OPR-M367-RA-18Cascadia Margin Offshore California, Oregon and WashingtonNOAA Ship RAINIERH131174Mendocino Canyon to Saint George ReefCaliforniaOregonUnited States800002018Benjamin K. Evans, CDR/NOAANavigable Area2018-06-282018-08-202018-08-22Multibeam Echo SounderMultibeam Echo Sounder BackscattermetersUniversal Transverse Mercator (UTM)UTC -8Pacific Hydrographic BranchThe purpose of this survey is to provide contemporary surveys to update National Ocean Service (NOS) nautical charts. All separates are filed with the hydrographic data. Any revisions to the Descriptive Report (DR) generated during office processing are shown in bold red italic text. The processing branch maintains the DR as a field unit product, therefore, all information and recommendations within the body of the DR are considered preliminary unless otherwise noted. The final disposition of surveyed features is represented in the OCS nautical chart update products. All pertinent records for this survey, including the DR, are archived at the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and can be retrieved via http://www.ncei.noaa.gov/.NOAAThe survey area is referred to as H13117, "Mendocino Canyon to Saint George Reef" (Sheet 4). This area is outlined in the project instructions and encompasses approximately 2220 square nautical miles in the Cascadia Margin Southwest of Crescent City, CA. This area was subsequently reduced in size and split into two sheets, see Appendix II: "Email H13117 Split with H13206".41.666289124.73117441.125265124.387816H13117 assigned survey area and survey coverage (Chart 18010).file:///M:/OPRM367RA18/Surveys/H13117/Office_Processing/Reports_office/Components/SupportFiles/Survey%20Area.pngSurvey limits were acquired in accordance with the requirements in the Project Instructions and the HSSD.Data were acquired within the assigned survey limits as required in the Project Instructions and HSSD. MDCSurvey limits were acquired in accordance with the requirements in the revised limits authorized in the email mentioned above.This sheet is part of larger project being conducted in collaboration with NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey (OCS) and the Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP) of the USGS across several large portions of the Cascadia continental margin, offshore of California, Oregon, and Washington. The primary objective of this seafloor mapping project will be to provide multibeam bathymetry, acoustic backscatter data, and water column data to address USGS Hazard Mission Area objectives by providing key offshore constraints that feed directly into earthquake, tsunami, and landslide hazard assessments as well as situational awareness products.The entire survey is adequate to supersede previous data.Pydro QC Tools 2 Grid QA was used to analyze H13117 multibeam echosounder (MBES) data density. The submitted H13117 variable-resolution (VR) surface met HSSD density and full coverage requirements as shown in the histogram below.Pydro derived histogram plot showing HSSD density compliance of H13117 MBES datafile:///M:/OPRM367RA18/Surveys/H13117/Office_Processing/Reports_office/Components/SupportFiles/13117_MB_VR_MLLW_FINAL.QAv5.density.pngThe multibeam data has been examined and are adequately represented by the surface despite not meeting the 95% resolution requirement as established in the 2018 HSSD. The submitted VR surface has a 41 % resolution requirement pass rate. H13117 VR Resolution Requirementsfile:///M:/OPRM367RA18/Surveys/H13117/Office_Processing/Review_office/Working/H13117_MB_VR_MLLW.QAv5.pct_res.full_cov.pngAll waters in survey areaComplete coverage MBES data, backscatter data and water column data. Refer to HSSD Section 5.2.2.3.Complete multibeam, backscatter, and water column data were acquired to the revised sheet limits of H13117. The assigned survey area was reduced as discussed in section A above and is depicted visually in the graphic below (Figure 4.) No gaps in coverage (holidays) were detected when using Pydro QC Tools 2 software.H13117 MBES coverage and assigned survey limits (Chart 18010)file:///M:/OPRM367RA18/Surveys/H13117/Office_Processing/Reports_office/Components/SupportFiles/Survey%20Area.pngS-221045500000000455000000000000288.962018-08-222018-08-212018-08-20Refer to the Data Acquisition and Processing Report (DAPR) for a complete