Mark leads the Ocean Data and Tools at NOAA's Office for Coastal Management in Charleston, South Carolina. He has an extensive background in remote sensing, GIS, benthic mapping, and ecological classification standards.
... L. Dorsey Worthy, Ph.D National Ocean Service, NOAA National Coastal Services Center 2234 Sou... more ... L. Dorsey Worthy, Ph.D National Ocean Service, NOAA National Coastal Services Center 2234 South Hobson Avenue Charleston, SC 29405 ... algae decay they cause breathing problems and an odor nuisance that impacts the tourist industry in the adjacent barrier beach towns. ...
This chapter describes techniques for the mapping of intertidal and subtidal seagrass meadows at ... more This chapter describes techniques for the mapping of intertidal and subtidal seagrass meadows at different scales and accuracy. Accurate information on seagrass distribution is vital as a prerequisite for managing seagrass resources. The type of questions asked by managers determines the sampling design for the surveys of seagrass habitats. Coastal managers may require maps at large scales to help select Marine and Estuarine Protected Areas (MEPAs) or highlight vulnerable areas to an oil spill.. Alternatively, they may require maps at finer scales to assist in coastal development decisions, such as where to put marinas, harbors, effluent outfalls, exploratory mining, and mariculture developments.. Maps at several different scales may also be required to assist in monitoring the health status of seagrass habitats. The use of the GPS has facilitated the production of precisely geo-referenced images that can be incorporated into GIS database for the analysis of seagrass distribution and characteristics. The incorporation of GPS and GIS technologies has lead to the development of spatial database systems for seagrass, which can be queried, updated, manipulated, and analyzed, something previously inconceivable. The use of GIS technologies, involving the quantitative expression of spatially consistent data, provides advanced analytical capabilities, and the ability to address complex systems.
The sand shoals (modeled) polygons represent the hypothesized distribution of sand shoals of the ... more The sand shoals (modeled) polygons represent the hypothesized distribution of sand shoals of the Gulf of Mexico and US Atlantic Coast based on seafloor characteristics and distance to shoreline variables. Defined by Rutecki et al. (2014), a sand shoal is "a natural, underwater ridge, bank, or bar consisting of, or covered by, sand or other unconsolidated material, resulting in shallower water depths than surrounding areas." In the dataset, attributes characterize shoals with a classification scheme developed with a basis in the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS).
ABSTRACT Pickens, B.A.; Taylor, J.C.; Finkbeiner, M.; Hansen, D., and Turner, L., 2021. Modeling ... more ABSTRACT Pickens, B.A.; Taylor, J.C.; Finkbeiner, M.; Hansen, D., and Turner, L., 2021. Modeling sand shoals on the U.S. Atlantic shelf: Moving beyond a site-by-site approach. Journal of Coastal Research, 37(2), 227–237. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The demand for offshore marine sands has escalated worldwide as sediments are needed for increasingly frequent beach renourishment and barrier island restoration. Sand shoals are often used as a source for dredging material because of the high volume of sand per unit area. Yet, investigations of shoals are typically conducted on a site-by-site basis, and a broader understanding of shoal availability is needed for strategic decision-making, including the mitigation of ocean use conflicts. Here, the primary objective was to model shoal distribution across the U.S. Atlantic shelf, including the Gulf of Mexico. Publicly available bathymetry data were obtained at a relatively coarse 90-m resolution. Variables of depth, standard deviation of depth, slope, bathymetric position index, and distance to shoreline were used as predictors to identify shoals. Unsupervised classifications of the seafloor were conducted to distinguish shoals and swales. Classification accuracy was assessed with validation databases of identified sand resources and named shoals compared to random locations; a visual assessment was also conducted. Shoals were further characterized by their origin. The classifications showed shoals and swales differed from the seafloor. Shoals were more shallow, had higher slope, a higher standard deviation of depth, were closer to the shoreline, and had a more positive bathymetric position index. Shoals were classified on 4.7% of the U.S. Atlantic shelf, and validation showed a percent agreement of 65–93%. Classified shoals visually coincided with the shape and extent of known sand resources. Shoals were characterized as cape-associated, bedform, isolated shelf, or uncharacterized. For the continental shelf, multivariate predictors represented the heterogeneous sloping substrates and the flat, high relief crests of sand shoals. The ability to classify shoals with 90-m resolution bathymetry data in the U.S. Atlantic reveals the methodology may be applicable to identify sand shoals elsewhere in the world with currently available data.
