OPR-T381-RA-22 Mariana Islands Western Pacific Ocean NOAA Ship Rainier (S221) H13572 2 Saipan Island Northern Mariana Islands Territory of the United States 10000 2022 Hector L. Casanova, CAPT/NOAA Navigable Area 2022-01-07 2022-04-20 2022-08-24 Multibeam Echo Sounder Multibeam Echo Sounder Backscatter meters UTC (+ 10:00) 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(MA11) UTM 55N, 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 This survey is referred to as H13572, "Saipan Island" (sheet 2) within the Project Instructions. The assigned survey area encompassed an estimated 1,300 square nautical miles around the U.S. island territory of Saipan in the Western Pacific Ocean. 15.901388888888889 145.36444444444444 14.983333333333333 145.98055555555555 H13572 assigned survey area (Chart 81004). file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/H13572_SheetLimits.png The originally assigned survey limits extended into areas with depths greater than RAINIER could efficiently acquire quality multibeam data. Therefore we requested, and the Operations Branch approved, that we survey to the 1,500 meter depth contour and not beyond. See supplemental correspondence for more information. The ecosystem surrounding the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is experiencing stress imposed by climate change and other environmental factors. For this project, NOAA Ship Rainier will be operating around CNMI to conduct an extensive hydrographic survey to map bathymetry and habitat around the islands, pinnacles, and reefs in support of nautical charting and habitat mapping. With the collaboration and partnership of the National Centers for Coastal and Ocean Science (NCCOS), the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP), and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), this project will also study the health of coral reef systems, ocean chemistry, and fisheries habitat. This team has developed a strategy to map the waters from nearshore to depths greater than 1000 meters. Within the project area, the ship's crew will collect bathymetric data to update charts and backscatter data to characterize habitat, while visiting scientists from NCRMP will perform coral reef assessment dives and other oceanographic observations. Data collected during this mission are pivotal to long-term biological and oceanographic monitoring of coral reef ecosystems around the CNMI. This 2022 expedition will add to information collected during monitoring and mapping surveys conducted in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2017. Oceanographic and ecological time series data will allow scientists to evaluate potential changes in environmental conditions and coral reef health in the Mariana Archipelago. This will enable federal and state resource managers to more effectively conserve coral reef ecosystems the CNMI, and manage ecosystem services. Data collected during this project also supports monitoring components of the NCRMP Coral Reef Ecosystem Integrated Observing System. This modern hydrographic survey will address gaps in the Seabed 2030 project, provide critical data to update National Ocean Service (NOS) nautical charting products, identify hazards, and improve maritime safety. Survey data from this project are intended to supersede all prior survey data in the common area. The entire survey is adequate to supersede previous data. Pydro QC Tools 2 Grid QA was used to analyze H13572 multibeam echosounder (MBES) data density. The submitted H13572 variable-resolution (VR) surface met HSSD density requirements shown in the histograms below. Grid QA results determined that 96% of H13572 nodes met full coverage resolution requirements as explained below. Pydro derived histogram plot showing HSSD density compliance of H13572 finalized variable-resolution MBES data. file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/H13572_MB_VR_MLLW.QAv6.density.png Pydro derived plot showing Grid QA results of H13572 full coverage resolution requirements. file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/H13572_MB_VR_MLLW.QAv6.pct_res.full_cov.png All waters in survey area Complete Coverage (Refer to HSSD Section 5.2.2.3) The entire extents of the assigned sheet limits were not surveyed for H13572. 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 as defined in the project instructions is the most seaward of the following: the surveyed 10 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 H13572 survey coverage reached neither 10 meters water depth, nor the assigned sheet limits, were due unsafe areas of navigation. LIDAR data was also provided for this project and a nearshore line was established where the LIDAR was sufficient for charting and further MBES data collection was not required inshore of that line. Additionally, in consultation with the Project Manager the decision was made to acquire data only to a depth of 1500 meters due to the poor quality of data collected in deeper depths with RAINIER's MBES system. See Supplemental Records for additional information. H13572 survey coverage and assigned survey limits for Saipan Island (Chart 81004). file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/H13572_Coverage.PNG S221 0.0 1225.14 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 77.88 0.0 2803 0.0 95.39 