gone, copies will be available from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161, or may be inspected at selected Federal Depository Libraries.
  Browse_Graphic:
    Browse_Graphic_File_Name: G:\LE\ESS\BWASP\NODC_Browse_Graphic.doc
    Browse_Graphic_File_Description: Block Areas
  Native_Data_Set_Environment: Microsoft Windows 2000 Version 5.0 (Build 2195) Service Pack 4; ESRI ArcCatalog 8.3.0.800
Data_Quality_Information:
  Lineage:
    Process_Step:
      Process_Description: Metadata imported.
    Process_Step:
      Process_Description: Metadata imported.
      Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: C:\DOCUME~1\maddend\LOCALS~1\Temp\xml22.tmp
    Process_Step:
      Process_Description: Metadata imported.
      Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: G:\LE\ESS\BWASP\NODC\Aerial_Master_metadata.xml
    Process_Step:
      Process_Description: Metadata imported.
      Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: C:\DOCUME~1\hellerm\LOCALS~1\Temp\xml43.tmp
Spatial_Reference_Information:
  Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
    Geographic:
      Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees
    Geodetic_Model:
      Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
      Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
  Detailed_Description:
    Entity_Type:
      Entity_Type_Label: BWASP_Data
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Event
      Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Unrepresentable_Domain: Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Flt_No
      Attribute_Definition: number indicating chronological order of sighting during one particular flight (before editing)
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: GMT_Minus8_DateTime
      Attribute_Definition: Indicates flight number
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Lat
      Attribute_Definition: Greenwich Mean Date and Time minus 8 hours
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Long
      Attribute_Definition: Latitude of aircraft in degrees, minutes, decimal minutes (DDMM.MMM)
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: ArcLat
      Attribute_Definition: Longitude of aircraft in degrees, minutes, decimal minutes (DDDMM.MMM)
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: ArcLong
      Attribute_Definition: Arcview latitude of aircraft, expressed in decimal degrees
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Alt
      Attribute_Definition: ArcView longitude of aircraft, expressed in decimal degrees
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: tide rip
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: open water
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Air_Head
      Attribute_Definition: Altitude of airplane, expressed in feet above sea level
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Entry
      Attribute_Definition: aircraft heading
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Species
      Attribute_Definition: Indicates whether sighting occured during "search," "transect," or "connect" leg of the flight.
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: s on search
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Indicates that this entry is a sighting made on the search leg of a flight, meaning that the airplane was en route to or from a target survey block or otherwise not along a transect grid
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: s on trans
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Indicates that the sighting was made on a transect leg of the flight (see abstract for details)
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: s on connect
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Indicates that the sighting occured during a connect leg of the flight; i.e. a leg of the flight connecting two randomly generated transect legs
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: p on trans
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: indicates that on this point of the transect the aircraft's position was recorded (not a sighting)
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: p on search
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: indicates that at this point on the search leg the aircraft's position was recorded (not a sighting)
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: p on connect
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: indicates that at this point on the "connect" leg of a flight, the aircraft's position was recorded (not a sighting)
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: start trans
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: indicates the position where a transect flight began
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: end trans
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: indicates the position where a transect flight ended
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: divert trans
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: indicates position that transect leg was temporarily diverted from in order to closer investigate sightings
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: resume trans
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: indicates position where transect leg was resumed after diverting
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: deadhead
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: indicates position where no survey effort was made, e.g. when over land or when at high altitudes with heavy cloud cover
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Sightcue
      Attribute_Definition: Indicates species sighted
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Habitat
      Attribute_Definition: visual cue that caused observer to first notice the animal.
