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Physical Location
Data Set Info
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Catalog Details

Summary

Short Citation
Office for Coastal Management, 2024: Five Year Mean Sea-surface Salinity in the Northern Gulf of Mexico for 2005 through 2009, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/48040.
Full Citation Examples

Abstract

These images were created by combining the mean sea-surface salinity values to produce seasonal representations for winter, spring, summer and fall. Winter includes the months of January, February and March; spring includes the months of April, May and June; summer includes the months of July, August and September; fall includes the months of October, November and December. Sea-surface salinity values were originally obtained from the Naval Research Laboratory at the Stennis Space Center (NRL/SSC). NRL/SSC processed MODIS-Aqua satellite imagery covering the Gulf of Mexico, for a 5-year time period from January 2005 through December 2009. The Gulf of Mexico was divided into three regions, western, central and eastern. For purposes of this image, the three regions were joined in ArcMAP 10. Sea-surface salinity was estimated from the ocean color imagery, based on an empirical relationship between colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) absorption and salinity. Researchers at NRL have exploited this relationship to empirically estimate salinity from ocean color satellite imagery, since the absorption slope difference between 412 nm and 443 nm can be used as a proxy to estimate the CDOM absorption coefficient: Salinity = 36.208 - 46.488x + 27.683x2 - 8.338x3 + 0.965x4 In the above equation, x = difference between the absorption coefficients at 412 and 443 nm (a412-a443). The algorithm was developed using in situ data from a wide variety of locations and has been validated with independent ship and mooring data (Ladner et al. 2006; 2008). Currently the algorithm has an accuracy of about 1 PSU and is valid in coastal waters where salinity is strongly impacted by freshwater discharge (out to approximately mid-shelf). The algorithm is based on the difference in total absorption at 412 and 443 nm. NRL produced salinity images from the MODIS satellite ocean color data at both 250 m and 1 km spatial resolution in the Gulf of Mexico using this relationship. The salinity product derived from the ocean color imagery is still experimental and requires further validation. It is expected that different mixing regimes will affect the conservative nature of the CDOM/salinity proxy relationship, resulting in deviations from the above empirical relationship. These values were then reclassified into salinity ranges in accordance with the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS). There are five CMECS categories presented: oligohaline (0 - < 5, shown in red), mesohaline (5 - < 18, shown in green), lower polyhaline (18 - < 25, shown in purple), upper polyhaline (25 - < 30, shown in yellow), and euhaline (> 30, shown in blue).

Controlled Theme Keywords

ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE/MANAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, MARINE ECOSYSTEMS, oceans

Child Items

No Child Items for this record.

Contact Information

Point of Contact
NOAA Office for Coastal Management (NOAA/OCM)
coastal.info@noaa.gov
(843) 740-1202
https://coast.noaa.gov

Metadata Contact
NOAA Office for Coastal Management (NOAA/OCM)
coastal.info@noaa.gov
(843) 740-1202
https://coast.noaa.gov

Extents

Geographic Area 1

-98.1° W, -81.1° E, 30.9° N, 25.2° S

Time Frame 1
2005-01 - 2009-12

Item Identification

Title: Five Year Mean Sea-surface Salinity in the Northern Gulf of Mexico for 2005 through 2009
Short Name: CMECS_Salinity_metadata
Status: Completed
Publication Date: 2012-05
Abstract:

