OPR-C319-FH-21 Approaches to New York Offshore New Jersey NOAA Ship Ferdinand Hassler (S250) H13477 4 Ambrose Channel Inbound New Jersey United States 20000 2021 Michael Gonsalves, CDR/NOAA Basic Hydrographic Survey 2021-04-23 2021-08-08 2021-10-07 Multibeam Echo Sounder Side Scan Sonar 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 WGS84 UTM 18N, 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 Survey H13477, located within the Approaches to New York, sub locality of Ambrose Channel Inbound, was conducted in accordance with coverage requirements set forth in the Project Instructions OPR-C319-FH-21 (Figure 1). 40.08077222222222 73.79834722222222 39.866480555555555 73.62490277777778 Survey layout for H13477, plotted over ENC US3NY01M. Black outline represents the survey limits set forth by the Project Instructions. SupportFiles\A.1 Coverage Overview.png Survey data were acquired in accordance with the requirements set forth by the Project Instructions (PI) and the Hydrographic Surveys Specifications and Deliverables (HSSD) dated April 2021. The Port of New York and New Jersey, is the largest importer of goods in the United States by volume, handling over 74,000,000 short tons in 2018. With larger Post-Panamax ships with deeper drafts often calling upon the Port of New York and New Jersey, accurate navigational charts are essential for the continued safe transit of vessels in and out of the Port. This 930 square nautical mile survey area offshore of the coast of New Jersey encompasses two traffic separation schemes for large vessels calling upon the Port of New York and New Jersey, and will supersede 1970 vintage chart data for the area. This project will provide modern bathymetric data to update National Ocean Service (NOS) nautical charting products as well as support the Seabed 2030 global mapping initiative in this heavily trafficked area, which supports commerce along the eastern seaboard. The entire survey is adequate to supersede previous data. Data acquired in H13477 meet multibeam echo sounder (MBES) coverage requirements for complete coverage, as specified by the 2021 HSSD. This includes crosslines (see Section B.2.1), NOAA allowable uncertainty (see Section B.2.2), and density requirements (see Section B.5.2). All waters in survey area Complete Coverage (Refer to HSSD Section 5.2.2.3) Survey coverage is in accordance with requirements listed in Table 2 and in the 2021 HSSD. Coverage requirements were met with a combination of 100% complete coverage multibeam echosounder (MBES) coverage and 100% side scan sonar (SSS) with concurrent MBES coverage. Complete coverage MBES was used to reacquire areas of poor-quality SSS data created by refraction (see Section B.2.6) . See Image 2 for coverage details. Complete Coverage SSS (greyscale) plotted over MBES coverage acquired on H13477. Black outline represents sheet limits assigned in the PI. SupportFiles\A.4 Survey Coverage Types.png S250 0.0 1273.03 0.0 0.0 0.0 743.76 0.0 53.73 0.0 0.0 1273.03 0.0 0.0 0.0 743.76 0.0 53.73 0.0 4.22 1 0 0 0 75.31 2021-08-08 2021-08-09 2021-08-10 2021-08-11 2021-09-03 2021-09-04 2021-09-05 2021-09-06 2021-09-09 2021-09-10 2021-09-29 2021-09-30 2021-10-02 2021-10-03 2021-10-04 2021-10-06 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. S250 37.7 3.85 NOAA ship Ferdinand Hassler (S250) SupportFiles\B.1. Ship.jpeg MBES Kongsberg Maritime EM 2040 MBES Backscatter Kongsberg Maritime EM 2040 SSS Klein Marine Systems System 5000 Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth Sensor AML Oceanographic MVP200 Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth Sensor AML Oceanographic MVP-X Sound Speed System Teledyne RESON SVP 70 Positioning and Attitude System Applanix POS MV 320 v5 Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth Sensor Sea-Bird Scientific SBE 19plus S250 collected 53.73 linear nautical miles of MBES crosslines, or 4.22% of mainscheme MBES data. A variable resolution (VR) Combined Uncertainty and Bathymetry Estimator (CUBE) surface of mainscheme data and a VR CUBE surface of crossline data were differenced - the resulting mean was 0.03m with a standard deviation of 0.11m (Figure 4). Over 99.5% of nodes pass the fraction of allowable error analysis (Figure 5). The crosslines acquired have good temporal and geographic distribution, and there is no indication of any comparison issues (Figure 6). H13477 crossline/mainscheme comparison statistics SupportFiles\B.2.1 Crossline Stats.png H13477 crossline/mainscheme fraction of allowable error statistics SupportFiles\B.2.1 Crossline Frac Error.png H13477 crosslines overlaid on mainscheme MBES coverage. Crosslines colored by results