Skip to main content
Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Geospatial, temperature, and depth data collected during towed-diver surveys of coral reef ecosystems across the U.S. Pacific Islands from 2000-09-09 to 2017-06-20 (NCEI Accession 0189889)

browse graphicPreview graphic
The geospatial, temperature and depth data included in this dataset are from towed-diver surveys (also referred to as towboard surveys) of coral reef ecosystems conducted during Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) cruises to the Hawaiian and Mariana Archipelagos, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas from 2000 to 2017 by the Ecosystem Sciences Division (formerly known as the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division) at the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC).

Generally, the towed-diver survey method involved towing a pair of SCUBA divers—one benthic and one fish—behind a small boat for 50 minutes, approximately following the ~15-m depth contour and covering a linear distance of about 2-3 kilometers per survey. A complete 50-minute towed-diver survey is divided into ten 5-minute segments, and up to 6 towed-diver surveys were conducted per day.

Each diver was equipped with a towboard outfitted with instrumentation and used to record observations, and the divers attempted to maintain position ~1 meter above the surface of the reef for the duration of the survey. Both towboards were equipped with a SeaBird™ SBE39 temperature/depth sensor that recorded water temperature and depth every 5 seconds. The survey tracks were also recorded every 5 seconds using a GPS receiver located on the small boat. The survey tracks were georeferenced and a script was applied to 1) adjust the GPS waypoints from the boat's position to the estimated positions of the divers while conducting the surveys, 2) correlate the associated temperature and depth data, and 3) lace the waypoints together (with the merged temperature and depth data) into 5-min segments and tow tracks. The dataset includes the adjusted dive points, as well as the segments and tow tracks which are provided as shapefiles.
  • Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2019). Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Geospatial, temperature, and depth data collected during towed-diver surveys of coral reef ecosystems across the U.S. Pacific Islands from 2000-09-09 to 2017-06-20 (NCEI Accession 0189889). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0189889. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:0189889
Download Data
  • HTTPS (download)
    Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download.
  • 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
  • CSV
  • ESRI Shapefile
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 2000-09-09 to 2017-06-20
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: 142.43534
East: -154.80475
South: -14.91070487
North: 28.45932075
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2019-07-03
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
Submission Package ID: 70GE51
Purpose The geospatial data are collected to georeference the visual observations from towed-diver surveys of large-bodied fishes and benthic habitats/key benthic species and to provide ancillary temperature and depth data so that biotic observations could be linked to salient physical parameters. Towed-diver surveys are a good method for obtaining a general description of large reef areas, assessing large-scale disturbances (e.g., bleaching), and assessing general distribution and abundance patterns of large-bodied (>50 cm) fishes and macro-invertebrates (e.g., crown of thorns, giant clams). Towed-diver surveys were conducted during Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP) to support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems. Pacific RAMP, established by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) and supported by NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), was tasked with documenting and understanding the status and trends of coral reef ecosystems in the U.S. Pacific Islands Region. Pacific RAMP involved interdisciplinary monitoring of oceanographic conditions and biological surveys of organisms associated with hard-bottom habitats in the 0-30 m depth range and aimed to support integrated, consistent and comparable monitoring of coral reef systems. RAMP missions were conducted in each Pacific region, including the Hawaiian and Mariana Archipelagos, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas, every 1-3 years. Starting in 2013, Pacific RAMP was incorporated into NOAA's National Coral Reef Monitoring Program.