ABSTRACT Recent federal initiatives have underscored the need for a national standard that provid... more ABSTRACT Recent federal initiatives have underscored the need for a national standard that provides a consistent approach for classifying coastal and marine ecosystems. To meet this need, NOAA and its partners (NatureServe, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Geological Survey) have worked with individual scientists and managers from federal, state and regional agencies, academia, industry, and non-governmental organizations to develop the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS). CMECS is being considered as a national standard by the Federal Geographic Data Committee. This papers provides an overview of the structure, development and of features CMECS and summarizes completed and active pilot projects through summer 2011, with the goal of demonstrating the proposed standard’s applicability to potential users. CMECS builds on and integrates with existing classification standards. The CMECS domain extends from the coastal tidal splash zone to the deep ocean, including all substrate and water column features of the oceans as well as the deep waters of the Great Lakes. CMECS describes the defining features of individual habitats via five components: a surface geology component, a benthic biotic component, a sub-benthic component, a geoform component, and a water column component. A comprehensive set of modifiers allows inclusion of additional information on environmental, structural, physical, chemical and biotic features. Components can be used and mapped independently or combined as needed for specific applications. CMECS is technology- and scale-neutral. Users choose the operational scale and level of detail suited for their purposes. CMECS is intended as a dynamic content standard, allowing refinements with improvements in technology and information. CMECS pilots have been carried out in a variety of geographies, have used several technologies and have targeted both fish management and research issues. Information to be presented on each study includes a methods overview, a brief description of the study purpose and technology used, an overview of project outputs, and how issues identified during the pilot were used to improve the standard.
Recent federal initiatives have underscored the need for a national standard that provides a cons... more Recent federal initiatives have underscored the need for a national standard that provides a consistent approach for classifying coastal and marine ecosystems. To meet this need, NOAA and its partners (NatureServe, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Geological Survey) have worked with individual scientists and managers from federal, state and regional agencies, academia, industry, and non-governmental organizations to develop the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS). CMECS is being considered as a national standard by the Federal Geographic Data Committee. This papers provides an overview of the structure, development and of features CMECS and summarizes completed and active pilot projects through summer 2011, with the goal of demonstrating the proposed standard’s applicability to potential users. CMECS builds on and integrates with existing classification standards. The CMECS domain extends from the coastal tidal splash zone to the deep ocean, in...
... L. Dorsey Worthy, Ph.D National Ocean Service, NOAA National Coastal Services Center 2234 Sou... more ... L. Dorsey Worthy, Ph.D National Ocean Service, NOAA National Coastal Services Center 2234 South Hobson Avenue Charleston, SC 29405 ... algae decay they cause breathing problems and an odor nuisance that impacts the tourist industry in the adjacent barrier beach towns. ...
... L. Dorsey Worthy, Ph.D National Ocean Service, NOAA National Coastal Services Center 2234 Sou... more ... L. Dorsey Worthy, Ph.D National Ocean Service, NOAA National Coastal Services Center 2234 South Hobson Avenue Charleston, SC 29405 ... algae decay they cause breathing problems and an odor nuisance that impacts the tourist industry in the adjacent barrier beach towns. ...
This chapter describes techniques for the mapping of intertidal and subtidal seagrass meadows at ... more This chapter describes techniques for the mapping of intertidal and subtidal seagrass meadows at different scales and accuracy. Accurate information on seagrass distribution is vital as a prerequisite for managing seagrass resources. The type of questions asked by managers determines the sampling design for the surveys of seagrass habitats. Coastal managers may require maps at large scales to help select Marine and Estuarine Protected Areas (MEPAs) or highlight vulnerable areas to an oil spill.. Alternatively, they may require maps at finer scales to assist in coastal development decisions, such as where to put marinas, harbors, effluent outfalls, exploratory mining, and mariculture developments.. Maps at several different scales may also be required to assist in monitoring the health status of seagrass habitats. The use of the GPS has facilitated the production of precisely geo-referenced images that can be incorporated into GIS database for the analysis of seagrass distribution and characteristics. The incorporation of GPS and GIS technologies has lead to the development of spatial database systems for seagrass, which can be queried, updated, manipulated, and analyzed, something previously inconceivable. The use of GIS technologies, involving the quantitative expression of spatially consistent data, provides advanced analytical capabilities, and the ability to address complex systems.
The sand shoals (modeled) polygons represent the hypothesized distribution of sand shoals of the ... more The sand shoals (modeled) polygons represent the hypothesized distribution of sand shoals of the Gulf of Mexico and US Atlantic Coast based on seafloor characteristics and distance to shoreline variables. Defined by Rutecki et al. (2014), a sand shoal is "a natural, underwater ridge, bank, or bar consisting of, or covered by, sand or other unconsolidated material, resulting in shallower water depths than surrounding areas." In the dataset, attributes characterize shoals with a classification scheme developed with a basis in the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS).
