OPR-O351-RA-21 Glacier Bay, AK Glacier Bay NOAA Ship Rainier (S221) H13399 1 Excess area from H13398 is included in H13399. Please attempt to acquire the remaining area from H13398. Geikie Inlet and Berg Bay Alaska United States 10000 2021 Olivia A. Hauser CDR\NOAA Navigable Area 2021-03-04 2021-03-31 2021-07-07 Multibeam Echo Sounder Multibeam Echo Sounder Backscatter meters UTC Pacific Hydrographic Branch Any revisions to the Descriptive Report (DR) applied during office processing are shown in red italic text. The DR is maintained as a field unit product, therefore all information and recommendations within this report are considered preliminary unless otherwise noted. The final disposition of survey data is represented in the NOAA nautical chart products. All pertinent records for this survey are archived at the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and can be retrieved via https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/. Products created during office processing were generated in NAD83 UTM 08N, MLLW. All references to other horizontal or vertical datums in this report are applicable to the processed hydrographic data provided by the field unit. CC0-1.0 (NOAA Field Units) CC0-1.0 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/legalcode These data were produced by NOAA and are in the public domain within the United States. NOAA waives any potential copyright and related rights in these data worldwide through the Creative Commons Zero 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication (CC0). NOAA The survey is referred to as H13399, "Geikie Inlet and Berg Bay" (Sheet 1), within the Project Instructions. The surveyed area encompasses approximately 12.8 square nautical miles and is located in various areas of Glacier Bay, including portions of Tarr Inlet, Geikie Inlet, Berg Bay, Fingers Bay, Reid Inlet, and Johnson Cove. An area on the south side of Lone Island was also surveyed to address a charted rock with an approximate position (PA). 59.059636 137.132858 58.507291 136.12381100000002 H13399 assigned survey area (Chart 17318) file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/survey_area.PNG Data were acquired with in the assigned survey limits as required in the Project Instructions and HSSD unless otherwise denoted. Glacier Bay in Southeast Alaska was covered by a single ice sheet as recently as the late 1700s. The tidewater glaciers that visitors see today are remnants of the calving and retreat of this glacial ice. In 2019, Glacier Bay National Park received approximately 675,000 visitors traveling by cruise ships, tour boats, charter boats, and private vessels. Most of the glaciers within the bay are thinning and receding due to rapidly warming atmospheric temperatures and ocean water, exposing uncharted areas at the glacier faces. In addition, glacial till has altered the bathymetry in the fjords near the glaciers. While most of Glacier Bay was last surveyed in 2009, the southern portion was last surveyed prior to 2001. This project focuses on a number of glacier faces, as well as several coves within Glacier Bay that are highly trafficked by small private vessels. Several of the areas surveyed, such as Reid Inlet, were noticeably popular anchorages among visitors traveling in small vessels. Conducting a modern bathymetric survey in this area will provide critical data for the updating of National Ocean Service (NOS) nautical charting products and services to increase maritime safety in Glacier Bay. Survey data from this project is intended to supersede all prior survey data in the common area. The entire survey is adequate to supersede previous data. All waters in survey area Complete Coverage (Refer to HSSD Section 5.2.2.3) The entire extent of the assigned sheet limits was not surveyed for H13399. NOAA Ship RAINIER attempted to survey John Hopkins Inlet, but was unsuccessful due to extensive free floating ice bergs covering the survey area. Multibeam echosounder coverage was acquired to the inshore limit of hydrography, the Navigable Area Limit Line (NALL), within a majority of the assigned sheet limits. The NALL is defined as the most seaward of the following: the surveyed 3.5 meter depth contour, the line defined by the distance seaward from the observed MHW line which is equivalent to 0.8 millimeters at chart scale (the assigned sheet limits closely reflect this), or the inshore limit of safe navigation. Areas where H13399 survey coverage reached neither 3.5 metes water depth, nor the assigned sheet limits, were due to time constraints and the presence of hazardous rocks and/or thick kelp. The figures included below illustrate the areas in which MBES data was collected. H13399 MBES coverage and assigned survey limits for Geikie Inlet, Berg Bay, Fingers Bay, and Johnson Cove. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/coverage1.PNG H13399 northern Glacier Bay MBES coverage and assigned survey limits for Tarr Inlet and Reid Inlet. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/coverage2.PNG Example of areas within Berg Bay where the 3.5-meter NALL was not reached. Red indicates areas where the 3.5-meter NALL was reached and the green dashed line indicates the assigned survey limit. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/nall_example.PNG 2802 0.0 105.76 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.95 0.0 2803 0.0 79.92 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.64 0.0 2804 0.0 158.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.78 0.0 0.0 344.28 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.36 0.0 2.43 5 0 17 0 12.8 2021-03-31 2021-06-16 2021-06-18 2021-06-19 2021-06-21 2021-06-22 2021-07-07 Refer 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. 2802 8.8 1.1 2803 8.8 1.1 2804 8.8 1.1 NOAA Ship RAINIER survey launches. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/launches.JPG All data for survey H13399 was acquired by NOAA Ship RAINIER launches 2802, 2803, and 2804. The vessels acquired MBES bathymetry, backscatter, and sound velocity profiles. Positioning and Attitude System Applanix POS MV 320 v5 MBES Kongsberg Maritime EM 2040 Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth Sensor Sea-Bird Scientific SBE 19plus Sound Speed System Teledyne RESON SVP 70 RAINIER launches collected 8.06 nautical miles of multibeam crosslines, approximately 2.3 percent, across a range of depths in the mainscheme data. Due to time constraints, sufficient crosslines across mainscheme data were not collected. However, overlapping coverage was closely examine between different acquisition days and found no apparent offset between days or vessels. The Compare Grids function in Pydro Explorer was used to analyze the finalized VR surfaces of H13399 mainscheme only and crossline only data. Pydro determined that 99.5 percent of nodes met allowable uncertainties. For additional results, see plots below. H13399 crossline surface overlaid on mainscheme tracklines. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/XL_Example.PNG Pydro derived plot showing absolute difference statistics of H13399 mainscheme to crossline data. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/H13399_MS_diff_XL_VR_depth_delta.png Pydro derived plot showing percentage-pass value of H13399 mainscheme to crossline data. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/H13399_MS_diff_XL_VR_fracAllowErr_Freq.png ERS via VDATUM 0.0 0.13 2802, 2803, 2804 3 .05 Total Propagated Uncertainty (TPU) values for survey H13399 were derived from a combination of fixed values for equipment and vessel characteristics, as well as from field assigned values for sound speed uncertainties. Tidal uncertainty was provided in the project instructions for the NOAA vertical datum transformation model used for this survey. In addition to the usual a priori estimates of uncertainty, real-time and post-processed uncertainty sources were also incorporated into the depth estimates of this survey. Real-time uncertainties for position, navigation, attitude, and vessel motion data from Applanix POS MV were applied during acquisition and initially in post-processing. POSPac SBET and RMS files were later applied in CARIS HIPS to supersede POS MV uncertainties associated with GPS height and position. Uncertainty values of the submitted finalized grids were calculated in Caris using "Greater of the Two" of uncertainty and standard deviation (scaled to 95%). Grid QA v5 within Pydro QC Tools was used to analyze H13399 TVU compliance. H13399 met HSSD requirements in over 99 percent of grid nodes, which is shown in the histogram plot below. Pydro QC Tools 2 Grid QA was used to analyze H13399 multibeam echosounder (MBES) data density. The submitted H13399 variable-resolution (VR) surface met HSSD density requirements shown in the histograms below. Pydro derived plot showing TVU compliance of H13399 finalized variable-resolution MBES data. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/H13399_MB_VR_MLLW_FINAL.QAv6.tvu_qc.png Pydro derived histogram plot showing HSSD density compliance of H13399 finalized variable-resolution MBES data. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/H13399_MB_VR_MLLW_FINAL.QAv6.density.png One junction comparison was completed for H13399. The survey, H13398, was completed by the NOAA Ship FAIRWEATHER in 2020. H13398 10000 2020 FAIRWEATHER S The junction with survey H13398 encompasses approximately 0.39 square nautical miles along the the southern border of coverage in Tarr Inlet and along the eastern border of coverage in Reid Inlet. In order to provide the most accurate analysis of the junction between H13399 and H13398, the Compare Grids function was run separately for the two areas, Reid Inlet and Tarr Inlet, where the surveys overlapped. The Compare Grids function of Pydro Explorer derived a difference surface from H13399 variable-resolution surface and H13398's variable-resolution surface for Tarr Inlet. Pydro Compare Grids showed that 92 percent of nodes in the overlapping area met NOAA allowable error standards. Analysis of the difference surface indicated that there is a -0.13 average difference between the two surveys. During review of the junction, a significant difference in depth between H13399 and H13398 was identified along the north east end of Tarr Inlet. Due to the limited amount of overlap between H13399 and H13398 it is difficult to determine the cause of the discrepancy between the surfaces and time constraints prevented further investigation of the area. However, the Hydrographer believes the data to be accurate and recommends that the data from H13399 supersede the data in H13398 for in Tarr Inlet to account for the frequent changes in the sea floor. The Compare Grids function of Pydro Explorer derived a difference surface from H13399 variable-resolution surface and H13398's variable-resolution surface for Reid Inlet. Pydro Compare Grids showed that 99.5 percent of nodes in the overlapping area met NOAA allowable error standards. Analysis of the difference surface indicated that there is a -0.11 average difference between the two surveys. For additional results, see figures below. H13399 and H13398 junction surface in Tarr Inlet. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/Tarr_Inlet_Junction.PNG Significant change in surface identified in north east end of Tarr Inlet. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/signif_change_junction.PNG Pydro derived plot showing percentage-pass volume of the junction between H13399 and H13398 variable-resolution surface in Tarr Inlet. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/Tarr_Inlet_MB_VR_MLLW-H13398_MB_VR_MLLW_Final_depth_delta.png Pydro derived plot showing absolute difference statistics of the junction between H13399 and H13398 variable-resolution surface in Tarr Inlet. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/Tarr_Inlet_MB_VR_MLLW-H13398_MB_VR_MLLW_Final_fracAllowErr_Freq.png H13399 and H13398 junction surface in Reid Inlet. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/Reid_Inlet_Junction.PNG Pydro derived plot showing percentage-pass volume of the junction between H13399 and H13398 variable-resolution surface in Reid Inlet. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/Reid_Inlet_MB_VR_MLLW-H13398_MB_VR_MLLW_Final_depth_delta.png Pydro derived plot showing absolute difference statistics of the junction between H13399 and H13398 variable-resolution surface in Reid Inlet. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/Reid_Inlet_MB_VR_MLLW-H13398_MB_VR_MLLW_Final_fracAllowErr_Freq.png Sonar system quality control checks were conducted as detailed in the quality control section of the DAPR. None Exist There were no conditions or deficiencies that affected equipment operational effectiveness. Sound Speed Offset During review of the data a significant offset, approximately 0.5 to 3 meters on the outer edges of the lines, was identified in the western end of Geikie Inlet. This offset was determined to be a result of variable sound velocity, most likely caused by the extensive freshwater input from the surrounding streams and rivers. The hydrographer attempted to resolve the sound speed issue by applying alternative CTD casts to the affected lines, but was unsuccessful in correcting the offset. After completing QC Tools analysis, it was determined that the offset does not impede the reliability of the data. See images below. Example of sound speed issues in Geikie Inlet identified in the MBES data. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/soundspeedissue.PNG Example of sound speed issues in Geikie Inlet identified in the MBES data. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/soundspeedissue2.PNG In the area of significant sound speed errors, outer beams were rejected to mitigated the effect of the deviations on the gridded data. The gridded data has been evaluated and is within specification. At least once every 4 hours or as needed. A total of 47 sound speed profiles were acquired for this survey at discrete locations within the survey area at least once every four hours, when significant changes in surface sound speed were observed, or when operating in a new area. Sound speed profiles were obtained using Sea-Bird 19plus SEACAT Profilers. All casts were concatenated into a master file and applied to MBES data using the "Nearest distance within time" (4 hours) profile selection method. A significant sound speed offset was identified in the MBES data in the southern end of Geikie Inlet. H13399 sound speed cast locations. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/soundspeedcasts.PNG Comparison plot of CTD casts taken during survey acquisition of H13399. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/casts.PNG All equipment and survey methods were used as detailed in the DAPR. 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 acquired as .ALL files logged during MBES operations and subsequently processed by RAINIER personnel. The .GSF files created during processing and backscatter mosaics per vessel and per frequency are delivered with this report. Backscatter processing procedures are described in the DAPR. Example of H13399 backscatter mosaic. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/backscatter.PNG CARIS HIPS and SIPS 11.3.15 QPS Fledermaus Geocoder Tool Box (FMGT) 7.9.4 NOAA Profile (v2021) H13399_MB_VR_MLLW CARIS VR Surface (CUBE) Variable Resolution -1.44 219.21 NOAA_VR Complete MBES H13399_MB_VR_MLLW_FINAL CARIS VR Surface (CUBE) Variable Resolution -1.44 219.21 NOAA_VR Complete MBES Submitted H13399 surfaces were generated using NOAA recommended parameters for density-based (Ranges) Caris variable-resolution bathymetric grids. Two soundings were designated and included in the Final Feature File to update the location and height of the corresponding assigned feature. A significant discrepancy between charted depth and surveyed depth was identified in the western end of Geikie Inlet and was submitted as a DTON. See DTON report in