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: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2019). Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Geospatial, temperature, and depth data collected during towed-diver surveys of coral reef ecosystems across the U.S. Pacific Islands from 2000-09-09 to 2017-06-20 (NCEI Accession 0189889). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0189889. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Collaborators
Contributors
Resource Providers
Points of Contact
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • Related Funding Agency: NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus
  • Geographic Information > Ecological Characterization
CoRIS Theme Thesaurus
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring > Linear Transect (line)
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring > Linear Transect (point)
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > GIS
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > In Situ Physical
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Water Depth
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs
  • EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Temperature > Water Temperature
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords Provider Keywords
  • TDS
  • towboard
  • towed diver
  • towed-diver survey
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Contributing Data Centers
  • CRED
  • CREP
  • Coral Reef Ecosystem Division
  • Coral Reef Ecosystem Program
  • ESD
  • Ecosystem Sciences Division
  • PIFSC
  • Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
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
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS CoRIS Place Thesaurus
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Agrihan Island > Agrihan Island (18N145E0002)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Aguihan > Aguihan Island (Aguijan) (14N145E0006)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Alamagan Island > Alamagan Island (17N145E0002)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Anatahan > Anatahan Island (16N145E0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Farallon de Pajaros > Farallon de Pajaros (20N144E0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Guguan > Guguan Island (17N145E0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Maug > Maug Island (20N145E0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands > Arakane Reef (15N141E0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) (18N146E0000)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands > Pathfinder Reef (16N141E0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands > Stingray Shoals (20N142E0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Pagan > Pagan Island (18N145E0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Rota > Rota Island ( Luta ) (14N145E0007)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Saipan > Saipan Island (15N145E0002)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Sarigan Island > Sarigan Island (16N145E0003)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Supply Reef (16N145E0004)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Tinian > Tatsumi Reef (14N145E0011)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Tinian > Tinian Island (14N145E0005)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Manu'a Islands (14S170W0038)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ofu Island (14S169W0013)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Olosega Island (14S169W0014)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > South Bank (14S170W0067)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Santa Rosa Bank (12N144E0051)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Hawaii Island (19N155W0003)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Kauai Island (22N159W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Molokai Island (21N157W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > French Frigate Shoals (24N166W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Gardner Pinnacles (25N168W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Kure Atoll (28N178W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Laysan Island (25N171W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Lisianski Island (25N173W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Maro Reef (25N170W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Midway Atoll (28N177W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Necker Island (23N164W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Nihoa (23N161W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (28N178W0000)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Oahu (21N157W0003)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Pearl and Hermes Reef (27N176W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Raita Bank (25N168W0002)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Kauai > Kaula Island (21N160W0003)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Kauai > Lehua Island (22N160W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Kauai > Niihau Island (21N160W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Lanai Island (20N156W0002)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Maui Island (20N156W0004)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Molokini Islet (20N156W0003)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Baker Island (00N176W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Howland Island (00S176W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Jarvis Island (00S160W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Johnston Atoll (16N169W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Kingman Reef (06N162W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001)
  • COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Wake Atoll (19N167E0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Manu'a Islands (14S170W0038)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > South Bank (14S170W0067)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Baker Island > Baker Island (00N176W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Hawaii Island > Hawaii Island (19N155W0003)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Kauai Island > Kauai Island (22N159W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Lanai Island > Lanai Island (20N156W0002)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Maui Island > Maui Island (20N156W0004)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Molokai Island > Molokai Island (21N157W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Molokini Island > Molokini Islet (20N156W0003)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Niihau Island > Kaula Island (21N160W0003)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Niihau Island > Lehua Island (22N160W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Niihau