These images were created by combining the mean sea-surface salinity values to produce seasonal representations for winter, spring, summer and fall. Winter includes the months of January, February and March; spring includes the months of April, May and June; summer includes the months of July, August and September; fall includes the months of October, November and December. Sea-surface salinity values were originally obtained from the Naval Research Laboratory at the Stennis Space Center (NRL/SSC). NRL/SSC processed MODIS-Aqua satellite imagery covering the Gulf of Mexico, for a 5-year time period from January 2005 through December 2009. The Gulf of Mexico was divided into three regions, western, central and eastern. For purposes of this image, the three regions were joined in ArcMAP 10. Sea-surface salinity was estimated from the ocean color imagery, based on an empirical relationship between colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) absorption and salinity. Researchers at NRL have exploited this relationship to empirically estimate salinity from ocean color satellite imagery, since the absorption slope difference between 412 nm and 443 nm can be used as a proxy to estimate the CDOM absorption coefficient: Salinity = 36.208 - 46.488x + 27.683x2 - 8.338x3 + 0.965x4 In the above equation, x = difference between the absorption coefficients at 412 and 443 nm (a412-a443). The algorithm was developed using in situ data from a wide variety of locations and has been validated with independent ship and mooring data (Ladner et al. 2006; 2008). Currently the algorithm has an accuracy of about 1 PSU and is valid in coastal waters where salinity is strongly impacted by freshwater discharge (out to approximately mid-shelf). The algorithm is based on the difference in total absorption at 412 and 443 nm. NRL produced salinity images from the MODIS satellite ocean color data at both 250 m and 1 km spatial resolution in the Gulf of Mexico using this relationship. The salinity product derived from the ocean color imagery is still experimental and requires further validation. It is expected that different mixing regimes will affect the conservative nature of the CDOM/salinity proxy relationship, resulting in deviations from the above empirical relationship. These values were then reclassified into salinity ranges in accordance with the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS). There are five CMECS categories presented: oligohaline (0 - < 5, shown in red), mesohaline (5 - < 18, shown in green), lower polyhaline (18 - < 25, shown in purple), upper polyhaline (25 - < 30, shown in yellow), and euhaline (> 30, shown in blue).

Purpose:

This project was undertaken to assess the utility of satellite-derived products and modeled data for resource managers to characterize pelagic habitats in the absence of dense, time series in situ data. There were several steps involved in this process, including: identifying the most useful physicochemical parameters for characterizing the water column; assessing the fit of satellite-derived and modeled data as a proxy for in situ data; evaluating alternative, automated classification methodologies; querying resource managers for product improvement opportunities; and developing a practical example of a management application. Sea-surface salinity was one of the satellite-derived products assessed as a proxy for in situ data.

Notes:

10897

Supplemental Information:

The NOAA Office for Coastal Management - Gulf Region received this data from another federal agency. Questions regarding the original data collection and/or processing should be directed to that agency (see lineage source citation).

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > HUMAN DIMENSIONS > ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE/MANAGEMENT
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
EARTH SCIENCE > HUMAN DIMENSIONS > ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ISO 19115 Topic Category
oceans
UNCONTROLLED
Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, FGDC-STD-018-2012 Salinity
None Environmental Monitoring

Spatial Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > ALABAMA
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > FLORIDA
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > LOUISIANA
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > MISSISSIPPI
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > TEXAS
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF MEXICO
UNCONTROLLED
None Alabama
None Gulf of Mexico
None Louisiana
None Mississippi
None Texas
None Western Florida

Stratum Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, FGDC-STD-018-2012 Epipelagic
Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, FGDC-STD-018-2012 Pelagic
Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, FGDC-STD-018-2012 Sea surface
Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard, FGDC-STD-018-2012 Water column

Physical Location

Organization: Office for Coastal Management
City: Charleston
State/Province: SC

Data Set Information

Data Set Scope Code: Data Set
Maintenance Frequency: None Planned
Data Presentation Form: Map (digital)
Distribution Liability:

Any conclusions drawn from the analysis of this information are not the responsibility of the NOAA Office for Coastal Management or its partners.NOAA makes no warranty regarding these data, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA, NESDIS, NODC and NCDDC 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.

Data Set Credit: Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office for Coastal Management - Gulf Region, NASA Earth Sciences Group, Stennis Space Center

Support Roles

Data Steward

CC ID: 617771
Date Effective From: 2012-05
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): NOAA Office for Coastal Management (NOAA/OCM)
Address: 2234 South Hobson Ave
Charleston, SC 29405-2413
Email Address: coastal.info@noaa.gov
Phone: (843) 740-1202
URL: https://coast.noaa.gov

Distributor

CC ID: 617773
Date Effective From: 2012-05
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): NOAA Office for Coastal Management (NOAA/OCM)
Address: 2234 South Hobson Ave
Charleston, SC 29405-2413
Email Address: coastal.info@noaa.gov
Phone: (843) 740-1202
URL: https://coast.noaa.gov

Metadata Contact

CC ID: 617774
Date Effective From: 2012-05
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): NOAA Office for Coastal Management (NOAA/OCM)
Address: 2234 South Hobson Ave
Charleston, SC 29405-2413
Email Address: coastal.info@noaa.gov
Phone: (843) 740-1202
URL: https://coast.noaa.gov

