gov.noaa.nodc:0276222 eng utf8 dataset NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NOAA Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information custodian 2026-04-06T13:39:41Z ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) presence and survey effort collected during visual surveys from aerial platforms by the Alaska Beluga Whale Committee in the Eastern Bering Sea from 1992-05-27 to 2000-06-20 (NCEI Accession 0276222) 2023-01-05 publication 2023-01-04 creation NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0276222 NCEI Archive Management System 0276222 NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information publisher Janice Waite NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS/AFSC/MML) janice.waite@noaa.gov https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/marine-mammal-laboratory HTTPS NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS/AFSC/MML) website Institution web page information resourceProvider NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS/AFSC/MML) https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/marine-mammal-laboratory HTTPS NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS/AFSC/MML) website Institution web page information resourceProvider Brower, Amelia NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS/AFSC/MML) https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/marine-mammal-laboratory HTTPS NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS/AFSC/MML) website Institution web page information pointOfContact Lowry, Lloyd principalInvestigator Ferguson, Megan author Brower, Amelia NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center; Marine Mammal Laboratory https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/marine-mammal-laboratory HTTPS NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS/AFSC/MML) website Institution web page information author Frost, Kathy University of Alaska Fairbanks, Institute of Marine Science (IMS/UAF) kjfrost@eagle.ptialaska.net https://www.uaf.edu/cfos/research/institute-of-marine-scien/ HTTPS website Institution web page information author Alaska Beluga Whale Committee author NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS/AFSC/MML) https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/marine-mammal-laboratory HTTPS NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMFS/AFSC/MML) website Institution web page information contributor tableDigital During the years 1992-1995 and 1999-2000, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provided funds for the Alaska Beluga Whale Committee (ABWC) to conduct studies of belugas in Alaska. Part of the ABWC research program consisted of aerial surveys of western Alaska beluga stocks, including the Eastern Bering Sea (EBS) stock. In 1992, several aerial surveys were conducted during three periods: 27-29 May, 17-21 June, and 18-22 September to assess the distribution of belugas during those periods. The surveys found relatively few belugas in May and September, but a large number of belugas in June. Based on those results, surveys in subsequent years were conducted only in June: 14-18 June 1993, 11-16 June 1994, 5-8 and 20-22 June 1995, 15-17 June 1999, and 17-20 June 2000. This dataset contains aerial survey data from the surveys described above. This dataset is available to the public for a wide variety of uses including scientific research and analysis. Funding Agency: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service completed historicalArchive NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact HTTPS NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information pointOfContact asNeeded https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0276222 Preview graphic PNG 0276222 NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 2022-12-13 publication biological data cetacean MARINE MAMMALS species abundance SPECIES IDENTIFICATION - COUNT WEATHER theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS Distance Sampling GPS inclinometer line transect sampling visual estimate visual observation instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS biological in situ marine mammal observation survey - biological visual estimate visual observation theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory dataCentre NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory dataCentre NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Bering Sea - Norton Sound place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS oceanography theme WMO_CategoryCode 2012-09-15 publication DOC/NOAA/NMFS/AFSC/MML > Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Cetacean Assessment and Ecology Program project Provider Project Names EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > MAMMALS > CETACEANS EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > MARINE MAMMALS theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Alaska Beluga whale Bristol Bay Delphinapterus leucas abundance cetacean distribution habitat strip transect survey theme Provider Keywords Distance Sampling GPS RECEIVERS > GPS RECEIVERS INCLINOMETERS > INCLINOMETERS Line Transect Sampling VISUAL OBSERVATIONS > VISUAL OBSERVATIONS instrument Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Aero Commander Airplane platform Provider Platform Names OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN > BERING SEA place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 2026 revision 24 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Greenbelt MD https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords HTTPS GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian LMN751 Send2NCEI Submission Package ID accessLevel: public otherRestrictions Cite as: Ferguson, Megan; Brower, Amelia; Frost, Kathy; Alaska Beluga Whale Committee (2023). Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) presence and survey effort collected during visual surveys from aerial platforms by the Alaska Beluga Whale Committee in the Eastern Bering Sea from 1992-05-27 to 2000-06-20 (NCEI Accession 0276222). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276222. Accessed [date]. Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives. otherRestrictions 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. Alaska Fisheries Science Center, 2022: AFSC/MML: Eastern Bering Sea Beluga Whale Aerial Surveys, 1992-1995, 1999-2000, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/67735. 2022-11-28 publication gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:67735 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/67735 HTTPS https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/67735 NOAA Fisheries InPort Record information NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/AFSC) http://www.afsc.noaa.gov HTTP NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/AFSC) website Institution web page information publisher tableDigital crossReference project Lowry, L., Zerbini, A., Frost, K., DeMaster, D., & Hobbs, R. (2023). Development of an abundance estimate for the eastern Bering Sea stock of beluga1 whales (Delphinapterus leucas). J. Cetacean Res. Manage., 16(1), 39–47. https://doi.org/10.47536/jcrm.v16i1.441 2023-01-24 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.47536/jcrm.v16i1.441 https://doi.org/10.47536/jcrm.v16i1.441 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.47536/jcrm.v16i1.441 related journal article information Lowry, Lloyd author Zerbini, Alexandre author Frost, Kathryn author DeMaster, Douglas author Hobbs, Roderick author International Whaling Commission publisher documentDigital JCRM 16(1) ISSN 2312-2706, ISSN 1561-0713, pp. 39-47 crossReference sciencePaper eng; USA utf8 environment oceans climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere biota -166.3412 -156.6493 58.382 66.367 1992-05-27 2000-06-20 Prior to 1992, there was little information on the distribution of EBS belugas beyond the knowledge of the traditional Alaska Native hunting areas, and places where belugas were seen on an opportunistic basis. There had been no systematic surveys of belugas in the Norton Sound/Yukon Delta region, and there were no reliable estimates of historical population size. It was known that belugas occurred throughout the coastal zone of the northeastern Bering Sea, particularly from the mouth of the Yukon River to northern Norton Sound near Nome, and few were seen far from the shoreline. Belugas were seen predominantly during ice-free months, which was usually mid-May after the breakup of sea ice until freeze-up in November. The goals of the ABWC research programs aerial surveys were to estimate the abundance and trends of the EBS stock of belugas and to compare those results with previous beluga information for this area. Metadata for these data were not compiled at the time of the surveys, and the data existed in various forms in multiple locations. In 2022, an effort was made to pull all the data together, standardize attribute values, minimize inconsistencies, and/or correct errors, and create metadata to improve the database for future analyses. Most of the people who worked on the project and analyzed the data were either retired or deceased by 2022; for this reason, some of the values in the data fields remain undefined. For more information about this review and details of the edits that were made to the data, see contact the data steward about the EBS Beluga 1992-2000_Final files, data review, & edits document. There were survey flights flown for this survey, for which survey data do not exist. The International Whaling Commission report, Lowry, L.F., D.P. DeMaster, K.J. Frost. 1999. Alaska Beluga Whale Committee surveys of beluga whales in the Eastern Bering Sea, 1992-1995. Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. SC/51/SM34, gives detail that a survey flight was flown on 29 May 1992; however, survey data for that day are missing. Table 1 of Lowry et al. (1999) indicates that no belugas were sighted on that day. The document, NSsurveysJune95.DOC details that a flight was also flown on 9 June 1995, but there are no data for this flight. The report indicates the flight was all fog and there was no survey effort: Took off from Nome in the fog and flew about 30 miles to the south on top. The whole Sound was covered with a layer of fog about 1000 feet thick. Returned to Nome then to Fairbanks. Lowry et al. 1999 indicates that fog prevented surveys on 21 June 1995, and there are no data for this day. However, NSsurveysJune95.DOC details that there was a flight, but survey effort was not possible: Took off from Nome in the fog and flew 20 miles to the south on top. The whole Sound was covered with a layer of fog. Returned to Nome. The survey was designed to cover coastal and offshore waters of Norton Sound and the Yukon Delta. Coastal transects were parallel to the shoreline with the centerline of the aircraft approximately 0.9 km offshore. Offshore transects were flown east to west along lines of latitude, north to south along lines of longitude, or on diagonals when travelling to and from airports. An adaptive sampling design was used in 1992 to 1995 to increase survey effort in areas where belugas had been sighted. When the belugas were seen on an offshore transect, additional parallel transects were flown at a 3.6-9.3 km spacing on both sides of the original line. Parallel transects were continued as long as belugas were seen, and usually stopped after two transects if there were no sightings. In 1999 and 2000, the survey was designed to cover all of Norton Sound and the Yukon River mouth with east to west transects regularly spaced at 9.3 km intervals. The total length of survey transects flown during each survey period was limited by the aircraft time available. The completion of transects was sometimes limited by weather conditions, particularly fog or high winds, and in June 1999 ice cover was a factor. The survey aircraft was a high-wing, twin-engine Aero Commander equipped with bubble windows, based in Nome. The crew included the pilot, a data recorder in the right front seat, and two observers seated behind the pilot on the left and right sides of the aircraft. Survey altitude was usually 305m, and ground speed was 274 km/hr (150 knots) in 1992 and 220 km/hr (120 knots) in all other years except some transit lines were flown at 274 km/hr in 1994. Navigation was done by reference to landmarks and with a Global Positioning System. The survey was done in passing mode, where whales were counted while staying on effort on the trackline. On the coastal transects, all belugas visible along the survey track were counted. The 1992 surveys were conducted as strip transect surveys; for the offshore transects, observers counted whales within 915 m wide strips on each side of the aircraft. The strips were offset 305 m from the centerline to eliminate the blind spot under the plane. The 1993 to 95 and 1999 to 2000 surveys were conducted as line transect surveys; the offshore transects on each side of the aircraft were divided into seven zones and each beluga sighting was recorded in one of the zones. Inclinometers were used to delineate the inner and outer bounds of zones from 0 to 51 deg. In 1992 and 1993, sightings and other data were recorded on datasheets by observers in one-minute intervals and were then entered into a computer database. In 1994 to 93;1995 and 1999 to 2000, a computer-based data entry program was used, logging the locations and times for the beginning and end of transects, the position on transect every 1 minute, and the exact time and position of each sighting. Environmental data and sighting conditions were also recorded. Data fields with S at the beginning of the field title (e.g., SOBSNUM, SGROUPSIZ) indicate sighting-related fields. Data fields with W at the beginning of the field title (WCLOUD, WBEAUSTAT, etc.) indicate weather-related fields. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 ncei.info@noaa.gov pointOfContact In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media. Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. CSV XML 1.856 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276222 HTTPS Web browser NCEI Dataset Landing Page Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/276222 HTTPS Web browser Descriptive Information Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links. information https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/276222 HTTPS Web browser HTTPS Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. download ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0210/0276222/ FTP Any FTP client FTP These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP). download dataset NCEI Accession 0276222 v1.1 was published. 2023-01-05T19:57:47Z NCEI Accession 0276222 v1.1 publication https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0276222/1.1 HTTPS NCEI Accession 0276222 v1.1 published 2023-01-05T19:57:47Z download dataset Parameter or Variable: LATITUDE (measured); Units: Decimal degrees; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: GPS asNeeded Metadata are developed, maintained and distributed by NCEI. Updates are performed as needed to maintain currentness. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information custodian Distance Sampling Distance Sampling A set of randomly placed lines or points is established and distances are measured to those objects detected by traveling the line or surveying the points. https://gcmd.earthdata.nasa.gov/KeywordViewer/scheme/instruments/092cad6c-758d-4d0b-b615-615fc42e08b5?gtm_keyword=Distance%20Sampling>m_scheme=instruments Reference https://distancesampling.org/downloads/distancebook1993/index.html; Buckland, S.T., Anderson, D.R., Burnham, K.P. and Laake, J.L. 1993. Distance Sampling: Estimating Abundance of Biological Populations. Chapman and Hall, London. 446pp. GPS GPS Global Positioning System receiver satellite-based instrument used for geo-location, positioning and navigation inclinometer inclinometer used on moored buoys to derive wave steepness or height instrument used on moored buoys to measure 'vertical displacement of the buoy hull' to determine wave height, period, etc. May be used in conjunction with the use of a Datawell Hippy sensor to measure vertical heave acceleration along with pitch and roll. Also may be used with a second sensor, a triaxial magnetometer, is used to measure hull azimuth. line transect sampling line transect sampling perpendicular distances from a line A line is traversed by an observer and perpendicular distances are measured from the line to each detected object. Reference https://distancesampling.org/downloads/distancebook1993/index.html; Buckland, S.T., Anderson, D.R., Burnham, K.P. and Laake, J.L. 1993. Distance Sampling: Estimating Abundance of Biological Populations. Chapman and Hall, London. 446pp. visual estimate visual estimate not an instrument - maybe an observation type visual observation visual observation not an instrument - maybe an observation type