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Central San Francisco Bay bathymetry: 1855 to 1979

Dates

Publication Date
Start Date
1855
End Date
1979

Citation

Foxgrover, A.C., Fregoso, T.A., and Jaffe, B.E., 2024, Historical bathymetry and bathymetric change within San Francisco Bay, California: 1855 to 2005: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P13H35QB.

Summary

This data release provides a series of five bathymetric digital elevation models (DEMs) of central San Francisco Bay, CA generated from single-beam hydrographic surveys collected from 1855 to 1979. The DEMs were constructed based upon historical United States Coast and Geodetic Survey and National Ocean Service (NOS) surveys collected in 1855, 1895, 1920, 1947, and 1979. Depth soundings from the pre-1930s surveys were manually digitized and georeferenced while the later surveys were obtained in digital format, and all information compiled into a geographic information system (GIS). Using surface modeling software, the soundings from each survey were supplemented with hand-drawn contours and shorelines obtained from topographic sheets [...]

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Attached Files

Click on title to download individual files attached to this item.

CB_1855bathy_MLLW_m.zip 1.93 MB application/zip
CB_1895bathy_MLLW_m.zip 1.91 MB application/zip
CB_1920bathy_MLLW_m.zip 1.52 MB application/zip
CB_1947bathy_MLLW_m.zip 1.71 MB application/zip
CB_1979bathy_MLLW_m.zip 1.68 MB application/zip
CB_bathy_map_1855.png
“Sample map of 1855 Central Bay bathymetry”
thumbnail 787.13 KB image/png

Purpose

Analysis of historical bathymetric surveys enables us to reconstruct the surface of the bay floor through time and quantify spatial and temporal changes in deposition, erosion, and bathymetry over decadal timescales. These data provide insight on changes to San Francisco Bay in response to natural processes as well as anthropogenic activities and can inform numerous studies and applications such as sediment management practices, restoration projects, regional adaptation plans, contaminant transport research, and sea-level rise studies. These data are intended for science researchers, students, policy makers, and the general public. These data can be used with geographic information systems (GIS) or other software to identify changes in the depth of the bay floor through time. These data are not intended to be used for navigational purposes.

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