gov.noaa.nodc:0270551 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 2026-02-05T19:09:30Z ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) Benthic Surveys in Aua, American Samoa: benthic images collected during belt transect surveys from 2022-09-12 to 2022-09-22 (NCEI Accession 0270551) 2023-01-30 publication 2022-11-15 creation NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0270551 NCEI Archive Management System 0270551 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 (NMFS/PIFSC) bernardo.vargas-angel@noaa.gov https://coast.noaa.gov/ HTTPS NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/PIFSC) website Institution web page information principalInvestigator Lori Luers NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/PIFSC) lori.luers@noaa.gov 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 dataset describes the imagery collected in 2022 of Aua Reef, American Samoa by the Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) of NOAA, funded by the Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), to study effects of land-based source pollution by establishing biological, physical, and chemical baselines. In September 2022, NOAA scientists conducted benthic survey protocols at 18 study sites in Aua, American Samoa. The surveys implemented a one-stage stratified random sampling (StRS) design and the survey domain encompassed the majority of the mapped area of reef and hard bottom habitats in the 0 to 6 m depth range. Photoquadrat benthic images were collected along belt transect surveys of coral demography according to protocols established by NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) in 2015. Thirty images were collected along one, haphazardly laid, 30-m transects. Still photographs were collected to record the benthic community composition at predetermined points along belt transect with a high-resolution digital camera mounted on a pole. Photographs were taken every 1 m from the 1 m to the 30 m mark. This work generates 30 photographs per site, which are later analyzed by ESD staff and partners using the computer program CoralNet. This analysis is the basis for estimating benthic cover and composition at each site, which is documented and archived separately. 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. This imagery is analyzed to produce benthic cover estimates which are archived and documented separately. This baseline assessment for land-based sources of pollution on Aua reef is part of a larger Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) funded project ID 31303: "Linking watershed management activities to reef health in American Samoa", and builds upon prior baseline and status and trends assessments conducted in 2012, 2015, and 2020 in Faga'alu Bay (U.S. Task Force watershed priority site) and Vatia (Territorial priority watershed) to address National and Jurisdictional goals to reduce land-based sources of pollution impacts in coral reef ecosystems. Data was generated from benthic surveys of Aua reef to establish a comprehensive biological baseline, for land-based sources of pollution impacts on benthic composition and coral demographics. 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 impacts on coral reefs. Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) profiles as well as water samples were also collected as part of this baseline assessment for the analysis of particulate and dissolved nutrients, total suspended solids, chlorophyll-a, and seawater pH and Alkalinity. These data are documented and archived separately. 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:0270551 Preview graphic PNG 0270551 NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 2022-10-28 publication PHOTOQUADRAT IMAGES theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS camera instrument NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS in situ theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS CHARTERED VESSEL platform NODC PLATFORM NAMES 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 Archipelagic Research Program 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 31303 Linking watershed management actions to reef health in American Samoa project CRCP Project Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) project Provider Project Names Visual Images > Habitats theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus 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 > In Situ Biological 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 > Marine Biology > Coral EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus 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 PHOTOQUADRAT IMAGES (Measured) theme Provider Keywords 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 > Tutuila Island > Aua (14S170W0010) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Pago Pago Harbor > Aua (14S170W0010) 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 Central Pacific Ocean place Provider Place Names N8TM6A Send2NCEI Submission Package ID accessLevel: public otherRestrictions Cite as: Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2023). Benthic Surveys in Aua, American Samoa: benthic images collected during belt transect surveys from 2022-09-12 to 2022-09-22 (NCEI Accession 0270551). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0270551. 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, 2023: Benthic Surveys in Aua, American Samoa: benthic images collected during belt transect surveys in 2022, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/67994. 2023-01-03 publication gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:67994 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/67994 HTTPS https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/67994 Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2023: Benthic Surveys in Aua, American Samoa: benthic images collected during belt transect surveys in 2022, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/67994. information NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (NMFS/PIFSC) publisher tableDigital crossReference Winston, M., Couch, C., Huntington, B., & Vargas-Ángel, B. (2020). Ecosystem Sciences Division Standard Operating Procedures: Data Collection for Rapid Ecological Assessment Benthic Surveys: 2019 update. National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. https://doi.org/10.25923/ws5s-km69 2020 publication International DOI Foundation (IDF) https://doi.org/10.25923/ws5s-km69 https://doi.org/10.25923/ws5s-km69 HTTPS https://doi.org/10.25923/ws5s-km69 related journal article information Winston, Morgan author Couch, Courtney author Huntington, Brittany author Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo author National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center publisher documentDigital National Marine Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center crossReference Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2022). Benthic Surveys in Aua, American Samoa: benthic cover derived from analysis of benthic images collected during belt transect surveys of coral demography from 2022-09-12 to 2022-09-22 (NCEI Accession 0275987). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0275987. 2022-12-14 publication NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information gov.noaa.nodc:0275987 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0275987 HTTPS https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0275987 NCEI Accession containing associated derived benthic cover information Ecosystem Sciences Division, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center author NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) publisher tableDigital crossReference collection eng; USA utf8 environment oceans imageryBaseMapsEarthCover -170.669 -170.665 -14.2881 -14.2717 2022-09-12 2022-09-22 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 5398.08 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0270551 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/270551 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/270551 HTTPS Web browser HTTPS Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. download ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0210/0270551/ 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 0270551 v1.1 was published. 2023-01-30T13:56:24Z NCEI Accession 0270551 v1.1 publication https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0270551/1.1 HTTPS NCEI Accession 0270551 v1.1 published 2023-01-30T13:56:24Z download dataset Parameter or Variable: PHOTOQUADRAT IMAGES (measured); Units: N/A; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: camera; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Photoquadrat surveys were conducted along one, 30 meter transect per site. Photos of the benthic substrate were taken at one meter intervals starting at meter 1, along the left hand side of the transect (30 images/transect; 30 images total); Data Quality Method: Benthic Image collection was conducted by experienced benthic survey personnel who have been trained. Handheld GPS units were used to mark site locations. An optical validation QC procedure is employed to verify number of images, per site and file name. Image color correction is also implemented to improve image quality. 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. CHARTERED VESSEL CHARTERED VESSEL