description of data acquisition and processing systems, survey vessels, quality control procedures and data processing methods. Additional information to supplement sounding and survey data, and any deviations from the DAPR are discussed in the following sections.S-22170.44.7All data for H13117 were acquired by NOAA Ship RAINIER. The vessel acquired depth soundings, backscatter imagery, water column data, and sound speed profiles.ApplanixPOS MV v5Positioning and Attitude SystemKongsberg MaritimeEM 710MBESTeledyne RESONSVP 70Surface Sound Speed SystemLockheed Martin SippicanDeep BlueTemperature SensorRefer to the Data Acquisition and Processing Report (DAPR) for a comprehensive description of data acquisition and processing systems, survey vessels, quality control procedures and data processing methods. Additional information to supplement sounding and other survey data and any deviations from the DAPR are discussed in this report.The priority for this project was to maximize overall MBES coverage and crosslines were not acquired for H13117. A waiver from HSD Operations Branch has been received, see attachments.00.173ERS via VDATUMS-2214.05Total Propagated Uncertainty (TPU) values for survey H13117 were derived from a combination of fixed values for equipment and vessel characteristics, as well as from field assigned values for sound speed uncertainties. Due to limitations in the XmIDR program, the "Measured MVP" field was used to display the Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT) uncertainty. In addition to the usual a priori estimates of uncertainty, some real-time and post-processed uncertainty sources were also incorporated into the depth estimates of this survey. Real-time uncertainties from Kongsberg MBES sonars were recorded and applied in post-processing. Applanix TrueHeave (POS) files, which record estimates of heave uncertainty, were applied during post-processing. Finally, the post-processed uncertainties associated with vessel roll, pitch, yaw and position were applied in Caris HIPS using SBET and RMS files generated using POSPac MMS software. Uncertainty values of the submitted finalized grid was calculated in Caris using "Greater of the Two" of uncertainty and standard deviation (scaled to 95%). Grid QA v5 within Pydro QC Tools 2 was used to analyze H13117 TVU compliance; a histogram plot of the results is shown below (Figure 4).Pydro derived plot showing TVU compliance of H13117 finalized multi-resolution MBES data.file:///M:/OPRM367RA18/Surveys/H13117/Office_Processing/Reports_office/Components/SupportFiles/13117_MB_VR_MLLW_FINAL.QAv5.tvu_qc.pngNo junction areas were identified for this survey.Sonar system quality control checks were conducted as detailed in the quality control section of the DAPR.None ExistThere were no conditions or deficiencies that affected equipment operational effectiveness.Maximum Depth Ranges and Sea StateArtifacts in the data were found (see Figure 5 for an example) correlating to data collection days of increased wind and sea state. These were further correlated to pitching of the ship, and are most likely caused by momentary dropouts of surface sound speed data. These artifacts, when found to affect the BASE surface, were rejected by the hydrographer. The the rejected soundings did not cause any holidays at the surveyed depth.Example of area with artifactfile:///M:/OPRM367RA18/Surveys/H13117/Office_Processing/Reports_office/Components/SupportFiles/Subset%20and%20Surface.pngAt least every 4 hours.A total of 16 sound speed profiles were acquired for this survey at discrete locations within the survey area at least once every four hours or when operating in a new area. For MBES operations from S221, sound speed profiles were acquired using the Lockheed Martin Sippican Deep Blue XBTs. All casts were concatenated into a master file and applied using the "Nearest distance within time" (4 hours) profile selection method.H13117 sound speed cast locations.file:///M:/OPRM367RA18/Surveys/H13117/Office_Processing/Reports_office/Components/SupportFiles/Cast%20Locations.pngAll equipment and survey methods were used as detailed in the DAPR.H13117 Flier FinderPydro QC Tools 2 "Flier Finder V6" check with default settings was performed on H13117 data and no fliers were detected. All data reduction procedures conform to those detailed in the DAPR.All sounding