ERDDAP > info > bcodmo_dataset_2988

Grid DAP Data	Sub- set	Table DAP Data	Make A Graph	W M S	Source Data Files	Acces- sible	Title	Sum- mary	ISO, Metadata	Back- ground Info	RSS	E mail	Institution	Dataset ID
		data	graph		files	public	Right Whales aerial sightings in Cape Cod Bay and adjacent waters from the R/V Shearwater NEC- MB2002-1, 2002 (NEC-CoopRes project)		I   M	background			BCO-DMO	bcodmo_dataset_2988

The Dataset's Variables and Attributes

Row Type	Variable Name	Attribute Name	Data Type	Value
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	access_formats	String	.htmlTable,.csv,.json,.mat,.nc,.tsv
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	acquisition_description	String	Methods I) Aerial Surveys Aerial surveys were conducted from January through mid-May 2002 in the Cape Cod Bay Critical Habitat and adjacent waters (Figures 1a-e, Tables 1a-e). The aerial survey protocol for Cape Cod Bay, as described in Kraus et al (1997), was adopted with some modifications. Fifteen tracklines were flown latitudinally (east - west) at 1.5 nautical mile (nm) intervals from the mainland to the Cape Cod Bay shoreline (Figure 1a). An additional trackline, 25 nm in length, paralleled the outer coast of Cape Cod from east of Chatham to the eastern end of trackline one at a distance of about three nm from shore (Figure 1a, trackline number 16). The east-west flight pattern in Cape Cod Bay was chosen for scientific and safety reasons. In these latitudes, winter aerial surveys are hampered by low sun angles in the early and late hours of a survey day and glare is a significant factor in sightability of marine mammals. On east-west tracklines, although glare was a factor in one of the forward quadrants, there was always a section of the survey swath that could be observed without being compromised by glare. It was also safer to have the aerial survey tracklines begin and end near land. A total of 320 nm of 'on- trackline' miles were flown during each completed survey (Table 1a). \"On- trackline\" miles were those miles flown while surveying due east or due west in Cape Cod Bay and along the outer coast of Cape Cod, but excludes all miles flown between tracklines (cross legs) or while circling. The surveys were flown under VFR (visual flight rules) conditions up to and including Beaufort sea state four. Surveys were aborted in Beaufort sea state five and/or when visibility decreased below two miles in fog, rain or snow. All aerial surveys originated at Chatham Airport, Chatham, MA. They were conducted in a Cessna 337 Skymaster (5382S), a twin engine, high-wing aircraft with retractable landing gear. The aircraft was equipped with two GPS (global positioning system) navigation systems, full IFR (instrument flight rules) instrumentation, marine VHF radio with external antenna, and wing-tip mounted VHF tracking antennas. Safety equipment included a life raft, four survival suits, signal flares, a medical kit, a waterproof VHF radio, a portable EPIRB, and an aircraft mounted ELT (emergency locator transmitter). All occupants wore aircraft approved PFDs (personal floatation device) during the entire flight. Surveys were conducted at a standard altitude of 750 feet (229 meters) and a ground speed of approximately 100 knots, using methodology developed by CeTAP (Scott and Gilbert 1982, CeTAP 1982). The survey team consisted of a pilot, data recorder, and two observers positioned on each side of the aircraft in the rear seats. The two rear seat observers scanned the water surface from 0\u00b0 - 90\u00b0, out to at least two nautical miles and reported sightings when they were abeam of the aircraft. In order to maintain a standardized sighting effort, the pilot and data recorder were instructed not to alert the observers to any sightings of marine mammals until after it had been passed by the aircraft and clearly missed by the observers. The turn at the end of each trackline was initiated and completed about 1.5 nm from shore in Cape Cod Bay to maximize the opportunity to observe any whales near shore. All sightings of marine animals except birds were recorded. Sightings identified as species other than right whales were counted, logged and passed without breaking the trackline and circling in order to maximize flight time available for investigating right whale sightings. Sightings of all vessels in the area were recorded by location and type. At sightings identified as right whales, as well as sightings of large whales, which were not immediately identified by species, the aircraft broke track at right angles to the sighting and circled over the animal to obtain photographs. Photographs were obtained of as many individual right whales within