Benthic Habitats of the Florida Keys derived from color aerial photography collected between 1991-12 and March 1992 (NCEI Accession 0143928)

Description

This project was a cooperative effort between the National Ocean Service and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Florida Marine Research Institute (now called the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute). The goal of the effort was to produce shallow-water (from 0 to approximately 30 m water depth) benthic habitat maps of the Florida Keys and adjacent waters. The maps were generated by expert visual interpretation of 1:48,000 scale color aerial photography and subsequent photogrammetric, stereo, digital compilation of interpreted habitat polygon boundaries from aerial photography. The Minimum mapping unit = 0.4 hectare (4,047 sq m; 1 acre) for all habitat. Patch reefs may be <0.5 ha. The aerial photography was acquired using a NOAA jet from December 1991 through March 1992. The photography was acquired with 60% side and 80% forward overlap to facilitate stereo compilation. Approximately 450 aerial photographs were acquired and used for the mapping project. Ground validation of interpreted habitat polygons was performed by visual verification at actual field sites prior to compilation. Aircraft Inertial Measurement Unit data were used to correct photography positioning in photogrammetric analytical plotters. The analytical solution used in the photogrammetric plotter for positioning was applied to bundles of 30-40 adjacent, overlapping aerial photographs. The stereo positioning of the photography was < 1 m. Digital data for bundles of compiled aerial photographs from the photogrammetric stereo plotter was imported into the ESRI ArcInfo GIS. The GIS was used to merge and edit the vector and attribute features of the 15 bundles to generate a mosaic benthic habitat map of the Florida Keys and adjacent areas covered by the aerial photography. Field validation of digitized habitat features visible in the aerial photography mosaics was performed to ensure correct interpretation. An assessment of the correctness of the interpreted digital map was performed by experts familiar with the the seafloor habitat found in the Florida Keys.