systems were calibrated as detailed in the DAPR.Raw backscatter data were logged as .all files for delivery to NOAA's Pacific Hydrographic Branch. The field unit processed the backscatter data and generated backscatter mosaics. One mosaic per vessel per frequency was generated for H13117. To create the mosaics, processed HDCS lines were paired with the raw .all files in Fledermaus Geocoder Toolbox version 7.8.1.NOAA Profile V_5_7H13117_MB_VR_MLLW_FINAL.csarCARIS VR Surface (CUBE)Variable Resolution205.91323.9NOAA_VRComplete MBESH13117_MB_VR_MLLW.csarCARIS VR Surface (CUBE)Variable Resolution205.91323.9NOAA_VRComplete MBESSubmitted surfaces were generated using the recommended parameters for "Ranges" style variable resolution bathymetric grids as specified in HSSD 2018. No soundings were designated in this survey and no Dangers to Navigation (DTONs) were detected throughout the survey area.There were no tide gauges or base stations installed by the survey vessel crew for this project; no Horizontal and Vertical Control Report (HVCR) was submitted.Mean Lower Low WaterERS via VDATUMshapefile_xyNAD83-MLLW_geoid12b.csarNorth American Datum 1983UTM 10NSBET Processing MethodPrecise Positioning-Real Time Extended (PP-RTX) processing methods were used in Applanix POSPac MMS 8.1 software to produce SBETs for post-processing horizontal correction.A comparison was made between H13117 survey data and Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) US3OR03M using CUBE surfaces, selected soundings, and contours created in Caris.US3OR03M196948212018-08-172015-10-13falseUS3OR03M covers the entire survey area. Comparison between the soundings and contour curves between H13117 and US3OR03M revealed very few differences (see Figures 7 and 8). These inconsistencies were not deemed navigationally significant.Comparison of US3OR03M contours (grey) and H13117 derived contours (black)file:///M:/OPRM367RA18/Surveys/H13117/Office_Processing/Reports_office/Components/SupportFiles/Contours.pngSample comparison of US3OR03M soundings (grey) and H13117 derived soundings (orange)file:///M:/OPRM367RA18/Surveys/H13117/Office_Processing/Reports_office/Components/SupportFiles/Soundings.pngNo Maritime Boundary Points were assigned for this survey.No charted features exist for this survey.No uncharted features exist for this survey.No shoals or potentially hazardous features exist for this survey.No channels exist for this survey. There are no designated anchorages, precautionary areas, safety fairways, traffic separation schemes, pilot boarding areas, or channel and range lines within the survey limits.No bottom samples were required for this survey.Shoreline was not assigned in the Hydrographic Survey Project Instructions or Statement of Work.No prior survey comparisons exist for this survey.No Aids to navigation (ATONs) exist for this survey.No overhead features exist for this survey.No submarine features exist for this survey.No platforms exist for this survey.No ferry routes or terminals exist for this survey.No abnormal seafloor and/or environmental conditions exist for this survey.No present or planned construction or dredging exist within the survey limits.No new surveys or further investigations are recommended for this area.No new insets are recommended for this area.As Chief of Party, field operations for this hydrographic survey were conducted under my direct supervision, with frequent personal checks of progress and adequacy. I have reviewed the attached survey data and reports.All field sheets, this Descriptive Report, and all accompanying records and data are approved. All records are forwarded for final review and processing to the Processing Branch.The survey data meets or exceeds requirements as set forth in the NOS Hydrographic Surveys Specifications and Deliverables, Field Procedures Manual, Letter Instructions, and all HSD Technical Directives. These data are adequate to supersede charted data in their common areas. This survey is complete and no additional work is required with the exception of deficiencies noted in the Descriptive Report.Benjamin K. Evans, CDR/NOAACommanding Officer NOAA Ship Rainier2018-12-13Andrew Clos, LT/NOAAField Operations Officer NOAA Ship Rainier2018-12-13James B. JacobsonChief Survey Technician NOAA Ship Rainier2018-12-13Michael D. Card, ENS/NOAASheet Manager NOAA Ship Rainier2018-12-13