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2804 0.0 43.85 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1364.38 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 77.88 0.0 5.7 0 0 0 0 837.68 2022-04-20 2022-04-21 2022-04-22 2022-04-23 2022-04-24 2022-04-25 2022-04-26 2022-05-15 2022-05-16 2022-05-17 2022-05-27 2022-05-28 2022-06-18 2022-07-14 2022-08-05 2022-08-09 2022-08-10 2022-08-20 2022-08-23 2022-08-24 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. S221 70.4 4.7 2803 8.8 1.1 2804 8.8 1.1 NOAA Ship RAINIER. file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/Ship.jpg NOAA Hydrographic survey launch 2803. (photo credit: RAINIER CST Jacobson). file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/2803.jpg All data for H13572 were acquired by NOAA Ship RAINIER and survey launches 2803 and 2804. The vessels acquired MBES data, backscatter imagery and sound speed profiles. Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth Sensor Sea-Bird Scientific SBE 19plus Sound Speed System Teledyne RESON SVP 70 Sound Speed System ODIM Brooke Ocean MVP200 MBES Kongsberg Maritime EM 2040 MBES Kongsberg Maritime EM 710 Positioning and Attitude System Applanix POS MV 320 v5 Sound Speed System Lockheed Martin Sippican Deep Blue XBT NOAA Ship Rainier acquired 77.88 nautical miles of multibeam crosslines, approximately 5.70 percent, across a range of depths in the mainscheme data. The Compare Grids function in Pydro Explorer was used to analyze the finalized VR surfaces of H13572 mainscheme only and crossline only data. Pydro determined that 99.5 percent of nodes met allowable uncertainties. For additional results, see plots below. H13572 crossline surface overlaid on mainscheme tracklines. file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/H13572_XL_Example.PNG Pydro derived plot showing absolute difference statistics of H13572 mainscheme to crossline data. file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/H13572_MB_VR_MLLW-XL-H13572_MB_VR_MLLW_MS_depth_delta.png Pydro derived plot showing percentage-pass value of H13572 mainscheme to crossline data. file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/H13572_MB_VR_MLLW-XL-H13572_MB_VR_MLLW_MS_fracAllowErr_Freq.png ERS via VDATUM 0.0 0.11 S221 N/A 1 4 0.05 2803, 2804 3 N/A N/A 0.05 Total Propagated Uncertainty (TPU) values for survey H13572 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 metadata 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 and vessel motion data from Applanix POS MV were applied during acquisition and initially in post-processing. POSPac SBET and RMS files were subsequently 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 v6 within Pydro QC Tools was used to analyze H13572 TVU compliance. H13572 met HSSD requirements in 99.5 percent of grid nodes as shown in the histogram plot below. Pydro derived plot showing TVU compliance of H13572 finalized variable-resolution MBES data. file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/H13572_MB_VR_MLLW.QAv6.tvu_qc.png Per the Project Instructions there are two survey areas that junction with H13572. The surveys, H13575 and H13573, were conducted while on OPR-T381-RA-22. However, per correspondence with the Project Manager it was determined that survey would only be completed on H13572 to the nearshore line established with prior LIDAR data provided. Therefore, data collected on H13575 and H13572 does not overlap and no junction is completed between those surveys. Overview of surveys that junction with H13572. file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/junction_overview.PNG H13573 10000 2022 RAINIER S Please reference the respective Descriptive Report (DR) for the junction analysis of H13573. 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. None Exist There were no other factors that affected corrections to soundings. At least once every 4 hours or as needed. A total of 94 sound speed profiles ("casts") were acquired for this survey at discrete locations within the assigned area at least once every four hours, when significant changes to surface sound speed were observed, or when shifting operations to a new area. All sound speed profiles were concatenated into a master file and applied to H13572 MBES data using the "Nearest distance within Time (4 hours) profile selection method. Upon review of the data, sound speed issues were identified and determined to be a result of MVP and CTD casts applying to the wrong lines when georeferenced. Time and location of MVP and CTD casts overlapped resulting in data collected from launch 2803 applying MVP casts and ship collected data applying CTD casts from the master SVP file. To resolve this issue data collected with the ship were georeferenced with the ship master SVP file and the affected data from launch 2803 were georeferenced with the 2803 master SVP file. Another sound speed issue with the MVP was caused by MBES data greatly exceeding the depth of the cast applied, even after the cast was extended during processing. This issue was resolved by instead applying nearby casts that had been extended to a depth great enough to cover the range of soundings collected in the affected lines. Additionally, data collected while utilizing the XBT were georeferenced separately from data collected while using the MVP in order to apply the correct TPU values. After making the necessary referencing corrections, no further sound speed issues were identified. H13572 sound speed cast locations. file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/H13572_Cast_Locations.