a given aggregation as possible. For each right whale, behavior and interaction with other whales or any nearby vessels or fishing gear was noted. In a few instances, when right whales were spotted from the plane in close from the vessel so that the plane could devote more time to surveying. The right angle distance of each sighting from the flight track was determined from GPS positions. At the conclusion of photographic effort at each sighting, the aircraft returned to the trackline at the point of departure using the GPS position recorded in the log. These methods conform to research protocols followed by the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium (CCS, NEAq, URI, and WHOI) and approved by the US NMFS. Trackline and sighting data from the daily logs were entered into the Right Whale Initiative DBase program designed for compatibility with the Right Whale Consortium database. Copies of the daily logs from the aerial surveys are on file at CCS and URI. Photographic Methods i) Identification Photographs: During aerial and shipboard surveys, photographs were taken on Kodak Kodachrome 200ASA color slide film, using hand-held 35-mm cameras equipped with 300-mm telephoto lenses and motor drives. From the air, photographers attempted to obtain good perpendicular photographs of the entire rostral callosity pattern and back of every right whale encountered as well as any other scars or markings. From the boat, photographers attempted to collect good oblique photographs of both sides of the head and chin, the body and the flukes. The data recorder on both platforms was responsible for keeping a written record of the roll and frame numbers shot by each photographer in the daily log. ii) Photo-analysis and Matching: Photographs of right whale callosity patterns are used as a basis for identification and cataloging of individuals, following methods developed by Payne et al (1983) and Kraus et al (1986). The cataloging of individually identified animals is based on using high quality photographs of distinctive callosity patterns (raised patches of roughened skin on the top and sides of the head), ventral pigmentation, lip ridges, and scars (Kraus et al 1986). NEAq has curated the catalogue since 1980 and to the best of their knowledge, all photographs of right whales taken in the North Atlantic since 1935 have been included in NEAq's files. This catalogue allows scientists to enumerate the population, and, from resightings of known individuals, to monitor the animals' reproductive status, births, deaths, scarring, distribution and migrations. Since 1980, a total of 26,275 sightings of 436 individual right whales have been archived, of which 327 are thought to be alive, as of December 2001 (A. Knowlton, NEAq, pers. comm.) The matching process consists of separating photographs of right whales into individuals and inter-matching between days within the season. To match different sightings of the same whale, composite drawings and photographs of the callosity patterns of individual right whales are compared to a limited subset of the catalogue that includes animals with a similar appearance. For whales that look alike in the first sort, the original photographs of all probable matches are examined for callosity similarities and supplementary features, including scars, pigmentation, lip crenulations, and morphometric ratios. A match between different sightings is considered positive when the callosity pattern and at least one other feature can be independently matched by at least two experienced researchers (Kraus et al 1986). Exceptions to this multiple identifying feature requirement include whales that have unusual callosity patterns, large scars or birthmarks, or deformities so unique that matches from clear photographs can be based on only one feature. Preliminary photo-analysis and inter-matching was carried out at CCS, with matches confirmed using original photographs cataloged and archived at NEAq. iii) Photographic Data Archiving Upon completion of the matching process, all original slides were returned to CCS and incorporated into the CCS catalogue of identified right whales to update existing files, using the same numbering system as NEAq, in archival quality slide sheets. New England Aquarium (NEAq) archives copies of photographs representing each sighting. Copies of photographs of individuals that are better than existing records, and photographs of newly identified whales, will be included in the NEAq master files as \"type specimens\" for future reference. The master files are maintained in fireproof safes at NEAq. All catalogue files are available for inspection and on-site use by contributors and collaborators.
