Seafloor images from the Long Island Sound Phase III area (2023)

These seafloor images were captured as frame grabs from the downward-looking video files obtained by the Ponar Imaging and Sampling System for Assessing Habitat (PISSAH) developed by the Long Island Sound Mapping and Research Collaborative (LISMaRC) to obtain both physical sediment grab samples and ultra-high definition (4K) video using the latest version of GoPro cameras. A four-day survey using the Ponar Imaging and Sampling System for Assessing Habitat (PISSAH) deployed from the Research Vessel Weicker was conducted from June 12-16, 2023 including mobilization and demobilization. The PISSAH system was used to acquire both physical sediment grab samples as well as the GoPro video from 60 sites in the Phase III area of the Long Island Sound Cable Fund (LISCF) Seafloor Habitat Mapping Initiative. These sites were identified in the Phase IIIA area based upon an analysis of existing acoustic backscatter data obtained from multiple surveys by NOAA that exhibited what appeared to be inconsistent gray scale settings. The down-looking video files were reviewed and two to five still images (frame grabs) were captured in the .tiff format for image analysis. The images were color-corrected using the IrfanView software. Images were geolocated using time. Each image was analyzed using the ImageJ software to assess the nature of the seafloor taxa and seafloor sediment type. Image file names included original GoPro video file names and frame time code (i.e., hours, minutes, and seconds since the start of recording). Frames of the seafloor were captured when the seafloor was visible and clear; care was taken to ensure frames provided representative images of the seafloor throughout the transect. At some sites, poor visibility inevitably reduced the number of usable frames available for analysis. Once saved as .TIFF files, frame captures were referred to as images. All .tiff images were then converted to .jpeg files to meet data standardization requirements of the Long Island Sound Cable Fund initiative prior to being sent to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Long Island Sound data archive. The results of the image analysis were provided to the team led by Roger Flood from the Stony Brook University to assist with the interpretation of new and existing acoustic backscatter data in the area. The images in this data set are in JPEG format. Funding was provided by the Long Island Sound Cable Fund Seafloor Habitat Mapping Initiative administered cooperatively by the EPA Long Island Sound Study and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).