gov.noaa.nodc:0259494 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 2026-02-05T19:10:54Z ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) Benthic Surveys in Vatia, American Samoa: benthic images collected during belt transect surveys from 2020-01-23 to 2020-01-29 (NCEI Accession 0259494) 2022-09-23 publication 2022-09-13 creation NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0259494 NCEI Archive Management System 0259494 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 Lori Luers NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division nmfs.pic.credinfo@noaa.gov https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/ HTTPS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division website Institution web page information resourceProvider NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/PIFSC) resourceProvider Bernardo Vargas-Ángel NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division bernardo.vargas-angel@noaa.gov https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/ HTTPS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division website Institution web page information principalInvestigator Lori Luers NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division lori.luers@noaa.gov https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/ HTTPS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division website Institution web page information pointOfContact Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/ecosystem_sciences/ HTTPS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Sciences Division website Institution web page information author NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/PIFSC) contributor tableDigital This data package includes the source imagery of a benthic cover analysis for surveys performed in 2020 by the NOAA Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) in Vatia, American Samoa. The imagery described here was collected during belt transect surveys of coral demography by the ESD according to protocols established by the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). In 2020 the survey implemented a one-stage stratified random sampling (StRS) design. Thirty images were collected at 24 stratified randomly selected sites in Vatia Bay. The survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats in the 0–30 m depth range. The stratification scheme included cardinal position (i.e., north and south) and depth (i.e., shallow: >0–6 m and mid-depth: >6–18 m). Sampling effort allocation was determined based on strata area and sites randomly located within strata. The StRS design effectively reduces estimate variance through stratification using environmental covariates and by sampling more sites rather than more transects per site. Therefore, site-to-site comparisons should proceed with caution. These data were collected during benthic surveys undertaken in Vatia Bay to establish a comprehensive baseline for benthic composition and are part of a broader NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) funded project led by NCCOS. These efforts feed into the higher-level CRCP objectives by establishing an in-situ tracking system to assess the effects of management and mitigation strategies and activities in the target watersheds to reduce land-based sources of pollution. Funding Agency: NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program 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:0259494 Preview graphic PNG 0259494 NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 2022-08-26 publication CORAL HABITAT - BENTHIC PHOTOQUADRAT IMAGES theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS camera instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS benthic biological in situ survey - biological survey - coral reef visual observation theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center dataCentre NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center dataCentre NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) CORAL REEF STUDIES project NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS South Pacific Ocean place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS oceanography theme WMO_CategoryCode 2012-09-15 publication CRED CREP Coral Reef Ecosystem Division Coral Reef Ecosystem Program ESD Ecosystem Sciences Division PIFSC Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center dataCentre Contributing Organizations DOC/NOAA/NMFS > 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 31090 31259 Eutrophication Impacts on Coral Ecosystem Health in Vatia, American Samoa Status and trends assessment for LBSP impacts on reef communities in Faga'alu Bay and Vatia Bay project CRCP Project Visual Images > Corals Visual Images > Habitats theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Benthic Habitat EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Baseline studies EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Quadrat Monitoring EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Quadrat Monitoring > Photograph Analysis EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring > Belt Transect EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > In Situ Biological EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Photographic Analysis EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Rapid Assessment Studies EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Benthic biology EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral reef ecology > Coral cover EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC EARTH SCIENCE > SOLID EARTH > GEOMORPHIC LANDFORMS/PROCESSES > COASTAL LANDFORMS > CORAL REEFS EARTH SCIENCE > SPECTRAL/ENGINEERING > VISIBLE WAVELENGTHS > VISIBLE IMAGERY 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 CAMERA > CAMERA 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 COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > Tutuila Island > Vatia Bay (14S170W0028) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Tutuila Island > Vatia Bay (14S170W0028) place CoRIS Place Thesaurus OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN 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 Vatia Bay place Provider Place Names B7NFD6 Send2NCEI Submission Package ID accessLevel: public otherRestrictions Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2022). Benthic Surveys in Vatia, American Samoa: benthic images collected during belt transect surveys from 2020-01-23 to 2020-01-29 (NCEI Accession 0259494). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0259494. 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. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2022: Benthic Surveys in Vatia, American Samoa since 2015: benthic images collected during belt transect surveys in 2015 and 2020, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/31196. 2022 publication gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:31196 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/31196 HTTPS https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/31196 InPort Metadata Record information NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/PIFSC) publisher tableDigital crossReference Vargas-Ángel, B. (2020). Status and Trends Assessment of Benthic Coral Reef Communities in Vatia Bay, American Samoa, 2015–2020. Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (U.S.). https://doi.org/10.25923/r7dd-wg50 2020 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.25923/r7dd-wg50 https://doi.org/10.25923/r7dd-wg50 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.25923/r7dd-wg50 related journal article information Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo author Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (U.S.) publisher documentDigital Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (U.S.) crossReference Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2022). Benthic Surveys in Vatia, American Samoa: benthic cover derived from analysis of benthic images collected during belt transect surveys of coral demography from 2020-01-23 to 2020-01-29 (NCEI Accession 0264809). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0264809. 2022-10-18 publication NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0264809 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0264809 HTTPS https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0264809 NCEI data accession containing the associated benthic cover for this imagery information Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center author NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) publisher tableDigital crossReference collection Whitall, D., Curtis, M., Mason, A., & Vargas-Angel, B. (2019). Excess Nutrients in Vatia Bay, American Samoa: Spatiotemporal Variability, Source Identification and Impact on Coral Reef Ecosystems. National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (U.S.). https://doi.org/10.25923/j8cp-x570 2019 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.25923/j8cp-x570 https://doi.org/10.25923/j8cp-x570 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.25923/j8cp-x570 NOAA Central Library: Technical Memorandum information Whitall, David author Curtis, Meagan author Mason, Andrew author Vargas-Angel, Bernardo author National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (U.S.) publisher documentDigital National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (U.S.) crossReference collection eng; USA utf8 environment oceans imageryBaseMapsEarthCover biota -170.674412 -170.667963 -14.249853 -14.24367 2020-01-23 2020-01-29 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 JPEG 6810.868 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0259494 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/259494 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/259494 HTTPS Web browser HTTPS Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. download ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0207/0259494/ 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 0259494 v1.1 was published. 2022-09-23T13:46:40Z NCEI Accession 0259494 v1.1 publication https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0259494/1.1 HTTPS NCEI Accession 0259494 v1.1 published 2022-09-23T13:46:40Z download dataset Parameter or Variable: PHOTOQUADRAT IMAGES (measured); Units: unitless; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: camera; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Still photographs were collected to record the benthic community composition with a high-resolution digital camera mounted on a pole. Thirty photographs were taken every meter from the 1 m to the 30 m.; Data Quality Method: The photos are reviewed by the diver for accuracy and usability. To ensure consistency, images were color corrected using Adobe Lightroom if it appeared that the camera they were taken from was not properly white balanced in the field. Typically, 30 photographs are collected per site; however, there may be instances in which camera issues, survey conditions, or image quality results in fewer than the standard 30 photos per site. Survey protocols followed the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program methodologies historically implemented by NOAA's Ecosystem Sciences Division. asNeeded Metadata are developed, maintained and distributed by NCEI. Updates are performed as needed to maintain currentness. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information custodian camera camera An instrument for recording images.