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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Atlas: American Samoa, 2004 (NCEI Accession 0002827)

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Currently, the most widely used approach to sensitive environment mapping in the United States is the NOAA Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI). This approach systematically compiles information in standard formats for coastal shoreline sensitivity, biological resources, and human-use resources. ESI maps are useful for identifying sensitive resources before a spill occurs so that protection priorities can be established and cleanup strategies designed in advance. Using ESIs in spill response and planning reduces the environmental consequences of the spill and cleanup efforts. NOAA has undertaken a wide-ranging program to promote open ESI standards and to develop digital ESI databases for high-priority coastal areas in partnerships with states and other Federal agencies. NOTE: MAPS ARE NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES.

This ESI Atlas American Samoa: Maps and Geographic Information Systems Data contains geographic shape files (ArcView 3.x project and supporting shape and .dbf files) of the locale and identified sensitive areas and biota. Accompanying detailed Adobe Acrobat .PDF ESI maps, extensive metadata, a user guide, and files in MOSS (Map Overlay and Statistical System) format are also provided.

This dataset contains sensitive biological resource data for "Coral Areas of Special Significance" in American Samoa. Coral Areas of Special Significance were designated by resource experts as those areas that should be highly prioritized for protection following spills, due to various reasons (e.g., species diversity, rare coral, endangered/threatened marine animal species, high fish/invertebrate concentrations, sensitive habitat, etc.). In this data set, they are represented by vector points. See also the BENTHIC (Benthic Marine Habitat Polygons) data layer, part of the larger American Samoa ESI database, for additional coral information. Various biological and geographical data utilized in this atlas range from 1982-2003; data were compiled 2002-2004.
  • Cite as: Iredale, Harry; US DOC/NOAA > National Ocean Service - Seattle, WA (2006). Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Atlas: American Samoa, 2004 (NCEI Accession 0002827). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0002827. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:0002827
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  • FTP (download)
    These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP).
Distribution Formats
  • Originator data format
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
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 2002-01-01 to 2004-12-31
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -171.266
East: -167.964
South: -14.723
North: -10.873
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • NOAA Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps and geographic information systems data from 1900 to 2009
    • NCEI Collection
      Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download.
  • Parent ID (indicates this dataset is related to other data):
    • gov.noaa.nodc:NOS-ORR-ESI
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2006-09-06
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
DO NOT USE THESE MAPS FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES!

DISCLAIMER - NOAA makes no warranty regarding these data, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NODC cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data, nor as a result of the failure of these data to function on a particular system. MAPS SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES

Original data was submitted to NODC as the ESI Atlas CD-ROM American Samoa. Data may be imported into more current versions of Arc-GIS software (version 9.x and higher). Flat files are included for non-GIS use. Directory file details from the included file read1.pdf are as follows:

Read1.pdf
An electronic version of directories and files included on the original CD-ROM in Portable Document Format (pdf).

AVPROJ
This directory contains an ArcView project and the supporting shape and dbf files. The subdirectory AVPROJ contains the project file, SAMOA.APR, with documentation and software for installation.

The project itself is a single view containing a theme for each ESI data layer. Themes have been symbolized using the standard ESI colors and patterns. It includes links from the biology and socioeconomic themes to a flat file version of the ESI tables. An ESI menu enables links to searchable breeding and source tables for more complex queries. These links can also be turned off to maximize the performance of simpler queries.

DBFILES
This directory is broken down into two subdirectories, DESKTOP and RELFILES. The DESKTOP directory contains a simplified flat file format that permits data queries without establishing the complex links needed for the relational files. Supporting data tables allow more complex queries of the breeding and source items. These are the tables that are used in the ArcView project and with the ESI viewer. The RELFILES directory contains the relational data tables that were used during the ESI data collection. These are a set of normalized, relational tables that will maintain the integrity of the data during updates. Though they are considerably more complex, these tables should be used by those who will be responsible for maintaining and updating the ESI data set.

DOCUMENT
This directory contains atlas-specific metadata that should be referenced for entity and attribute information as well as data lineage. The metadata are provided in four different formats: html, sgml, text, and as a pdf. A second pdf entitled GUIDE is also in the document directory. This gives general information about how ESI data are collected and general GIS/database considerations.

ESI_VIEW
This directory contains Macintosh and Windows installers for an ESI data viewer. The viewer is comprised of MARPLOT, a mapping application produced by NOAA, and the associated data tables in a stand-alone version of Filemaker Pro. The first section of the TOUR document describes the installation procedure. TOUR will also help you to understand the ESI information and shows you how to formulate simple, yet useful queries. MARPLOT documentation is provided for more general questions.

MOSS
This directory contains the ESI geographic data in MOSS (Map Overlay and Statistical System)file format. This format may be used directly by MOSS GIS or its simple text format makes it easy to write translators to other GIS software. Users of these files should use the lookup tables provided in this directory (BIO_LUT.TXT and SOC_LUT.TXT) in place of the lookup tables in the DBFILES directory.

SOURCE
This directory contains the ESI geographic data in uncompressed, double-precision, Arc export file format. These data (as all geographic data on this CD) are provided in geographic coordinates, NAD83.

SYMBOLS
This directory contains the ESI symbology and lookup tables for use with ARCEDIT and ARCPLOT software. The .e00 files are exported versions of the font, lineset, markerset, and shadeset. A readme.txt file tells where these files should be installed. The associated lookup tables are in the LUT directory. These are INFO tables stored in uncompressed Arc export format.

PDFS
This directory contains electronic versions of the American Samoa ESI atlases in pdf format. The document GUIDE.PDF describes how to use the navigable pdf software, for example, to link from the index to the appropriate atlas page then to the back of the map. The pdfs may be used on-line or are excellent for printing out individual atlas pages.

The original disk for this NCEI accession has been transferred to the NOAA Central Library. A copy of each disk can be generated using the .iso files in the data/0-data/disc_image/ directory.
Purpose The ESI data were collected, mapped, and digitized to provide environmental data for oil spill planning and response. The Clean Water Act, with amendments by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, requires response plans for immediate and effective protection of sensitive resources.
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: Iredale, Harry; US DOC/NOAA > National Ocean Service - Seattle, WA (2006). Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Atlas: American Samoa, 2004 (NCEI Accession 0002827). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0002827. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Contributors
Resource Providers
Publishers
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
  • Map Images > Environmental Sensitivity Index
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Coastal Habitat
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Vegetation > Algae > Algal Cover
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Mapping > Habitat Mapping
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Vertebrates
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Hydrosphere > Water Quality > Contaminants > Chemical
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Habitats
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Fish
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Birds
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Mammals
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Reptiles
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS CoRIS Place Thesaurus
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000)
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
Project keywords NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Iredale, Harry; US DOC/NOAA > National Ocean Service - Seattle, WA (2006). Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Atlas: American Samoa, 2004 (NCEI Accession 0002827). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0002827. Accessed [date].
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
  • 2006-09-06T20:12:27Z - NCEI Accession 0002827 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • visual analysis
Last Modified: 2024-03-02T15:12:55Z
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