Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Atlas, Gulf of Mexico, Alabama 2007, Louisiana 2003, Mississippi 1995, maps and geographic information systems data (NODC Accession 0036821)

The most widely used approach to sensitive environment mapping in the U.S. is NOAA's Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI). This approach systematically complies information in standard formats for coastal shoreline sensitivity, biological resources, and human-use resources. ESI maps are useful for identifying sensitive resources before a spill occurs so that protection priorities can be established and cleanup strategies designed in advance. Using ESIs in spill response and planning reduces the environmental consequences of the spill and cleanup efforts. The Alabama data provided are from an update completed in September 2007. The Louisiana and Mississippi data are from earlier releases (2003 and 1995 respectively) but are provided in a geodatabase format with a corresponding .mxd file. (Earlier releases of these data have also been archived at the NODC). This data product also includes data presented as ArcView project files, MOSS files, extensive metadata and documentation, and .PDF maps for non-GIS users. For Alabama, the data were compiled during 2006-2007. The currentness dates for the data ranges from 1977 to 2006. For Louisiana, these data were compiled during 2002-2003. The currentness dates for the data range from 1960 to 2001. For Mississippi, the biological and human-use resources data were compiled by regional biologists in 1995; data dates vary and are listed in a table in the provided metadata files.美国最广泛使用的敏感环境制图方法为美国国家海洋和大气管理局（National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA）推出的环境敏感性指数（Environmental Sensitivity Index, ESI）。该方法以标准格式系统汇编了沿海岸线敏感性、生物资源与人类利用资源相关信息。环境敏感性指数制图可用于在溢油事故发生前识别敏感资源，以便提前确定保护优先级并制定清理策略。在溢油响应与规划工作中应用环境敏感性指数，可降低溢油事故及其清理工作对环境造成的影响。 本次提供的阿拉巴马州数据来源于2007年9月完成的更新版本。路易斯安那州与密西西比州数据则来自更早的发布版本（分别为2003年和1995年），现以地理数据库（geodatabase）格式提供，并附带对应的.mxd文件。上述数据的早期版本也已归档于国家海洋数据中心（National Oceanographic Data Center, NODC）。本数据集产品还包含以ArcView项目文件、MOSS文件、丰富的元数据与文档资料，以及面向非GIS用户的PDF地图格式呈现的数据。阿拉巴马州数据的汇编工作于2006-2007年间完成，数据的现势性覆盖时段为1977年至2006年。路易斯安那州数据的汇编工作于2002-2003年间完成，数据的现势性覆盖时段为1960年至2001年。密西西比州的生物资源与人类利用资源数据由区域生物学家于1995年汇编完成；数据的时间节点各不相同，具体信息详见本次提供的元数据文件中的表格。