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Behavior
      Attribute_Definition: Indicates habitat where animal was sighted
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Size
      Attribute_Definition: Indicates behavior of animal when it was first sighted
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: breach
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Whale(s) launching upwards such that half to nearly all of the body is above the surface before falling back into the water, usually on its side, creating an obvious splash
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: dive
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Whale(s) changing swim direction or body orientation relative to the water surface, resulting in submergence; may or may not include lifting the tail out of the water
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: underwater blow
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Whale(s) exhaling while submerged, thus creating a visible bubble
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: thrash
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Whale(s) exhibiting rapid flexure or gyration in the water
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: tail slap
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Whale(s) floating horizontally or head-downward in the water, waving tail back and forth above the water and striking the surface; usually seen in group situations
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: swim
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Whale(s) proceeding forward through the water propelled by tail pushes
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: spy hop
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Whale(s) extending head vertically out of the water such that up to one-third of the body, including the eye, is above the surface
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: roll
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Whale(s) rotating on the longitudinal axis, sometimes associated with mating
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: rest
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Whale(s) floating at the surface with head, or head and back exposed, showing no movement; more commonly observed in heavy-ice conditions than in open water
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: mill
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Whale(s) swimming slowly at the surface in close proximity (within 100 m) to other whales, often wtih varying headings
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: mate
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Ventral-ventral orienting of two whales, often with one or more other whales present to stabilize the mating pair.  Mating is often seen within a group of milling whales.  Pairs may appear to hold each other with their pectoral flippers and may entwine their tails.
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: log play
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Whale(s) milling or thrashing about in association with a floating log.
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: flipper slap
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Whale(s) floating on side, striking the water surface with pectoral flipper one or many times; usually seen wtihin groups or when the slapping whale is touching another whale.
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: feed
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Whale(s) diving repeatedly in a fixed general area, sometimes with mud streaming from the mouth and/or defecation observed upon surfacing.  Feeding behavior is further defined as synchronous diving and surfacing or echelon-formations at the surface with swaths of clearer water behind the whale(s), or as surface swimming with mouth agape
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: cow with calf
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: calf nursing; cow-calf pairs swimming within 20 m of each other
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: run
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: animal was running (generally polar bears)
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: slap
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: behavior was either a tail slap or a flipper slap
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Totalno
      Attribute_Definition: indicates subjective size of animal as described by observer
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Calfno
      Attribute_Definition: Total number of animals counted in a particular sighting.  (Note:  all entries to date equalling exactly 100 represent minimums; documentation of precise group size (>99) was not available; reports show daily totals)
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Clinometer
      Attribute_Definition: Total number of calves present in sighting; calf defn:  less than half the length of the accompanying adult
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Sop
      Attribute_Definition: clinometer angle:  angle down from horizon to the spot where the animal was sighted when that spot is abeam the aircraft
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Swimdir
      Attribute_Definition: side of plane from which sighting was made; l = left, r = right
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Swimspeed
      Attribute_Definition: predominant magnetic swim direction or heading of group at initial sighting
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Response
      Attribute_Definition: estimate of animals swimming speed
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: still
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: animal was not moving
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: slow (<)
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: indicates that animal was swimming between 0-2 km/hr
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: medium
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: indicates that animal was swimming at 2-4 km/hr
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: fast (>)
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: indicates that animal was swimming at >4 km/hr
      Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Information:
        Attribute_Value_Accuracy_Explanation: swimming speed was subjectively estimated by observing the time it took a whale to swim one body length.  An observed swimming rate of one body length per minute corresponded to an estimated speed of 1 km/hr.