ABSTRACT Pickens, B.A.; Taylor, J.C.; Finkbeiner, M.; Hansen, D., and Turner, L., 2021. Modeling ... more ABSTRACT Pickens, B.A.; Taylor, J.C.; Finkbeiner, M.; Hansen, D., and Turner, L., 2021. Modeling sand shoals on the U.S. Atlantic shelf: Moving beyond a site-by-site approach. Journal of Coastal Research, 37(2), 227–237. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The demand for offshore marine sands has escalated worldwide as sediments are needed for increasingly frequent beach renourishment and barrier island restoration. Sand shoals are often used as a source for dredging material because of the high volume of sand per unit area. Yet, investigations of shoals are typically conducted on a site-by-site basis, and a broader understanding of shoal availability is needed for strategic decision-making, including the mitigation of ocean use conflicts. Here, the primary objective was to model shoal distribution across the U.S. Atlantic shelf, including the Gulf of Mexico. Publicly available bathymetry data were obtained at a relatively coarse 90-m resolution. Variables of depth, standard deviation of depth, slope, bathymetric position index, and distance to shoreline were used as predictors to identify shoals. Unsupervised classifications of the seafloor were conducted to distinguish shoals and swales. Classification accuracy was assessed with validation databases of identified sand resources and named shoals compared to random locations; a visual assessment was also conducted. Shoals were further characterized by their origin. The classifications showed shoals and swales differed from the seafloor. Shoals were more shallow, had higher slope, a higher standard deviation of depth, were closer to the shoreline, and had a more positive bathymetric position index. Shoals were classified on 4.7% of the U.S. Atlantic shelf, and validation showed a percent agreement of 65–93%. Classified shoals visually coincided with the shape and extent of known sand resources. Shoals were characterized as cape-associated, bedform, isolated shelf, or uncharacterized. For the continental shelf, multivariate predictors represented the heterogeneous sloping substrates and the flat, high relief crests of sand shoals. The ability to classify shoals with 90-m resolution bathymetry data in the U.S. Atlantic reveals the methodology may be applicable to identify sand shoals elsewhere in the world with currently available data.
ABSTRACT Recent federal initiatives have underscored the need for a national standard that provid... more ABSTRACT Recent federal initiatives have underscored the need for a national standard that provides a consistent approach for classifying coastal and marine ecosystems. To meet this need, NOAA and its partners (NatureServe, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Geological Survey) have worked with individual scientists and managers from federal, state and regional agencies, academia, industry, and non-governmental organizations to develop the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS). CMECS is being considered as a national standard by the Federal Geographic Data Committee. This papers provides an overview of the structure, development and of features CMECS and summarizes completed and active pilot projects through summer 2011, with the goal of demonstrating the proposed standard’s applicability to potential users. CMECS builds on and integrates with existing classification standards. The CMECS domain extends from the coastal tidal splash zone to the deep ocean, including all substrate and water column features of the oceans as well as the deep waters of the Great Lakes. CMECS describes the defining features of individual habitats via five components: a surface geology component, a benthic biotic component, a sub-benthic component, a geoform component, and a water column component. A comprehensive set of modifiers allows inclusion of additional information on environmental, structural, physical, chemical and biotic features. Components can be used and mapped independently or combined as needed for specific applications. CMECS is technology- and scale-neutral. Users choose the operational scale and level of detail suited for their purposes. CMECS is intended as a dynamic content standard, allowing refinements with improvements in technology and information. CMECS pilots have been carried out in a variety of geographies, have used several technologies and have targeted both fish management and research issues. Information to be presented on each study includes a methods overview, a brief description of the study purpose and technology used, an overview of project outputs, and how issues identified during the pilot were used to improve the standard.
Recent federal initiatives have underscored the need for a national standard that provides a cons... more Recent federal initiatives have underscored the need for a national standard that provides a consistent approach for classifying coastal and marine ecosystems. To meet this need, NOAA and its partners (NatureServe, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Geological Survey) have worked with individual scientists and managers from federal, state and regional agencies, academia, industry, and non-governmental organizations to develop the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS). CMECS is being considered as a national standard by the Federal Geographic Data Committee. This papers provides an overview of the structure, development and of features CMECS and summarizes completed and active pilot projects through summer 2011, with the goal of demonstrating the proposed standard’s applicability to potential users. CMECS builds on and integrates with existing classification standards. The CMECS domain extends from the coastal tidal splash zone to the deep ocean, in...
... L. Dorsey Worthy, Ph.D National Ocean Service, NOAA National Coastal Services Center 2234 Sou... more ... L. Dorsey Worthy, Ph.D National Ocean Service, NOAA National Coastal Services Center 2234 South Hobson Avenue Charleston, SC 29405 ... algae decay they cause breathing problems and an odor nuisance that impacts the tourist industry in the adjacent barrier beach towns. ...
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