Hypsometric Characterization of the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, Scotian Shelf
and Neighboring Continental Slope

Martin Jakobsson, University of Stockholm and
Lewis Incze, University of Southern Maine

Data Use Statement and Policy: These data are
being compiled as part of a description of the Gulf of Maine study
area by the authors. Please cite this source and Jakobsson and Incze
(In prep.) if you use these data informally. Consult with L. Incze
before using the data in any published form.

This hypsometric characterization of the Gulf of Maine (GoM) program
area provides data on the areas, depths and volumes of the various
physiographic sub-regions of the study area that we have defined
for this program (Fig. 1). The delineation of these sub regions is
somewhat subjective, but is convenient for packaging the information
and calling attention to the varied characteristics of the region
with respect to its size and depth. Some of the delineations follow
isobaths. For example, we define the coastal shelves in the Gulf
of Maine as those areas inside the 100 m isobath (100 m or shallower).
Yet, the division between Regions 6 and 7 was arbitrarily selected
as being south of Jeffreys Ledge along the 100 m isobath, and then
north of Stellwagen Bank and Scantum Basin. We defined the Bay of
Fundy by a straight line between West Quoddy Head, Maine and Cape
St. Mary, Nova Scotia that passed through Grand Manan Island, whereas
other reasonable choices also exist. We did not follow the 100 m
isobath around the Grand Manan Basin because it is reasonable to
consider this basin as part of the mouth of the Bay of Fundy. We
defined the boundary between the Scotian Shelf (#1) and the Gulf
of Maine (subregion 3) by a line from Cape Sable to the continental
slope that included Browns Bank (#2) and Roseway Basin.We defined
the boundary between the Great South Channel and the western edge
of Georges Bank, the boundary between the shelf and the continental
slope (i.e., the shelf break), and the base of the continental slope
(vs. the Sohm Abyssal Plain) on the basis of changes in depth gradients
(change in depth per change in geographical position). This is also
how we determined the submarine boundaries of the three largest
basins in the Gulf of Maine from the rest of the Gulf’s interior
(note in Table 1 that the "tops" of the basins are not
defined by the same depth). The three major basins (Georges, Jordan
and Wilkinson) are, of course, part of the central GoM, and are
singled out for analysis only because they are distinct and large
features. Finally, we have defined a region for the western part
of the New England Seamount Chain. The Seamounts are steep and relatively
small features that occupy various depths on the continental slope.
They are more fully described elsewhere

Fig.1. Gulf of Maine study area and physiographic sub regions defined
for this study.

Table 1. Surface area and name for regions shown in fig. 1.

Surface areas of the various sub regions are given in Table 1. The
three basins singled out in this analysis (sub regions 9, 10, 11)
should be added to sub region 12 to get the true area and volume
of the interior of the Gulf. Likewise, Browns Bank (#2) should be
added to the "Eastern Coastal Shelf" (#3) to complete
the calculated area for that region of the coastal shelf environment.
As far as we can discern, region 3 has no universally accepted common
name (such as SW Nova Scotian Shelf), and our appellation is intended
only as a convenient name consistent with nomenclature used for
other coastal shelf areas in the Gulf of Maine. [SW Nova Scotian
Shelf would be an excellent name except that Region 1 is commonly
referred to as the Western Scotian Shelf, and it is a little awkward
to have a SW shelf that is west of the western shelf.]

Table 2 (end of document) gives the area of each sub region at every
10 m of depth, and the volume of water within the defined region
which is below that depth. The area decreases as the shore, or edges
of the basin, or the bottom intersects with the depth plane being
considered. The volume decreases with depth for these same reasons
and because part of the overlying water column is excluded.

Fig. 2. Sub region areas (some sub areas lumped together) relative
to the total area of the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank (sub regions
2-12).

Fig. 3. Hypsometry (area at depth) of major regions in the study area:
Gulf of Maine (regions 2-7,9-12), Scotian Shelf and Georges Bank. Note
differences in the shallow (<100 m) areas.

Fig. 4. Hypsometry of the three major basins in the Gulf of Maine:
left to right, Georges, Wilkinson and Jordan Basin.

Table 2. Hypsometric data for each region (scroll down to see all
regions).

