NODC Standard Format Marine Mammals of Coastal Alaska Data (1975-1976): Marine Mammal Sighting 2 (F026) (NCEI Accession 0014151)

NODC maintains data in three NODC Standard Format Marine Mammal Data Sets: Marine Mammal Sighting and Census (F127); Marine Mammal Specimens (F025); Marine Mammal Sighting 2 (F026). These data type formats are designed to support studies of biological populations and ecosystems that are subject to impact from oil and gas development, marine pollution and other environmental disturbances. Information on marine animal populations, activities, migratory routes and breeding locales are obtained from either surface ship or aircraft surveys.

The Marine Mammal Sighting 2 (F026) data type contains data from field observations of marine mammals. Obtained from ship or aircraft surveys, the data are collected to provide information on population density and distribution, migratory routes, and breeding locales. In addition to data on the survey track and observed environmental conditions (including ice conditions, if encountered), the file contains data for each species sighted. Parameters reported may include total number of individuals, number of pups, number of groups and number of mammals per group. F026 contains data for 1976 only. For further information on these data, contact Karl Schneider (see personnel section). NOTE: In this file type, the geographic location of each group sighted is not recorded; in F127, locations of group sightings are recorded as well as the beginning and end positions of each station or segment of survey track.