of fraction of allowable error analysis. SupportFiles\B.2.1 Crossline Distribution.png ERS via VDATUM 0.0 0.092 S250 4 4 0 0.5 The bathymetric surface's uncertainty layer is compliant with the 2021 HSSD uncertainty standards. Over 99.5% of all nodes pass uncertainty standards (Figure 7). H13477 uncertainty standards. SupportFiles\B.2 Uncertainty Stats.png There are five surveys that junction with H13477. W00481 is a historical survey conducted by NOAA ship Nancy Foster in 2018 (Figure 8). The remaining four surveys were conducted with H13477 while on OPR-C319-FH-21: H13474, H13476, H13479, and H13480 (Figure 8). Information from junction analyses with W00481 and H13479 is below. Reference the respective Descriptive Reports (DRs) for the junction analyses of the remaining three contemporary surveys from OPR-C319-FH-21. H13477 (outlined in red) with contemporary surveys H13474, H13476, H13479, and H13480 (outlined in black), and historical survey W00481 (outlined in blue). SupportFiles\B.2.3 Junction Overview.png W00481 40000 2018 Nancy Foster SE Historical survey W00481 junctions with the Southeast edge of H13477 (Figure 8). A single resolution CUBE surface of H13477 data at the 2m resolution and a single resolution BAG surface of W00481 at the 2m resolution were differenced. The mean difference between bathymetric surface nodes was 1.66m with a standard deviation of 0.10m (Figure 10). Upon inspection of the difference statistics and the Fraction of Allowable Error surface (Figure 9), failed nodes are evenly distrubuted across the junction area, indicating the presence of a vertical offset. This offset was described in the DR for W00481 for an area of coverage that does not junction with H13477 and was identified by comparing data from W00481 to previous coverage. However, no previous data were available at the time of acquisition on the portion of W00481 that does junction with H13477, so the offset in this area was not detected in 2018. Nancy Foster personnel determined that the data acquired for W00481 were not adequate to superscede previous data for charting purposes and this conclusion is further supported by the contemporary junction analysis with H13477. Fraction of Allowable Error surface (shown in color) from junction analysis between H13477 and W00481. SupportFiles\B.2.3 Junction Frac Error.png H13477 and W00481 surface difference comparison statistics. SupportFiles\B.2.3 Junction Depth Diff.png H13479 20000 2021 Ferdinand R. Hassler S The south side of Survey H13477 junctioned with Survey H13479 (Figure 8). A variable resolution (VR) Combined Uncertainty and Bathymetry Estimator (CUBE) surface of H13477 data and a VR CUBE surface of H13479 data were differenced. The mean difference between bathymetric surface nodes was 0.00m with a standard deviation of 0.09m. Statistics and visual inspection indicate that surveys H13477 and H13479 are in general agreement (Figures 11 and 12)). Fraction of allowable error between Survey H13477 and H13479 shown in color. Visual inspection indicates that the surveys are in general agreement. SupportFiles\B.2.3 H13479 Junction.png H13477 and H13479 surface difference comparison statistics. SupportFiles\B.2.3 H13479 Junction Stats.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. Thermal layering causing refraction in side scan imagery H13477 is located in an area that exhibits intense density stratification (Figure 13). This layering greatly affected sound speed and resulted in refraction that can be observed in the SSS imagery (Figure 14). In the areas where the refraction was severe enough to impede the detection of a significant object, data was re-acquired using 100% complete coverage MBES. Example sound speed profile collected on H13477 exhibiting thermal layering SupportFiles\B.2.6 Example SVP.png Example of SSS refraction seen in line H13477_210904204900 SupportFiles\B.2.6 SSS Refraction.png Casts were conducted at the start of each acquisition day and within four hours of each previous cast per the 2021 HSSD specifications. S250 conducted casts using a Rolls Royce Brooke Ocean Moving Vessel Profiler (MVP) 200 and a Seabird SBE 19+ CTD. Variations in surface sound speed were monitored by the survey watch to assess appropriate cast frequency. A total of 94 sound speed profiles were collected within the survey limits of H13477 and display good spatial diversity (Figure 15). All sound speed profile data were concatenated into a master file for the sheet. MBES data were corrected by applying profiles nearest in distance in time (4 hours) using this master file. Overview of all SVP casts taken on H13477 SupportFiles\B.2.7 SVP Casts.png S250 acquired 