ASCII text file of the Original 1-m Gridded Bathymetry from NOAA Survey H11310 in Central Narragansett Bay (H11310_1M_UTM19NAD83.TXT)

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is working cooperatively with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) to interpret the surficial geology in estuaries along the coast of the northeastern United States. The purpose of our present study is to interpret the distributions of surficial sediments and sedimentary environments in an area of Narragansett Bay using sidescan sonar imagery, high-resolution bathymetry, and sediment data. The bathymetry presented herein covers an area of the sea floor in central Narragansett Bay. The bathymetry and their interpretations serve many purposes, including: (1) defining the geological variability of the sea floor, which is one of the primary controls of benthic habitat diversity; (2) improving our understanding of the processes that control the distribution and transport of bottom sediments and the distribution of benthic habitats and associated infaunal community structures; and (3) providing a detailed framework for future research, monitoring, and management activities. The bathymetry images also serve as base maps for subsequent sedimentological, geochemical, and biological observations, because precise information on environmental setting is important for selection of sampling sites and for accurate interpretation of point measurements.

美国地质调查局（United States Geological Survey, USGS）正与美国国家海洋和大气管理局（National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, NOAA）合作，对美国东北海岸沿线河口的表层地质（surficial geology）进行解译研究。
本研究旨在利用侧扫声呐影像（sidescan sonar imagery）、高分辨率水深测量数据（high-resolution bathymetry）及沉积物数据，解译纳拉甘西特湾某区域内的表层沉积物（surficial sediments）分布与沉积环境（sedimentary environments）。
本文所载的水深数据集覆盖了纳拉甘西特湾中部的海底区域。
该水深数据集及其解译成果可服务于多重目标，具体包括：（1）明确海底地质变异性——这是底栖生境（benthic habitat）多样性的主要控制因素之一；（2）深化对控制海底沉积物分布与运移、底栖生境分布及相关底内生物群落（infaunal community）结构的过程机制的认知；（3）为未来的研究、监测与管理活动提供精细化的研究框架。
此外，该水深影像亦可作为后续沉积学、地球化学及生物学观测的底图，因为精准的环境背景信息对于采样点位（sampling sites）的遴选以及点位测量结果的准确解译均至关重要。