AMAPPS Southeast Shipboard Cruise Summer 2016

Original provider: NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) Dataset credits: NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) Abstract: As part of the AMAPPS program, the Southeast Fisheries Science Center conducted shipboard surveys of continental slope and shelf break waters along the US East Coast from Central Florida to Delaware during 30 June – 19 August, 2016 (designated Cruise code GU16-05). The marine mammal survey was designed for analysis using Distance sampling, and a two-team (independent observer) approach was used to correct for perception bias in resulting abundance estimates. Team 1 was stationed on the vessel's flying bridge (height above the water 13.9 m) and team 2 was located on the bridge wings (height above the water 11.2 m). Between 20 - 24 August the ship transited into the Gulf of Mexico and only team 1 was active. Purpose: The goal of the survey was to conduct line-transect surveys using the Distance sampling approach to estimate the abundance and spatial distribution of cetaceans in the continental slope and shelf break waters along the US East Coast. Supplemental information: Trip ID / Dataset ID of this dataset is GU1605. Perpendicular distance to the animal is not publicly available. The dataset is accompanied by transect (effort) data which is provided as a separate file. Sightings included were detected on-effort by the flying bridge only or by both the flying bridge and bridge wing teams; you may request the full dataset and sightings including opportunistic ones directly to the provider. Environmental Attribute Codes Beaufort Sea state 0 Calm, mirror like seas 1 Waves <1ft, rippled surface 2 Small wavelets (<2 ft), no white caps 3 Large wavelets (<3ft), scattered white caps 4 Swell 3-4 ft, numerous white caps 5 Swell >5 ft, many white caps, some spray 6 Swell >10 ft, white caps everywhere, spray Visibility 0 Clear 1 Good 2 Fair 3 Poor Weather 0 Clear 1 Mist 2 Light Rain 3 Heavy Rain Cloud Cover 0 Clear 1 0-25% Cloudy 2 26-50% Cloudy 3 51-75% Cloudy 4 76-100% Cloudy 5 Overcast Glare 0 No Glare 1 <10% of visual field 2 10-25% of visual field 3 26-50% of visual field 4 51-75% of visual field 5 >75% of visual field Glare intensity 0 No Impairment 1 Slight Impairment 2 Moderate Impairment 3 Severe Impairment Conditions 0 Poor 1 Fair 2 Moderate 3 Good 4 Excellent