Great South Channel (Area 7)			Georges Bank (Area
Sea level	Volume	Area	Sea level	Volume	Area
	(km^3)	(km^2)		(km^3)	(km^2)
0	-506.0	5202.3	0	-2806.5	38471.0
-10	-459.2	5202.3	-10	-2460.2	38471.0
-20	-407.2	5202.3	-20	-2075.8	38389.0
-30	-355.2	5202.3	-30	-1694.4	37686.0
-40	-303.2	5199.7	-40	-1331.0	34578.0
-50	-251.4	5131.4	-50	-1007.7	30017.0
-60	-201.5	4800.4	-60	-732.9	25039.0
-70	-155.8	4262.3	-70	-511.8	18973.0
-80	-117.1	3417.0	-80	-348.4	14035.0
-90	-87.1	2713.6	-90	-230.8	9622.3
-100	-63.1	2032.1	-100	-156.0	5450.4
-110	-45.4	1579.1	-110	-110.4	3879.7
-120	-30.9	1344.0	-120	-76.9	2883.3
-130	-18.5	1125.1	-130	-51.6	2199.7
-140	-8.7	800.2	-140	-32.5	1613.0
-150	-3.0	340.4	-150	-19.4	1026.7
-160	-1.0	92.7	-160	-11.3	646.4
-170	-0.5	30.9	-170	-6.1	408.9
-180	-0.3	15.0	-180	-2.9	237.5
-190	-0.2	7.4	-190	-1.2	114.6
-200	-0.1	3.6	-200	-0.4	51.1
-210	-0.1	1.6	-210	-0.1	14.6
-220	-0.1	1.4	-220	0.0	3.2
-230	-0.1	1.2	-230	0.0	0.6
-240	-0.1	1.1	-240	0.0	0.0
-250	-0.1	1.0
-260	0.0	0.9
-270	0.0	0.8
-280	0.0	0.7
-290	0.0	0.6
-300	0.0	0.5
-310	0.0	0.4
-320	0.0	0.3
-330	0.0	0.3
-340	0.0	0.2
-350	0.0	0.2
-360	0.0	0.1
-370	0.0	0.1
-380	0.0	0.1
-390	0.0	0.0

Lab journal
Thomas Trott, PhD
Friedman Field Station
August 2007

SUMMARY LOG

NEXT THREE DAYS FOLLOWING SAMPLING

The demanding field day was followed by a labor intensive laboratory processing of collected substrate and macroalgae samples. The goal set for the next three days was to identify and separate all algae so that wet and dry weights of each species could be measured. In addition, all substrate samples were washed through sieves to separate meiofauna from macrofauna. Macrofauna samples were sorted into hard and soft organisms. In all, there were 30 samples to be processed this way, in addition to the 30 samples of macroalgae that needed to be carefully picked over so that no organisms were included in the wet weights. As data was generated, the information was entered into the NaGISA database through filling in a globally used spreadsheet.

Specimens of the different species of macroalgae were pressed as vouchers, and samples were taken for DNA analysis.

FOLLOWING DAYS

With the macroalgae portion of the processing completed, focus was now turned to the macrofaunal samples. Organisms were sorted from sand grains and detritus into phyla, e.g., molluscs, annelids, arthropods, cnidarians, etc. From this initial separation, each phylum was further scrutinized and every animal was identified to the lowest taxon, that being species when possible and the number of each counted. Just as with the vouchers of macroalgae, vouchers of macofauna were also taken, including some for DNA analysis. By performing this inventory, a ‘picture’ of the intertidal and subtidal communities could be reconstructed.

Editor’s note: Data analysis and comparison with historic data will continue in 2007-2008.

Personal Perspective

Gulf of Maine Area Program in the News

An in-depth look at the Gulf of Maine program - Downeast Magazine

Surprising species diversity revealed - Gulf of Maine Times (PDF 144kb)

What Lies Beneath:Exploring the Gulf of Maine Biodiversity Discovery Corridor - Gulf of Maine Times (PDF - 176kb)

Cobscook Bay Journal

August 9, 2007

Eastport, Maine, 6 a.m.

The day dawns on Passamaquoddy Bay, a Native American name meaning “a place where pollock leap out of the water.” In the foreground, a former Eastport cannery (built 1907) now provides resting place for seagulls.

Across the bay is Campobello Island, which hosts the summer home of Franklin D. Roosevelt and an international park. Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine, was also a frequent visitor of the island.

Looking over at New Brunswick from the Motel East balcony, we are among the first in the continental U.S. to see the sunrise.

Edmunds, Maine, Friedman Field Station, 9 a.m.