Island > Niihau Island (21N160W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Oahu Island > Oahu (21N157W0003)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Howland Island > Howland Island (00S176W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Johnston Atoll > Johnston Atoll (16N169W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Jarvis Island (00S160W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Kingman Reef (06N162W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (28N178W0000)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > French Frigate Shoals (24N166W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Gardner Pinnacles (25N168W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Kure Atoll (28N178W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Laysan Island (25N171W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Lisianski Island (25N173W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Maro Reef (25N170W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Midway Atoll (28N177W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Necker Island (23N164W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Nihoa (23N161W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Pearl and Hermes Reef (27N176W0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Raita Bank (25N168W0002)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Wake Atoll > Wake Atoll (19N167E0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ofu Island (14S169W0013)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Olosega Island (14S169W0014)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Agrihan Island > Agrihan Island (18N145E0002)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Aguihan Island Reefs > Aguihan Island (Aguijan) (14N145E0006)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Alamagan Island > Alamagan Island (17N145E0002)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Anatahan Island > Anatahan Island (16N145E0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Arakane Reef > Arakane Reef (15N141E0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Farallon de Pajaros > Farallon de Pajaros (20N144E0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Guam > Santa Rosa Bank (12N144E0051)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Guguan Island > Guguan Island (17N145E0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Mariana Archipelago > Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) (18N146E0000)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Mariana Islands > Stingray Shoals (20N142E0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Maug Island > Maug Island (20N145E0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Pagan Island > Pagan Island (18N145E0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Pathfinder Reef > Pathfinder Reef (16N141E0001)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Rota Island > Rota Island ( Luta ) (14N145E0007)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Saipan Island > Saipan Island (15N145E0002)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Sarigan Island > Sarigan Island (16N145E0003)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Supply Reef (16N145E0004)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Tinian Island > Tatsumi Reef (14N145E0011)
  • OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Tinian Island Reefs > Tinian Island (14N145E0005)
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords Provider Place Names
  • CNMI
  • Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
  • Equatorial Pacific Ocean
  • MHI
  • Main Hawaiian Islands
  • Mariana Islands
  • Marianas
  • Marianas Trench Marine National Monument
  • NW Pacific
  • NWHI
  • PMNM
  • PRIA
  • PRIMNM
  • Pacific Remote Island Areas
Project keywords NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS CRCP Project
  • 1221
  • 587
  • 743
  • C204 Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP): Biennial monitoring for the US Pacific Islands and AtollsC204 Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP): Biennial monitoring for the US Pacific Islands and Atolls
  • National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP)
  • Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Monitoring coral reef ecosystems of the US Pacific Islands and Atolls
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2019). Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Geospatial, temperature, and depth data collected during towed-diver surveys of coral reef ecosystems across the U.S. Pacific Islands from 2000-09-09 to 2017-06-20 (NCEI Accession 0189889). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0189889. 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
  • 2019-07-03T18:40:29Z - NCEI Accession 0189889 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Parameter or Variable: DEPTH - SENSOR (measured); Units: meter; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Temperature Sensors; Sampling and Analyzing Method: A SeaBird™ SBE39 temperature/depth logger was mounted to each of the towboards (benthic and fish) and recorded water temperature and depth every 5 seconds. The loggers were set to Greenwich Mean Time and synchronized with the other timing devices each morning using the calibrated clock on the research vessel. Following each day of field operations (up to 6 towed-diver surveys per day), the SBE39 temperature and depth data from each towboard was downloaded in ascii format and post-processed with the corresponding GPS waypoints and metadata (start/end time for each towed-diver survey) using a custom Python script run in ArcGIS. The DIVE POINTS file includes the temperature and depth data recorded (MEASURED) from the benthic and fish SBE39s and also includes the mean temperature and mean depth of the combined benthic and fish SBE39 data (CALCULATED)..
  • Parameter or Variable: WATER TEMPERATURE (measured); Units: degrees Celsius; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Temperature Sensors; Sampling and Analyzing Method: A SeaBird™ SBE39 temperature/depth logger was mounted to each of the towboards (benthic and fish) and recorded water temperature and depth every 5 seconds. The loggers were set to Greenwich Mean Time and synchronized with the other timing devices each morning using the calibrated clock on the research vessel. Following each day of field operations (up to 6 towed-diver surveys per day), the SBE39 temperature and depth data from each towboard was downloaded in ascii format and post-processed with the corresponding GPS waypoints and metadata (start/end time for each towed-diver survey) using a custom Python script run in ArcGIS. The DIVE POINTS file includes the temperature and depth data recorded (MEASURED) from the benthic and fish SBE39s and also includes the mean temperature and mean depth of the combined benthic and fish SBE39 data (CALCULATED)..