100% side scan sonar coverage with concurrent multibeam and 100% complete coverage MBES to meet complete coverage requirements on survey H13477, as specified in the project instructions, using a Klein 5000V2 towfish and dual Kongsberg EM2040 multibeam systems. All data reduction procedures conform to those detailed in the DAPR. All sounding systems were calibrated as detailed in the DAPR. All equipment and survey methods were used as detailed in the DAPR. Raw MBES backscatter was flagged as part of the .all file from the Kongsberg EM2040 systems. Backscatter was processed in QPS Fledermaus GeoCoder Toolbox (FMGT) software, and the exported geotiffs are include in the final processed data submission package (Figure 16). H13477 300kHz backscatter mosaic. Mosaic shown has a 50m resolution for display purposes only. Mosaic in deliverables package has a 2m resolution. SupportFiles\B.4 Backscatter.jpg NOAA Profile Version 2021 Refer to the DAPR for information on the Bathymetry Data Processing Software. H13477_MB_VR_MLLW CARIS VR Surface (CUBE) Variable Resolution 24.0 41.4 NOAA_VR Complete MBES H13477_MB_VR_MLLW_Final CARIS VR Surface (CUBE) Variable Resolution 24.0 41.4 NOAA_VR Complete MBES H13477_SSSAB_1m_455kHz_1of1 SSS Mosaic 1 N/A 100% SSS H13477_MBAB_2m_S250_300kHz_1of1 MB Backscatter Mosaic 2 NOAA_2m Complete MBES Complete coverage requirements were met by 100% side scan sonar coverage with concurrent multibeam and complete coverage multibeam as specified under section 5.2.2.3 of the 2021 HSSD. All bathymetric grids for H13477 meet density requirements specified in the 2021 HSSD (Figure 17). The location of failed nodes was examined and these nodes were found to be distributed along MBES swath edges where there was no overlap with neighboring swaths (Figure 18), however these areas were covered by 100% SSS imagery and meet complete coverage requirements. After multiple rounds of surface cleaning, 12 fliers remain as detected by NOAA's QC Tools Flier Finder available in the Pydro XL-19 suite. Upon further inspection, these flagged grid nodes are considered to be accurate representations of the sea floor and have been retained in the submitted surfaces. While there are data gaps present in both the MBES surface and the SSS mosaic (Figure 19), the combined coverage resulted in no holidays present within the assigned survey limits. H13477 density statistics SupportFiles\B.5 Density Stats.png Example of distribution of nodes not meeting density standards (indicated by orange target). SupportFiles\B.5 Node Density Distribution.jpg H13477 SSS mosaic with a 1m resolution. Gaps in coverage were addressed with complete MBES coverage. SupportFiles\B.5 SSS Mosaic.jpg Field installed tide and GPS stations were not utilized for this survey. There is no HVCR report included with the submission of H13477. Mean Lower Low Water ERS via VDATUM OPR-C319-FH-21_NAD83_VDatum_MLLW All soundings submitted for H13477 are reduced to MLLW using VDatum techniques as outlined in the DAPR. North American Datum 1983 Projected UTM 18 RTX Trimble-RTX service was used with an Applanix POS MVv5 GNSS_INS system to obtain highly accurate ellipsoidally referenced position data to meet ERS specifications for H13477 MBES data from vessel S250. The Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) was used for real-time horizontal control during data acquisition on vessel S250. All data from H13477 should supersede charted data. A chart comparison was conducted between survey H13477 and previously charted ENC US3NY01M in accordance with methods outlined in the DAPR. See Figure 20 and additional information in the following sections. Comparison of survey data with charted soundings and contours from ENC US3NY01M SupportFiles\D.1 Chart comparison.jpg US3NY01M 400000 49 2020-08-03 2021-02-18 No shoals or potentially hazardous features exist for this survey. No Danger to Navigation Reports were submitted. No charted features exist for this survey. Two uncharted obstructions were located and investigated. Reference the Final Feature File for more information. 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. One bottom sample was assigned and investigated. Reference the Final Feature File for location and sample attribution. No overhead features exist for this survey. Nine charted submarine cables were assigned for investigation. No evidence of these cables was seen in either the MBES or SSS coverage. These features are not included in the Final Feature File since no discrepancies were noted. 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. Michael Gonsalves, CDR/NOAA Chief of Party 2022-01-27 Erin Cziraki Sheet Manager 2022-01-27