Left: Despite the gray skies, crew members, Ken and Jorge are in good spirits as they prepare for the day ahead.

Right: Robin Rigby of Japan discusses the sampling methodology with science teacher, JB Kavaliauskis, of Maine. The method used is part of the Natural Geography In Shore Areas, an international collaborative effort led by Robin to inventory and monitor biodiversity in the narrow inshore zone of the world’s oceans at depths of less than 20 meters.

Left: Kate and Christine sport their new hats, compliments of the Census of Marine Life.

The research will contribute to three Census projects, the Gulf of Maine Area program, the History of Marine Animal Populations, and Natural Geography In Shore Areas.

The crew’s raingear provides a splash of color on the water as the first boat heads out to Birch Island in the far background. The research boat is captained by Dr. Carl Merrill of Suffolk University who runs the Friedman Field Station each summer.

The boat is one of two that will make several trips to carry passengers and supplies to and from the research site.

Birch Island, Maine 10 a.m.

Only accessible by water, Birch Island is both isolated and beautiful. The jagged coastline and rocky shores are part of the scenic beauty of the Maine-New Brunswick area.

The seaweed -covered rocks serve both as a haven to many intertidal species, and a slip hazard for the human species.

Above the high tide line, Robin Rigby demonstrates how to lay out the quadrats, simple squares made of plastic tubing to mark off sampling areas. The quadrats are 1 m², 50 cm², and 25 cm² respectively, and represent increasing levels of sampling effort with different kinds of information collected from each.

They are placed at random points along the high, mid and low-tide transects laid while the intertidal is exposed. The same is duplicated at depths of 1, 5, and 10 m measured below the low tide line. This simple yet scientific sampling method is a trademark of the international NaGISA project or Natural Geography In Shore Areas.

Project leaders from the US and Canada, Dr. Thomas Trott (right) of Suffolk University and Dr. Gerhard Pohle (left) of Huntsman Marine Science Center, respectively, discuss the sampling method during a break in the rain.

Tom Trott, project leader of this History of the Near Shore study, has researched macroinvertebrates at intertidal sites along the coast of Maine for years, and Gerhard Pohle is a lead taxonomist in the region and is coordinating the Natural Geography of In Shore Areas effort in the Gulf of Maine area.

Photo: Common periwinkle, Littorina littorea, in rockweed, Ascophyllum nodosum, with barnacles, Semibalanus balanoides, and a green alga and a red crustose covering the rocks in the background.

Rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) is a dominant algae found at the site and provides critical habitat for other species. Rockweed is used as a source of carrageenin, primarily as an emulsifier for food and cosmetics, and also for livestock feed and fertilizer. As a result, local harvesting has decreased intertidal rockweed habitat and possibly species diversity.

It provides critical habitat for other species, and is a source of carrageenin for human uses, primarily as an emulsifier for food and cosmetics, but also for livestock feed and fertilizer. Rockweed is harvested locally, and as a result, has resulted in decreased intertidal rockweed habitat and and possibly species diversity.

Jorge and Christina collect seaweed samples to take back to the lab for classification. Each sample bag is marked to correspond to the sampling point, which is linked a specific GIS location. This establishes a baseline in order to track changes over time.

Researchers can come back to this exact 50 cm² location in years and decades to come and compare the species abundance and diversity found in 2007.

Cobscook Bay History of the Nearshore Project

Solaster endica (Linnaeus, 1771). Common name is sunstar.

New data from on-shore and underwater sampling of intertidal species – from seaweed to seastars – will be compared to historic data dating back nearly two centuries to help to complete a picture of how marine life in the intertidal zone has changed over time.

As part of the Census of Marine Life, an international team began to investigate changes in biodiversity along the intertidal and near-shore zones of Cobscook Bay in the lower Bay of Fundy, near the US-Canadian border. Cobscook Bay has been studied by naturalists for centuries and is considered by many researchers to be the “crown jewel of biodiversity” with species communities more diverse than any other on the east coast north of the tropics. Due to its unique geography, this highly productive macro-tidal estuary experiences tides of over eight meters and has habitats ranging from bedrock to mudflats.

In August 2007, scientists from six countries - Australia, Canada, Japan, Serbia, Spain, and United States - gathered at the Friedman Field Station of Suffolk University in Edmunds, Maine to review their research plan. In the first week, the researchers learned and used the NaGISA sampling protocol that has been applied along coastlines around the world. In the weeks following, the samples collected were sorted and species identified to establish a database that will be used as a comparative baseline for decades to come. Learn more from their photo journals, personal essays, and research logs.

