Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to content
  • Feedback

    • NCCOS Mapping: Characterizing Submerged Lands Around Naval Base Guam, Mariana Islands, 2016-01-11 to 2022-05-13 (NCEI Accession 0292018)

    Metadata Updated: December 1, 2025

    This data package contains information and maps showing the geology and biology of select submerged lands (0 to 50 meters deep) around Navy Base Guam (NBG) and Haputo Ecological Reserve Area (ERA) Guam, Mariana Islands. This information and maps were developed using benthic information from underwater photographs, environmental predictor variables derived from satellite imagery and bathymetry, and machine learning modeling approaches. From this process, two types of map products were created. The first type describes the spatial distribution of 7 substrate and 12 biological cover types, where each grid cell denotes the probability that a given habitat is present (0 to 100%). The second product was a classified map depicting the 7 most common combinations of substrate and cover types. The performance and accuracy of these products were evaluated by local experts and by using an independent of underwater photographs. The overall accuracy of the classified map was 86.6%. The substrate and cover predictions had little bias (𝑥𝑥̅ error = ‐2% ±1% SE), good to excellent ability to discriminate between presences and absences (𝑥𝑥̅ area under the curve = 0.86 ±0.02 SE) and explained over a quarter of the variation in the data (𝑥𝑥̅ percent deviance explained = 26.9% ±5.1 SE).

    In Haputo ERA, ‘Pavement, Mixed Algae’ was the most abundant habitat type, comprising 54.5% (1.1 km2) of the area. The largest, continuous patches were located on the forereef along the coastline. Live coral was distributed throughout the ERA, with encrusting corals being most prevalent. No seagrass or mangroves were present. Around NBG, ‘Sand, Bare’ was the most abundant habitat type, comprising 42.3% (8.2 km2) of the area. The largest, continuous patches were in the eastern portion of Outer Apra Harbor, including Sasa Bay and south of Cabras Island. Live coral was common and most prevalent from San Luis Point around Point Udall to Acapa Point. Halodule uninervis seagrass was only documented outside Apra Harbor at 2 sites approximately 500 m north of Acapa Point. Mangroves were found only in nearshore areas in Sasa Bay and Inner Apra Harbor. No Endangered Species Act (ESA) protected corals or nuisance species (i.e., C. vieillardi) were photographed in either project areas. One crown of thorns sea star was photographed in Haputo ERA. The prevalence of coral bleaching, COTS scarring and marine debris were low (<1%, 0% and <4%, respectively). Theses maps mark the first time that these locations have been mapped since 2010, providing an updated inventory of marine resources and new baseline for future monitoring and management decisions in the region.

    Access & Use Information

    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.

    Downloads & Resources

    Dates

    Metadata Date 2025-05-16T15:36:26Z
    Metadata Created Date February 1, 2025
    Metadata Updated Date December 1, 2025
    Reference Date(s) May 22, 2024 (publication)
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions

    Other Data Resources

    Graphic Preview

    Preview graphic

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date 2025-05-16T15:36:26Z
    Metadata Created Date February 1, 2025
    Metadata Updated Date December 1, 2025
    Reference Date(s) May 22, 2024 (publication)
    Responsible Party (Point of Contact)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.nodc:0292018
    Access Constraints Cite as: Costa, Bryan; Sweeney, Edward (2024). NCCOS Mapping: Characterizing Submerged Lands Around Naval Base Guam, Mariana Islands, 2016-01-11 to 2022-05-13 (NCEI Accession 0292018). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/wg96-cq17. Accessed [date]., Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
    Bbox East Long 144.8438875
    Bbox North Lat 13.61893
    Bbox South Lat 13.390316
    Bbox West Long 144.6033715
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded
    Graphic Preview Description Preview graphic
    Graphic Preview File https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0292018
    Graphic Preview Type PNG
    Harvest Object Id b1eb5725-4a49-4446-9504-4fd1f9832742
    Harvest Source Id c084a438-6f6b-470d-93e0-16aeddb9f513
    Harvest Source Title NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions
    Licence accessLevel: Public
    Lineage
    Metadata Language eng
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[144.6033715, 13.390316], [144.8438875, 13.390316], [144.8438875, 13.61893], [144.6033715, 13.61893], [144.6033715, 13.390316]]]}
    Progress completed
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 2016-01-11
    Temporal Extent End 2022-05-13

    Didn't find what you're looking for? Suggest a dataset here.