Point of Contact

CC ID: 617772
Date Effective From: 2012-05
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): NOAA Office for Coastal Management (NOAA/OCM)
Address: 2234 South Hobson Ave
Charleston, SC 29405-2413
Email Address: coastal.info@noaa.gov
Phone: (843) 740-1202
URL: https://coast.noaa.gov

Extents

Currentness Reference: Publication Date

Extent Group 1

Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1

CC ID: 617777
W° Bound: -98.1
E° Bound: -81.1
N° Bound: 30.9
S° Bound: 25.2

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 1

CC ID: 617776
Time Frame Type: Range
Start: 2005-01
End: 2009-12

Spatial Information

Spatial Representation

Representations Used

Grid: Yes

Grid Representation 1

CC ID: 617764
Dimension Count: 3
Cell Geometry: Area
Transformation Parameters Available?: No

Axis Dimension 1

Dimension Type: Row
Size: 823822

Axis Dimension 2

Dimension Type: Column
Size: 823822

Axis Dimension 3

Dimension Type: Vertical
Size: 1

Access Information

Security Class: Unclassified
Data Access Constraints:

None

Data Use Constraints:

None

Distribution Information

Distribution 1

CC ID: 617779
Download URL: http://service.ncddc.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/DataAtlas/CMECS_Salinity_Fall/MapServer
Distributor:
File Type (Deprecated): ArcGIS Map Service
Distribution Format: ESRI REST Service

Distribution 2

CC ID: 617780
Download URL: http://service.ncddc.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/DataAtlas/CMECS_Salinity_Spring/MapServer
Distributor:
File Type (Deprecated): ArcGIS Rest MapService
Distribution Format: ESRI REST Service

Distribution 3

CC ID: 617781
Download URL: http://service.ncddc.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/DataAtlas/CMECS_Salinity_Summer/MapServer
Distributor:
File Type (Deprecated): ArcGIS Rest MapService
Distribution Format: ESRI REST Service

Distribution 4

CC ID: 617782
Download URL: http://service.ncddc.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/DataAtlas/CMECS_Salinity_Winter/MapServer
Distributor:
File Type (Deprecated): ArcGIS Rest MapService
Distribution Format: ESRI REST Service

Distribution 5

CC ID: 617778
Download URL: http://www.ncddc.noaa.gov/website/DataAtlas/atlas.htm?plate=Salinity%20-%20CMECS
Distributor:
File Type (Deprecated): atlas

URLs

URL 1

CC ID: 617769
URL: https://gulfatlas.noaa.gov/
URL Type:
Online Resource

URL 2

CC ID: 617770
URL: https://coast.noaa.gov/
URL Type:
Online Resource

Activity Log

Activity Log 1

CC ID: 617806
Activity Date/Time: 2016-05-23
Description:

Date that the source FGDC record was last modified.

Activity Log 2

CC ID: 617805
Activity Date/Time: 2017-11-14
Description:

Converted from FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (version FGDC-STD-001-1998) using 'fgdc_to_inport_xml.pl' script. Contact Tyler Christensen (NOS) for details.

Data Quality

Accuracy:

Unique values were generated for each image in ArcMAP 10. The unique values were then manually reclassified into appropriate Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard categories.

Completeness Report:

Values were assigned to categories in accordance with the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard.

Conceptual Consistency:

not applicable

Lineage

Sources

Sea-surface Salinity

CC ID: 617761
Contact Name: Naval Research Laboratory, Stennis Space Center
Publish Date: 2010-12-01
Extent Type: Range
Extent Start Date/Time: 2005-01
Extent End Date/Time: 2009-12
Source Contribution:

Monthly means for 2005 through 2009 | Type of Source Media: external hard drive

Process Steps

Process Step 1

CC ID: 617762
Description:

Sea-surface salinity values assigned in accordance with the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard.

Process Date/Time: 2012-01-01 00:00:00

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 48040
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:48040
Metadata Record Created By: Anne Ball
Metadata Record Created: 2017-11-14 14:11+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2023-10-17 16:12+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2017-11-16
Owner Org: OCM
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2017-11-16
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2018-11-16