Cobscook Bay research crew, Friedman Field Station, August 2007

This portion of the History of the Near Shore research project is one part of a collaborative program of US and Canadian researchers that will contribute to the global inventory of near-shore plant and animal species, enhance our knowledge of changes in intertidal species over time, and contribute to a greater understanding of a rich and vital marine ecosystem, the Gulf of Maine.

Go to the photo journal »

Gulf of Maine Ocean Data Partnership

Purpose

The purpose of the Gulf of Maine Ocean Data Partnership (GoMODP) is to promote and coordinate the sharing, linking, electronic dissemination, and use of data on the Gulf of Maine region. Data partners decided that a coordinated effort is needed to enable users throughout the Gulf of Maine region and beyond to discover and put to use the vast and growing quantities of data in their respective databases. Through coordinated access to the databases, the participants wish to advance a truly integrated ocean observing system in the Gulf of Maine, one that supports research and education and contributes to integrated oceans management (see figure).

The founding members of the Partnership include government agencies, intergovernmental organizations, and nongovernmental organizations, including academic, research, and other nonprofit entities. Each participant is engaged in the collection of physical, biological, chemical, or geologic data on the Gulf of Maine.

Goal

The goal of this Partnership is to implement a system that:

1. is technically and institutionally capable of linking databases that are created and individually maintained by Participants and, where necessary and appropriate, to archive data sets;
2. is region-wide in scale;
3. is compatible with other regional, national, and international information systems;
4. is accessible by individuals throughout the Gulf of Maine region and beyond;
5. develops the web-based, visualization, and other information technologies needed for the seamless exchange and facile use of distributed and aggregated data; and
6. acknowledges and maintains the integrity of all data sources.

Partnership Listing
Download the PDF version of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by participants of the Partnership(PDF 40kb)
Gulf of Maine Ocean Data Partnership Website
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Gulf of Maine Ocean Data Partnership Data Portal

Partnership listing

Gulf of Maine Data Partnership Listing, January 2005
Organization, representative, and email address

Governing Board Members

Bedford Institute of Oceanography: Bob Branton, *Vice-Chair; email: brantonb@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Centre for Marine Biodiversity: Ellen Kenchington, email: kenchingtone@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Coastal Ocean Observation and Analysis-Univ. New Hampshire: Janet Campbell, email: janet.campbell@unh.edu
Gulf of Maine Area Program of the Census of Marine Life: Evan Richert *Chair: Outreach Committee, email: erichert@usm.maine.edu
Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment: Seth Barker, email: seth.barker@maine.gov
Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System: Philip Bogden, email: bogden@gomoos.org
Huntsman Marine Science Centre/Atlantic Reference Centre: Lou Van Guelpen, email: ARC@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Maine Department of Marine Resources: Linda Mercer, *Treasurer, email: linda.mercer@maine.gov
Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management: Dan Sampson, Secretary; email: dan.sampson@massmail.state.ma.us
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services: Deb Soule, Chair, Technical Committee, email: soule@des.state.nh.us
NOAA – Coastal Services Center: Anne Ball; email: anne.ball@noaa.gov
NOAA – Northeast Fisheries Science Center: David Mountain, *Chair: Gulf of Maine Data Partnership, email: dmountai@whsun1.wh.whoi.edu
St. Andrews Biological Station: Thomas W. Sephton, email: sephtont@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary: Ben Cowie-Haskell; email: ben.haskell@noaa.gov
USGS – Woods Hole Science Center: Fran Lightsom, email: flightsom@usgs.gov
Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve: Michelle Dionne,email: dionne@wellsnerrcec.lib.me.us
National Undersea Research Program-Univ. of Connecticut: Ivar Babb; email: babb@uconn.edu
SEANet-Tufts University Veterinary School of Medicine; Rebecca Harris; email: becky.harris@tufts.edu

Associate Members

EPA/ORD/NHEERL/Atlantic Ecology Division: Jerry Pesch, email: pesch.gerald@epamail.epa.gov

Host

Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System

Data & Mapping

Welcome to the data and mapping portal for the Gulf of Maine Census.

Here, you can explore, download and map biological and physical data from multiple sources. The goal is to provide data that will enhance our understanding of biological patterns in the Gulf of Maine, across space and time.

We provide two independent data download and mapping applications. Please explore both and let us know what you think. Enjoy!