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 have been delivered with this report. Backscatter processing procedures are described in the DAPR. Overview mosaic of H13572 multibeam acoustic backscatter coverage. file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/H13572_MBAB.PNG CARIS HIPS and SIPS 11.4.6 QPS FMGT 7.10.0 NOAA Profile 2022v2 H13572_MB_VR_MLLW CARIS VR Surface (CUBE) Variable Resolution 6.5 2641.6 NOAA_VR Complete MBES H13572_MB_VR_MLLW_Final CARIS VR Surface (CUBE) Variable Resolution 6.5 2641.6 NOAA_VR Complete MBES Submitted H13572 surfaces were generated using NOAA recommended parameters for density-based (Ranges) Caris variable-resolution bathymetric grids. The submitted surfaces were generated with the Range/Resolution file, NOAA_DepthRanges_CompleteCoverage_2022, that includes 32 meter grids for depths exceeding 640 meters. Pydro QC Tools v.3.4.5 Flier Finder, with default settings, was used to identify sounding "fliers" in the finalized H13572 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 1,232 potential filers in the Complete Coverage surface. These were investigated and determined to be a result of the significant slope in the terrain and limited data density on both the steep slopes as well as on the offshore and nearshore edges of coverage. Therefore, these fliers have been found to be false positives. The image below depicts examples of edge fliers that have been determined to be false. Pydro QC Tools v3.4.5 Holiday Finder was used with default settings to find holidays in the finalized H13572 VR surface. Holiday Finder detected 24 certain and 8 possible holidays in the Complete Coverage Surface. In review of the data it was determined that 13 of the holidays were located on the edge of coverage and considered false. Additionally, three of the holidays are believed to be CARIS created holidays. Finally, 16 holidays were reviewed and determined to be real and were not acquired due to time constraints. See figures below for more information. Example of edge fliers determined to be false. file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/H13572_Offshore_Flier%20Example.PNG Example of edge holiday detected by QC Tools Holiday Finder. file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/H13572_Holidays.png 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_T381-RA-22_GuamCNMI_EC_ERTDM2021_NAD83(MA11)-MLLW OPR_T381-RA-22_GuamCNMI_EC_ERTDM2021_NAD83(MA11)-MHW All submitted H13572 MBES data were vertically referenced to the ellipsoid. VDATUM models included with the Project Instructions were used for referencing H13572 data to MLLW and MHW. North American Datum 1983 (MA11) Projected UTM 55 Precise Positioning-Real time Extended (PP-RTX) processing methods were used in Applanix POSPac MMS (v8.5) software for post-processing horizontal correction of submitted H13572 MBES data. The Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) was used for real-time horizontal control during data acquisition. US2SP01M 931650 20 2022-06-14 2022-06-14 US4SP05M 75000 12 2022-06-15 2022-06-15 US5SP06M 20000 6 2022-06-14 2022-06-14 US5SP07M 12000 12 2021-06-17 2021-06-17 No shoals or potentially hazardous features exist for this survey. ENC US5SP07M has 12 wire drag areas that have been covered with MBES data. The MBES data supersedes the wire drag data, so it is recommended that the charted wire drag areas are removed from the chart. Volcanic activity reported in 1995 exists on ENC US2SP01M, however this was not investigated. Additionally, one Explosives Dumping Area was partially charted with MBES data and a complete investigation was not conducted. Finally, a reported 184 meter sounding on ENC US2SP01M was disproved with MBES data. See figures below. Example showing a charted wire drag area with MBES coverage. file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/H13572_Wire_Drag.PNG Example showing a reported 184 meter sounding disproved with MBES data. file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/H13572_184m_sounding.png No uncharted features exist for this survey. No channels exist within the survey limits. Five FAD buoys were assigned and were unable to be visually confirmed. Overnight ship survey of offshore regions limited visual observation. No Maritime Boundary Points were assigned for this survey. No bottom samples were required for this survey. No overhead features exist for this survey. Several assigned submarine pipeline and cable features were investigated, but were not confirmed during processing and review of MBES data. No platforms exist for this survey. No ferry routes or terminals exist for this survey. A submerged caldera located on ENC US2SP01M was confirmed with MBES data. Submerged caldera displayed with MBES coverage. file:///M:/OPRT381RA22/Surveys/H13572/01_HDR/Reports/Descriptive_Report/SupportFiles/H13572_Unusual_Feature.jpg 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. Hector L. Casanova, CAPT/NOAA Chief of Party 2023-02-17 Collin H. Walker, LT/NOAA Field Operations Officer 2023-02-17 Christina L. Brooks Acting Chief Survey Technician 2023-02-17 Brian K. Mershon Jr Sheet Manager 2023-02-17