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_0_award_nid	String	55048
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_0_award_number	String	unknown NEC-CoopRes NOAA
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_0_funder_name	String	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_0_funding_acronym	String	NOAA
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	awards_0_funding_source_nid	String	352
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	cdm_data_type	String	Other
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	comment	String	Whales as seen from the air PI: Moira Brown Surveillance of North Atlantic Right Whales in Cape Cod Bay and Adjacent Waters, 2002. Number of marine mammals and other animals seen, hours and trackline miles surveyed during aerial surveillance of Cape Cod Bay and adjacent waters, January to mid-May 2002. (report table 2)
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	Conventions	String	COARDS, CF-1.6, ACDD-1.3
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	creator_email	String	info at bco-dmo.org
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	creator_name	String	BCO-DMO
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	creator_type	String	institution
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	creator_url	String	https://www.bco-dmo.org/
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	data_source	String	extract_data_as_tsv version 2.3 19 Dec 2019
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	date_created	String	2010-06-16T20:40:39Z
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	date_modified	String	2019-03-14T18:44:14Z
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	defaultDataQuery	String	&time<now
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	doi	String	10.1575/1912/bco-dmo.2988.1
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	infoUrl	String	https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/2988
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	institution	String	BCO-DMO
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	instruments_0_acronym	String	camera
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	instruments_0_dataset_instrument_description	String	35mm camera
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	instruments_0_dataset_instrument_nid	String	4729
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	instruments_0_description	String	All types of photographic equipment including stills, video, film and digital systems.
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	instruments_0_instrument_external_identifier	String	https://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L05/current/311/
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	instruments_0_instrument_name	String	Camera
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	instruments_0_instrument_nid	String	520
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	instruments_0_supplied_name	String	Camera
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	keywords	String	bco, bco-dmo, biological, chemical, comments, completed, count, data, dataset, day, day_local, distance, distance_nm, dmo, duration, erddap, local, management, month, month_local, oceanography, office, preliminary, region, survey, survey_id, taxon, tracks, tracks_completed, year, yrday, yrday_local
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	license	String	https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/2988/license
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	metadata_source	String	https://www.bco-dmo.org/api/dataset/2988
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	param_mapping	String	{'2988': {}}
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	parameter_source	String	https://www.bco-dmo.org/mapserver/dataset/2988/parameters
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_0_affiliation	String	Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_0_affiliation_acronym	String	PCCS
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_0_person_name	String	Dr Charles Mayo
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_0_person_nid	String	51015
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_0_role	String	Co-Chief Scientist
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_0_role_type	String	originator
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_1_affiliation	String	Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_1_affiliation_acronym	String	PCCS
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_1_person_name	String	Dr Moira Brown
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_1_person_nid	String	51013
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_1_role	String	Principal Investigator
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_1_role_type	String	originator
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_2_affiliation	String	Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_2_person_name	String	Dr Daniel McKiernan
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_2_person_nid	String	51014
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_2_role	String	Principal Investigator
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_2_role_type	String	originator
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_3_affiliation	String	Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_3_affiliation_acronym	String	WHOI BCO-DMO
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_3_person_name	String	Nancy Copley
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_3_person_nid	String	50396
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_3_role	String	BCO-DMO Data Manager
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	people_3_role_type	String	related
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	project	String	NEC-CoopRes
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	projects_0_acronym	String	NEC-CoopRes
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	projects_0_description	String	The Northeast Consortium encourages and funds cooperative research and monitoring projects in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank that have effective, equal partnerships among fishermen, scientists, educators, and marine resource managers. The Northeast Consortium seeks to fund projects that will be conducted in a responsible manner. Cooperative research projects are designed to minimize any negative impacts to ecosystems or marine organisms, and be consistent with accepted ethical research practices, including the use of animals and human subjects in research, scrutiny of research protocols by an institutional board of review, etc.