Biogeographical Data Explorer

Features:

• Fast data access and download of biological data
• Data available in csv format
• Basic data filtering by taxa, time or physiographic region
• Automatically generated maps
• Access the application »

Please note that this application does not support Internet Explorer and is best viewed in Mozilla Firefox.

Currently Under Development
Biogeographic and Oceanic Data Integrator - beta

The Biogeographic and Oceanic Data Integrator was designed to allow researchers to map biogeographical and oceanographic data values that can then be joined and downloaded in a wide variety of formats. The system permits data values over temporal intervals to be aggregated and summarized over a range of temporal granularities and in a variety of ways. It has also been designed in a modular and extensible way allowing for the inclusion of new modules into the system.

Learn more through the complete abstract, project goals, PowerPoint tutorial presentation, and thesis by Richard Franks.

Development Team

Lead Software Programmers:

Biological Data Explorer - Joe Hodsdon, student, Department of Computer Science, USM
Biological and Physical Data Integration - Richard Franks, Jr., MS student, Department of Computer Science, USM

System Design:

Nicholas Wolff, Research Associate, Aquatic Systems Group, USM
Bruce MacLeod, Professor, Department of CS, USM
David Briggs, Professor, Department of CS, USM

Contact:

Nicholas Wolff, Database Manager, nwolff@usm.maine.edu

GIS Data Layers

Bathymetry

Bathymetry of the Gulf of Maine
Source: MassGIS
Link to Data Provider »

USGS Digital bathymetry of the Gulf of Maine, constructed by Ed Roworth and Rich Signell, gom15dd
Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Link to Data Provider »

U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Geophysical Data Center, 2001. 2-minute Gridded Global Relief Data (ETOPO2)
Source: National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC)
Link to Data Provider »

Boundaries

USEEZ: Boundaries of the Exclusive Economic Zones of the United States and territories
Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Link to Data Provider »

Paskevich, Valerie, Unpublished Material, STATE_BOUNDS: internal US state boundaries.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Link to Data Provider »

Land

National Oceanic and Atmospheri, National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of , 1994, ALLUS80K: Medium Resolution Digital Vector U.S. Shoreline shapefile: NOAA/NOS/ORCA/SEA, Silver Spring, MD.
Source: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Link to Data Provider »

Paskevich, Valerie, Unpublished Material, CANADA_WVS_GEO_WGS84 - World Vector Shoreline of Canada.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Link to Data Provider »

Substrate

L.J.Poppe, Paskevich, V.F., Williams, S.J., Hastings, M.E., Kelly, J.T., Belknap, D.F., Ward, L.G., FitzGerald, D.M., and Larsen, P.F., 2003, Surficial Sediment Data from the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and vicinity: a GIS Compilation: Open-File Report 03-001, U. S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Field Center, Woods Hole, MA.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Link to Data Provider »

U.S. Geological Survey, 200506, CONMAPSG: Continental Margin Mapping (CONMAP) sediments grainsize distribution for the United States East Coast Continental Margin: Open-File Report 2005-1001, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Link to Data Provider »

World Wild Life Fund – Canada and Conservation Law Foundation, Classifying and Mapping Physical Habitat Types (Seascapes) in the Gulf of Maine and the Scotian Shelf: Seascapes Version to May 2003.

Fader, G.B.J., Lynds, T., Miller, R.O., Parrott, D.R., Hynes, S., Sherin, A. 2004. Scotian Shelf regional surficial geology compilation. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 4671, 1 CD-ROM.

Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) Atlantic/Pacific - Expedition Database (ED)
Link to Data Provider »

Data Links

Gulf of Maine

Atlantic Reference Center (Huntsman Marine Laboratory)

GoMOOS (Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System)

Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program

U.S. GLOBEC Georges Bank (GLOBal ocean Ecosystems dynamics)

Global

OBIS (Ocean Biogeographic Information System)

OBIS-SEAMAP (Ocean Biogeographic Information System – Spatial Ecological Analysis of Megavertebrate Populations)

Data & Mapping

Data and Mapping Portal

• Biogeographical Data Explorer

• Biogeographic and Oceanic Data Integrator

Gulf of Maine Ocean Data Partnership

• Purpose
• Goal
• Partnership Listing

GIS Data Layers Used Throughout Our Site

• Bathymetry
• Boundaries
• Land
• Substrate

Data Links

• Gulf of Maine
• Global

NMFS Species Botom Trawl