Resources

Name Format Description Link
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0143928
0 Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/143928
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Institution web page http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/programs/nmsp/
0 Institution web page https://www.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page https://www.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page http://www.dep.state.fl.us/
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/143928
0 Institution web page http://myfwc.com/research/
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 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). ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0086/0143928/
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2023. GCMD Keywords, Version 16. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
33 "This atlas contains 32 color maps depicting the benthic habitats at a scale of 1:51,000. In addition to showing the locations and extents of different habitat types in the Florida Keys, the atlas provides a brief description of the Florida Keys region, summary information on the extents of the ecological habitats by subregion, and a detailed description of each habitat type. ... The data can serve as a baseline for research and for monitoring projects undertaken by scientists, managers, and the academic community and to support resource-assessment activities and management decisions" https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0143928/data/0-data/TR4_c.pdf
33 "This atlas contains 32 color maps depicting the benthic habitats at a scale of 1:51,000. In addition to showing the locations and extents of different habitat types in the Florida Keys, the atlas provides a brief description of the Florida Keys region, summary information on the extents of the ecological habitats by subregion, and a detailed description of each habitat type. ... The data can serve as a baseline for research and for monitoring projects undertaken by scientists, managers, and the academic community and to support resource-assessment activities and management decisions" https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0143928/data/0-data/TR4_c.pdf
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0143928
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/143928
0 Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/143928
0 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). ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0086/0143928/
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Institution web page https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page http://myfwc.com/research/
0 Institution web page https://www.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page http://www.dep.state.fl.us/
0 Institution web page http://myfwc.com/research/
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Institution web page https://www.noaa.gov/
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
33 "This atlas contains 32 color maps depicting the benthic habitats at a scale of 1:51,000. In addition to showing the locations and extents of different habitat types in the Florida Keys, the atlas provides a brief description of the Florida Keys region, summary information on the extents of the ecological habitats by subregion, and a detailed description of each habitat type. ... The data can serve as a baseline for research and for monitoring projects undertaken by scientists, managers, and the academic community and to support resource-assessment activities and management decisions" https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0143928/data/0-data/TR4_c.pdf
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0143928
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/143928
0 Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/143928
0 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). ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0086/0143928/
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Institution web page https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page http://myfwc.com/research/
0 Institution web page https://www.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page http://www.dep.state.fl.us/
0 Institution web page http://myfwc.com/research/
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Institution web page https://www.noaa.gov/
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/143928
0 Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/143928
0 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). ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0086/0143928/
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Institution web page https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page http://myfwc.com/research/
0 Institution web page https://www.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page http://www.dep.state.fl.us/
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Institution web page https://www.noaa.gov/
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0143928
0 Institution web page http://myfwc.com/research/
33 "This atlas contains 32 color maps depicting the benthic habitats at a scale of 1:51,000. In addition to showing the locations and extents of different habitat types in the Florida Keys, the atlas provides a brief description of the Florida Keys region, summary information on the extents of the ecological habitats by subregion, and a detailed description of each habitat type. ... The data can serve as a baseline for research and for monitoring projects undertaken by scientists, managers, and the academic community and to support resource-assessment activities and management decisions" https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0143928/data/0-data/TR4_c.pdf
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0143928
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/143928
0 Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/143928
0 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). ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0086/0143928/
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Institution web page https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page http://myfwc.com/research/
0 Institution web page https://www.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page http://www.dep.state.fl.us/
0 Institution web page http://myfwc.com/research/
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
33 "This atlas contains 32 color maps depicting the benthic habitats at a scale of 1:51,000. In addition to showing the locations and extents of different habitat types in the Florida Keys, the atlas provides a brief description of the Florida Keys region, summary information on the extents of the ecological habitats by subregion, and a detailed description of each habitat type. ... The data can serve as a baseline for research and for monitoring projects undertaken by scientists, managers, and the academic community and to support resource-assessment activities and management decisions" https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0143928/data/0-data/TR4_c.pdf
0 Institution web page https://www.noaa.gov/
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0143928
0 Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/143928
0 Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/143928
0 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). ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0086/0143928/
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Institution web page https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page http://myfwc.com/research/
0 Institution web page https://www.noaa.gov/
0 Institution web page http://www.dep.state.fl.us/
0 Institution web page http://myfwc.com/research/
0 Information for contacts at NCEI. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
33 "This atlas contains 32 color maps depicting the benthic habitats at a scale of 1:51,000. In addition to showing the locations and extents of different habitat types in the Florida Keys, the atlas provides a brief description of the Florida Keys region, summary information on the extents of the ecological habitats by subregion, and a detailed description of each habitat type. ... The data can serve as a baseline for research and for monitoring projects undertaken by scientists, managers, and the academic community and to support resource-assessment activities and management decisions" https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0143928/data/0-data/TR4_c.pdf
0 Institution web page https://www.noaa.gov/

Tags

  • florida reef tract
  • key west (25n080w0016)
  • united states of america
  • reef monitoring and assessment
  • aquatic habitat
  • coral reef
  • corals
  • ecological characterization
  • marathon (24n081w0001)
  • in situ biological
  • biosphere
  • cover
  • marquesas key (24n082w0002)
  • monroe county
  • alligator reef (24n080w0001)
  • oceans
  • structure
  • united states
  • description
  • rodrigues key (25n080w0025)
  • point
  • aquatic vegetation
  • oceanography
  • habitats
  • atlantic ocean
  • submerged
  • earth science
  • macroalgae
  • western sambos (24n081w0014)
  • coralline algae
  • seagrass
  • zone
  • lower florida keys
  • molasses reef (25n080w0003)
  • florida
  • reef habitat
  • coral reef ecology
  • ocean basin
  • key largo (25n080w0010)
  • coastal processes
  • reef
  • summerland key (24n081w0005)
  • zoology
  • coral reefs
  • big pine key (24n081w0004)
  • looe key reef (24n081w0002)
  • north atlantic ocean
  • geographic information
  • habitat
  • country/territory
  • unconsolidated sediments

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