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Acoustic backscatter intensity from multibeam echosounder data collected offshore of Morro Bay, California

Metadata Updated: October 29, 2025

This part of USGS Data Series 781 (Golden, 2019) presents 2-m-resolution acoustic backscatter data for the Offshore of Morro Bay, California, map area. Backscatter data were collected by Fugro Pelagos in 2008 using a combination of 400-kHz Reson 7125, 240-kHz Reson 8101, and 100-kHz Reson 8111 multibeam echosounder systems. The data were post-processed by the California State University Monterey Bay Seafloor Mapping Lab and the University of California Santa Cruz Center for Integrated Spatial Research. The acoustic backscatter data are available as a georeferenced TIFF image. Within the final imagery, brighter tones indicate higher backscatter intensity, and darker tones indicate lower backscatter intensity. The intensity represents a complex interaction between the acoustic pulse and the seafloor, as well as characteristics within the shallow subsurface, providing a general indication of seafloor texture and composition. Backscatter intensity depends on the acoustic source level; the frequency used to image the seafloor; the grazing angle; the composition and character of the seafloor, including grain size, water content, bulk density, and seafloor roughness; and some biological cover. Harder and rougher bottom types such as rocky outcrops or coarse sediment typically return stronger intensities (high backscatter, lighter tones), whereas softer bottom types such as fine sediment return weaker intensities (low backscatter, darker tones).

Access & Use Information

Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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Dates

Metadata Created Date September 12, 2025
Metadata Updated Date October 29, 2025

Metadata Source

Harvested from DOI USGS DCAT-US

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Created Date September 12, 2025
Metadata Updated Date October 29, 2025
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Maintainer
Identifier http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/usgs-7ed0fa1b-4d15-4aec-81ed-699a0075e6e8
Data Last Modified 2022-05-11T00:00:00Z
Category geospatial
Public Access Level public
Bureau Code 010:12
Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
Metadata Catalog ID https://ddi.doi.gov/usgs-data.json
Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
Harvest Object Id 38048fac-d244-43f3-b420-6b64e63501e1
Harvest Source Id 2b80d118-ab3a-48ba-bd93-996bbacefac2
Harvest Source Title DOI USGS DCAT-US
Metadata Type geospatial
Old Spatial -120.975800, 35.284256, -120.768460, 35.453663
Source Datajson Identifier True
Source Hash 5a0d56f3f75c25f3479de2ab4717303e27ff4c9e0eb71cea3571b4a92dcb7fe4
Source Schema Version 1.1
Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": -120.975800, 35.284256, -120.975800, 35.453663, -120.768460, 35.453663, -120.768460, 35.284256, -120.975800, 35.284256}

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