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	projects_0_geolocation	String	Georges Bank, Gulf of Maine
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	projects_0_name	String	Northeast Consortium: Cooperative Research
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	projects_0_project_nid	String	2045
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	projects_0_project_website	String	http://northeastconsortium.org/
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	projects_0_start_date	String	1999-01
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	publisher_name	String	Biological and Chemical Oceanographic Data Management Office (BCO-DMO)
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	publisher_type	String	institution
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	sourceUrl	String	(local files)
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	standard_name_vocabulary	String	CF Standard Name Table v55
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	summary	String	Right Whales aerial sightings in Cape Cod Bay and adjacent waters from the R/V Shearwater NEC-MB2002-1, 2002 (Northeast Consortium Cooperative Research project).
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	title	String	Right Whales aerial sightings in Cape Cod Bay and adjacent waters from the R/V Shearwater NEC-MB2002-1, 2002 (NEC-CoopRes project)
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	version	String	1
attribute	NC_GLOBAL	xml_source	String	osprey2erddap.update_xml() v1.3
variable	region		String
attribute	region	bcodmo_name	String	region
attribute	region	description	String	Cape Cod Bay or waters adjacent to Cape Cod Bay
attribute	region	long_name	String	Region
variable	survey_id		String
attribute	survey_id	bcodmo_name	String	unknown
attribute	survey_id	description	String	code descriptor for a survey
attribute	survey_id	long_name	String	Survey Id
variable	year		short
attribute	year	_FillValue	short	32767
attribute	year	actual_range	short	2002, 2002
attribute	year	bcodmo_name	String	year
attribute	year	description	String	year
attribute	year	long_name	String	Year
attribute	year	nerc_identifier	String	https://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/P01/current/YEARXXXX/
variable	month_local		String
attribute	month_local	bcodmo_name	String	month_local
attribute	month_local	description	String	local month
attribute	month_local	long_name	String	Month Local
variable	day_local		String
attribute	day_local	bcodmo_name	String	day_local
attribute	day_local	description	String	local day
attribute	day_local	long_name	String	Day Local
variable	yrday_local		short
attribute	yrday_local	_FillValue	short	32767
attribute	yrday_local	actual_range	short	6, 132
attribute	yrday_local	bcodmo_name	String	yrday_local
attribute	yrday_local	description	String	local year day
attribute	yrday_local	long_name	String	Yrday Local
variable	duration		float
attribute	duration	_FillValue	float	NaN
attribute	duration	actual_range	float	1.0, 105.5
attribute	duration	bcodmo_name	String	unknown
attribute	duration	description	String	duration of survey
attribute	duration	long_name	String	Duration
attribute	duration	units	String	hours
variable	distance_nm		float
attribute	distance_nm	_FillValue	float	NaN
attribute	distance_nm	actual_range	float	94.0, 8725.5
attribute	distance_nm	bcodmo_name	String	unknown
attribute	distance_nm	description	String	distance covered in survey
attribute	distance_nm	long_name	String	Distance Nm
attribute	distance_nm	units	String	nautical miles
variable	tracks_completed		String
attribute	tracks_completed	bcodmo_name	String	unknown
attribute	tracks_completed	description	String	trackline numbers completed on survey (see map)
attribute	tracks_completed	long_name	String	Tracks Completed
variable	taxon		String
attribute	taxon	bcodmo_name	String	taxon
attribute	taxon	description	String	taxonomic description of animals
attribute	taxon	long_name	String	Taxon
variable	count		float
attribute	count	_FillValue	float	NaN
attribute	count	actual_range	float	0.0, 8725.5
attribute	count	bcodmo_name	String	count
attribute	count	colorBarMaximum	double	100.0
attribute	count	colorBarMinimum	double	0.0
attribute	count	description	String	number of animals sighted
attribute	count	long_name	String	Count
variable	comments		String
attribute	comments	bcodmo_name	String	comment
attribute	comments	description	String	free text comments
attribute	comments	long_name	String	Comments

The information in the table above is also available in other file formats (.csv, .htmlTable, .itx, .json, .jsonlCSV1, .jsonlCSV, .jsonlKVP, .mat, .nc, .nccsv, .tsv, .xhtml) via a RESTful web service.