  • Parameter or Variable: LATITUDE (calculated); Units: decimal degree; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: GPS; Sampling and Analyzing Method: A GPS receiver located on the small boat recorded the boat’s position at the same interval as the SeaBird™ SBE39 temperature/depth logger (every 5 seconds). The GPS was set to Greenwich Mean Time and synchronized with the other timing devices each morning using the calibrated clock on the research vessel. Following each day of field operations (up to 6 towed-diver surveys per day), the GPS data was downloaded in txt format and post-processed with the corresponding SBE39 data and metadata (start/end time for each towed-diver survey) using a custom Python script run in ArcGIS. The script: 1) clipped the GPS track points to the survey extent (based on start and stop waypoints), 2) repositioned the GPS track points to the divers’ location (based on the track, speed, and course of the boat and the divers’ depths), 3) imported the corresponding SBE39 data using the metadata time stamps, and 4) added two unique serial numbers. The serial numbers include DIVE ID that represents the date of the 50-minute tow survey (YYYYMMDD) plus the single-digit tow number for the day (1-6), and SEGMENT ID that represents DIVE ID plus the 2-digit segment (01-10) within the tow (a 50-minute towed-diver survey typically includes ten 5-minute segments/observations). The DIVE POINTS file results from these initial processing steps, and includes the adjusted LATITUDE and LONGITUDE (CALCULATED), the SBE39 data (recorded and combined mean), and the serial numbers. The DIVE POINTS are then laced together and 1) grouped by SEGMENT ID to generate the SEGMENTS polyline shapefile, and 2) grouped by DIVE ID to generate the TOWS polyline shapefile..
  • Parameter or Variable: LONGITUDE (calculated); Units: decimal degree; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: GPS; Sampling and Analyzing Method: A GPS receiver located on the small boat recorded the boat’s position at the same interval as the SeaBird™ SBE39 temperature/depth logger (every 5 seconds). The GPS was set to Greenwich Mean Time and synchronized with the other timing devices each morning using the calibrated clock on the research vessel. Following each day of field operations (up to 6 towed-diver surveys per day), the GPS data was downloaded in txt format and post-processed with the corresponding SBE39 data and metadata (start/end time for each towed-diver survey) using a custom Python script run in ArcGIS. The script: 1) clipped the GPS track points to the survey extent (based on start and stop waypoints), 2) repositioned the GPS track points to the divers’ location (based on the track, speed, and course of the boat and the divers’ depths), 3) imported the corresponding SBE39 data using the metadata time stamps, and 4) added two unique serial numbers. The serial numbers include DIVE ID that represents the date of the 50-minute tow survey (YYYYMMDD) plus the single-digit tow number for the day (1-6), and SEGMENT ID that represents DIVE ID plus the 2-digit segment (01-10) within the tow (a 50-minute towed-diver survey typically includes ten 5-minute segments/observations). The DIVE POINTS file results from these initial processing steps, and includes the adjusted LATITUDE and LONGITUDE (CALCULATED), the SBE39 data (recorded and combined mean), and the serial numbers. The DIVE POINTS are then laced together and 1) grouped by SEGMENT ID to generate the SEGMENTS polyline shapefile, and 2) grouped by DIVE ID to generate the TOWS polyline shapefile..
  • Parameter or Variable: DEPTH - SENSOR (calculated); Units: meter; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Temperature Sensors; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The mean benthic and fish depths provided in the SEGMENTS and the TOWS shapefiles are both calculated from the benthic and fish depths in the DIVE POINTS file.; Data Quality Method: The standard deviations for the mean benthic and fish depths are provided in the SEGMENTS and the TOWS shapefiles..
  • Parameter or Variable: WATER TEMPERATURE (calculated); Units: degrees Celsius; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Temperature Sensors; Sampling and Analyzing Method: The mean benthic and fish temperatures provided in the SEGMENTS and the TOWS shapefiles are both calculated from the benthic and fish temperatures in the DIVE POINTS file.; Data Quality Method: The standard deviations for the mean benthic and fish temperatures are provided in the SEGMENTS and the TOWS shapefiles..
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • GPS
  • temperature sensor
Platform
  • NOAA Ship Hi'ialakai
  • NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette
  • NOAA Ship Townsend Cromwell
Last Modified: 2024-02-21T13:40:56Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov