Seafloor geology and benthic habitats, San Pedro Shelf, southern California

Data Series 552
Prepared in cooperation with the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County and the Orange County Sanitation District
By: , and 

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Abstract

Seafloor samples, videography, still photography, and real-time descriptions of geologic and biologic constituents at or near the seafloor of the San Pedro Shelf, southern California, advance the study of natural and man-made processes on this coastal area off the metropolitan Los Angeles area. Multibeam echo-sounder data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1998 and 1999 guided sampling and camera work in 2004 resulting in a new seafloor character map that shows possible benthic habitats in much higher resolution (4- and 16-m pixels) than previously available. The seafloor is characterized by primarily muddy sand and sand with outcrops of Miocene and Pliocene bedrock along the Palos Verdes Fault Zone. Observed benthic populations indicate low abiotic complexity, low biotic complexity, and low biotic coverage. The data are provided for use in geographic information systems (GIS).

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Seafloor geology and benthic habitats, San Pedro Shelf, southern California
Series title Data Series
Series number 552
DOI 10.3133/ds552
Year Published 2012
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description Report: iv, 29 p.; Appendixes A-F
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial San Pedro Shelf
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details