supplemental records submitted with this report. Pydro QC Tools v.3.4.5 Flier Finder, with default settings, was used to identify sounding "fliers" in the finalized H13399 VR surface. Obvious noise was rejected by the hydrographer in Caris Subset Editor. After data cleaning, the Flier Finder tool was run again and found 2 potential fliers in the Complete Coverage surface. These were investigated and found to be false positives. Pydro QC Tools v3.4.5 Holiday Finder was used with default settings to find holidays in the finalized H13399 VR surface. Holiday Finder detected 16 holidays in the Complete Coverage Surface. Of the detected holidays, 4 were identified as features and found to be false and 4 were identified as false positives. The remaining 8 detected holidays were confirmed to be gaps in data coverage, but they do not impact the reliability of the data. The 8 holidays were reviewed in the MBES data and based on the surrounding depths and location, it is assumed that there are no features or shoals of concern in the data gaps. The image below shows an example of a detected holiday that was determined to be false. Example of a feature that was detected as a holiday. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/holiday_ex.PNG During office review, the submitted VR grid was split into four separate grids to facilitate downstream processes and are denoted with an Xof4 naming convention. Four of the eight noted holidays were accounted for by features included in the Final Feature File. The remaining holidays were examined and no evidence of shoaling were found within the gaps. Application of Positioning Files During processing, the RMS and SBET files for several lines would not apply to the corresponding line. Lines 0076-0078 from RAINIER launch 2803, day 170, were effected by the issue and resolved by forcing the GPS week to the following week. Line 32 also exhibited a similar issue by not accepting the raw POS file. This was resolved by adjusting the from a 2 second gap to a 10 second gap. After making the aforementioned corrections, no further issues occurred when applying position to the lines. Additional information discussing the vertical or horizontal control for this survey can be found in the accompanying DAPR. Mean Lower Low Water ERS via VDATUM OPR-O351-FA-20_VDatum_100m_NAD83(2011)-MHW_XGEOID16B.csar OPR-O351-FA-20_VDatum_100m_NAD83(2011)-MLLW_XGEOID16B.csar North American Datum 1983 Projected UTM 8 Precise Positioning-Real Time Extended (PP-RTX) processing methods were used in Applanix POSPac MMS (v8.5) software during post-processing horizontal correction of submitted H13399 MBES data. The Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) was used for real-time horizontal control during data acquisition. US4AK3DM 80000 7 2021-07-14 2018-09-20 Not all assigned shoals and hazardous features were investigated. A majority of assigned features were inside the NALL and therefore not investigated. Additionally, due to time constraints, a shoreline investigation was not completed. Features investigated during data acquisition and confirmed in the MBES data have been updated as required in the Final Feature File. See Final Feature File provided with this report for more information. One shoal area was identified in the western end of Geikie Inlet and submitted as a DTON for Chart 17318. Aside from the DTON, no other significant differences between the chart and the data were identified. See supplemental records for DTON report. Shoal area identified as a DTON. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/DTON.PNG The latest edition of ENC US4AK3DM shows the reported DTON as approximate contours. The DTON report is not appended to this report. RAINIER launch 2804 was sent to investigate an awash rock, labeled as Position Approximate (PA), located approximately a 600 meters south of Lone Island. MBES complete coverage was acquired over the feature and was disproved in the charted location with complete MBES coverage. See image below. Additionally, several assigned features have been updated with corrected depths and locations based on MBES data collected. See Final Feature File submitted with this report for more information. Position Approximate feature disproved in the charted location with complete MBES coverage. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/PA_feature.PNG Example of charted feature with updated depth and location. file:///M:/OPRO351RA21/Surveys/H13399/06_Processed/Reports/Survey/Descriptive_Report/Report/Images/updated_feature.PNG No uncharted 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 Aids to navigation (ATONs) exist for this survey. No Maritime Boundary Points were assigned for this survey. Five bottom samples were acquired during survey acquisition of H13399. The results of the acquired bottom samples are included in the H13399 Final Feature File submitted with this report. The Final Feature File is not appended to this report. 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 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 ENC scales 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. Olivia A. Hauser, CDR/NOAA Chief of Party 2021-08-16 Dylan A. Kosten, LT/NOAA Field Operations Officer 2021-08-16 Barry D. Jackson Acting Chief Survey Technician 2021-08-16 Melissa A. Weber Sheet Manager 2021-08-16