NCCOS Mapping: Merged Bathymetry Data in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary for Benthic Habitat Mapping from 1998 to 2022 (NCEI Accession 0304093)

We created merged bathymetry surfaces segmented in GeoTIFF format by resolution and depth within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) from more than 20 multibeam mapping surveys. These bathymetry data were collected between 1998 and 2022 by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States Geological Survey (USGS), Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) and Ocean Exploration Trust (OET). Bathymetry data collected by institutions outside of NOAA are reference to overlapping NOAA hydrographic surveys using an average depth difference correction. The merged bathymetric surface resolutions varied by depth from 2x2m in <40m, 4x4m in 36 to 80 m, 8x8m in 72 to 160m, 16x16m in 144 to 320m and to 24x24m in >300m. They can be used to create high-resolution, nearly continuous coverage benthic habitat maps within the CINMS.