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Repeat
      Attribute_Definition: Indicates whether or not animal responded to aircraft's presence
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Observer
      Attribute_Definition: Indicates whether or not this was considered a same-day repeat sighting
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Skycon
      Attribute_Definition: initials of the observer who first made the sighting
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Visimped
      Attribute_Definition: describes sky conditions; subjective observation
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: Clear
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: few or no clouds
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: partly cloudy
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: some blue breaks in sky above airplane
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: overcast
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: clouds everywhere above airplane
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Vis_left
      Attribute_Definition: greatest visibility impediment; subjective observation
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: precip
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: precipitation; visibility impairment was categorized as precipitation if there was either water or snow on the windows or a near-field squall
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: none
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: low ceiling
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: clouds below airplane
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: haze
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: low mists reducing long-range visibility
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: fog
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: in a cloud, or a cloud blocking field of vision
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: glare
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: sun reflection on water that obstructs greater than 1/3 of observer's field of vision
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Vis_right
      Attribute_Definition: estimate of visibility off left side of the plane (in kilometers)
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Icepercent
      Attribute_Definition: estimate of visibility off the right side of the plane (in kilometers)
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Icetype
      Attribute_Definition: observed percent of ocean surface covered by ice for area within 1 kilometer of airplane (frazil not included in estimate)
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Seastate
      Attribute_Definition: observed sea state (using Beaufort Wind Force classification system)
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: grease/new
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: smooth, flat ice; may or may not be snow-covered
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: frazil
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: subsurface crystals or floating ice beads, uncongealed; not included in total ice percentage estimate
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: new + bkn floe
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: primarily new ice, but mixed with thick chunks of old ice (broken floe) from previous years
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: bkn floe + new
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: primarily broken floe ice plus some new ice
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: broken floe
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: thick chunks of ice from previous years
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: floe
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: large solid field of thick ice (no breaks); a large field of pack ice
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: lead
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: crack or unclosed area in a floe
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: pack
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: solid floe ice as far as the eye can see (usually north of the fall study area)
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Enumerated_Domain:
          Enumerated_Domain_Value: shorefast
          Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: newly formed ice attached or adjacent to the shoreline
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Block
      Attribute_Definition: indicates which block (out of a total of of 12) sighting occured in
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Depth_m
      Attribute_Definition: water depth in meters
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: UTMZ6X
      Attribute_Definition: X-Coordinates re Universal Transverse Mercator Zone 6
      Attribute_Definition_Source: derived from the International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean containing grid cells 2.5 km square
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: UTMZ6Y
      Attribute_Definition: Y-Coordinates re Universal Transverse Mercator Zone 6
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Aerial_Survey
      Attribute_Definition: indicates whether sighting was made by the Bowhead Whale Aerial Survey Project (BWASP, conducted by the Minerals Management Service) or the Naval Ocean Systems Center (NOSC) and affiliated MMS contractors
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: Swimdir_True
      Attribute_Definition: True north swim direction
    Attribute:
      Attribute_Label: OBJECTID
      Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.
      Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
      Attribute_Domain_Values:
        Unrepresentable_Domain: Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
Distribution_Information:
  Resource_Description: Bowhead Whale Aerial Survey Project Reports, 1979-2001
  Distribution_Liability: No warranty is made by the Minerals Management Service as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data for individual use or aggregate use with other data.
  Standard_Order_Process:
    Ordering_Instructions: Previous survey reports (e.g., Treacy, S.D. 2002. Aerial surveys of endangered whales in the Beaufort Sea, Fall 2001. OCS Study MMS 2002-061. 117 pp.) are available from the Minerals Management Service, Office of Public Information, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4363.  Copies are available free of charge, as long as the supply lasts, from the above address.  Telephone requests may be placed at 1-800-764-2627 or (907) 334-5282.  E-mail requests may be posted to akwebmaster@mms.gov.  Once the limited supply is gone, copies will be available from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161, or may be inspected at selected Federal Depository Libraries.
Metadata_Reference_Information:
  Metadata_Date: 20041214
  Metadata_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: Minerals Management Service
        Contact_Person: Charles Monnett
      Contact_Position: Research Manager, Bowhead Whale Aerial Survey Project
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: physical address
        Address: 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500
        City: Anchorage
        State_or_Province: AK
        Postal_Code: 99503
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: 907-334-5282
      Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 907-334-5242
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Charles.Monnett@MMS.Gov
  Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
  Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
  Metadata_Time_Convention: local time
  Metadata_Extensions:
    Online_Linkage: http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html
    Profile_Name: ESRI Metadata Profile
  Metadata_Extensions:
    Online_Linkage: http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html
    Profile_Name: ESRI Metadata Profile
  Metadata_Extensions:
    Online_Linkage: http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html
    Profile_Name: ESRI Metadata Profile
  Metadata_Extensions:
    Online_Linkage: http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html
    Profile_Name: ESRI Metadata Profile
