Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government

This map was printed on an electronic plotter directly from digital files. Dimensional calibration may vary between electronic plotters and between 

X and Y directions on the same plotter, and paper may change size due to atmospheric conditions; therefore, scale and proportions may not be true 

on plots of this map.

For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, 1–888–ASK–USGS

Digital files available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3281/

Suggested Citation: Dartnell, P., 2013, Data integration and visualization, Offshore of Santa Barbara map area, California, sheet 4 in Johnson, S.Y., 

Dartnell, P., Cochrane, G.R., Golden, N.E., Phillips, E.L., Ritchie, A.C., Greene, H.G., Krigsman, L.M., Kvitek, R.G., Dieter, B.E., Endris, C.A., Seitz, G.G., 

Sliter, R.W., Erdey, M.D., Gutierrez, C.I., Wong, F.L., Yoklavich, M.M., Draut, A.E., Hart, P.E., and Conrad, J.E. (S.Y. Johnson and S.A. Cochran, eds.), 

California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Santa Barbara, California: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3281, pamphlet 45 

p., 11 sheets, scale 1:24,000, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3281.

ISSN 2329-132X (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3281

CALIF.

0 4 8 Nautical Miles

Kilometers 0 5 10

120° 119°40' 119°20' 119°

34°

34°20'

MAP LOCATION

Ventura

Santa Barbara

Anacapa

Island

Santa Cruz Island Santa Rosa Island

Area of

Map

Santa Barbara Channel

Limit of California’s

State Waters

0

87

40

80

60

20

DISCUSSION

Mapping California’s State Waters has produced a vast amount of acoustic and visual 

data, including bathymetry, acoustic backscatter, seismic-reflection profiles, and seafloor video 

and photography. These data are used by researchers to develop maps, reports, and other tools 

to assist in the coastal and marine spatial-planning capability of coastal-zone managers and 

other stakeholders. Seafloor-character, habitat, and geologic maps are used for fisheries 

management, for designation of Marine Protected Areas, for monitoring of environmental 

change such as sea-level-rise impacts, for prediction of sediment and contaminant budgets and 

transport, and for assessment of earthquake and tsunami hazards. To achieve these goals, it is 

helpful to integrate the different datasets and then view the results in three-dimensional 

representations such as those displayed on this data integration and visualization sheet for the 

Offshore of Santa Barbara map area.

The map view in the center of the sheet is similar to the colored shaded-relief bathymetry 

map of the Offshore of Santa Barbara map area (see sheet 1 of this report). Numbered arrows 

show viewing directions of the perspective views on this sheet (figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6); the numbers 

indicate the figure number of the perspective view.

The perspective views and bathymetric profiles in figures 1, 2, 5, and 6 show the colored 

shaded-relief bathymetry of the Offshore of Santa Barbara map area, as viewed from different 

directions. These views show a few examples of the relatively low-relief features offshore of 

the Santa Barbara area.

Draping the acoustic-backscatter imagery (see sheet 3 of this report) over the bathymetry 

data (fig. 3) highlights the relations between the backscatter intensity and the seafloor 

morphology, as well as any anthropogenic influences on the seafloor (although none are 

visible in these views).

Video-mosaic images created from seafloor digital video (figs. 4, 7) display the geologic 

(rock, sand, mud) and biologic complexity of the seafloor. Whereas photographs capture 

high-quality snapshots of a small area of the seafloor (for example, see inset high-resolution 

photograph in fig. 7), video mosaics can capture larger areas and, thus, can show transitional 

zones between different seafloor environments.

Block diagrams (fig. 1), which combine the bathymetry with seismic-reflection-profile 

data (see sheet 8 of this report), help reveal the stratigraphic and structural relations between 

the surface and subsurface.

REFERENCES CITED

Dartnell, P., Finlayson, D., Conrad, J.E., Cochrane, G.R., and Johnson, S.Y., 2009, Bathymetry 

and acoustic backscatter—Northern Santa Barbara Channel, southern California: USGS 

Open-File Report 2009–1289, available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2009/1289/.

Keller, E.A., Duffy, M., Kennett, J.P., and Hill, T., 2007, Tectonic geomorphology and 

hydrocarbon potential of the Mid-Channel anticline, Santa Barbara Basin, California: 

Geomorphology, v. 89, p. 274–286.

Sliter, R.W., Triezenberg, P.J., Hart, P.E., Draut, A.E., Normark, W.R., and Conrad, J.E., 2008, 

High-resolution chirp and mini-sparker seismic-reflection data from the southern 

California continental shelf—Gaviota to Mugu Canyon: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 2008–1246, available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1246/.

EXPLANATION

Depth (in meters) and illumination (bright areas are illuminated, facing false 

sun; dark areas are in shadow, facing away from false sun)

Shallow

Deep

Direction of illumination from false sun—Position of false sun is at 300° 

azimuth, 45° above horizon [arrow included in explanation for illustration 

purposes only; not shown on map]

Data Integration and Visualization, Offshore of Santa Barbara Map Area, California

By

Peter Dartnell

2013

APPROXIMATE MEAN

DECLINATION, 2013

MAGNETIC NORTH

12 / ° 1 2

TRUE NORTH

Perspective views by Peter Dartnell, 2012. Seismic-reflection profile in figure 1 from sheet 8, this report. Bathymetric profiles in 

figures 2 and 5 by Peter Dartnell, 2012. Acoustic-backscatter imagery in figure 3 from map on sheet 3, this report. Video-mosaic 

images in figures 4 and 7 by Peter Dartnell, 2010, using software developed by Dr. Yuri Rzhanov, Center for Coastal and Ocean 

Mapping, University of New Hampshire, through joint U.S. Geological Survey–University of New Hampshire cooperative agreement

GIS database and digital cartography by Nadine E. Golden and Eleyne L. Phillips

Edited by Taryn A. Lindquist

Manuscript approved for publication December 12, 2013

Onshore elevation data from NOAA Coastal Services Center (data collected 

by EarthData International in 2002-2003). Offshore shaded-relief bathymetry 

from map on sheet 1, this report

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 11N

NOT INTENDED FOR NAVIGATIONAL USE

5

3

6

1

2

Santa Barbara

Map view. Colored shaded-relief bathymetry map of 

Offshore of Santa Barbara map area, generated from 

multibeam-echosounder and bathymetric-sidescan data. 

Colors show depth: reds and oranges indicate shallower 

areas; greens, deeper areas. Illumination azimuth is 300°, 

from 45 ̊ above horizon. Numbered arrows show viewing 

directions of perspective views shown on this sheet; 

numbers correspond to figure numbers of views.

a

b

a

A

B

Figure 5. Perspective view to east-northeast towards Santa Barbara, over sediment lobe on midshelf that has slightly higher backscatter than surrounding 

seafloor (see sheet 3, this report). Bathymetric profile B–B shows that toe of lobe has about 1 m of relief. Although lobe is located directly offshore of Arroyo 

Burro (cyan dash-dot arrow shows path of arroyo), its nearshore head lies 1,300 m from shoreline. Nevertheless, location and texture of lobe suggest that it 

may have been deposited as nearshore deltaic deposits at mouth of Arroyo Burro during lower sea level. Similar lobes have been mapped farther west in 

northern Santa Barbara Channel (Dartnell and others, 2009). Vertical exaggeration, 2x; distance across bottom, about 1.5 km.

Distance (m)

Depth (m)

Arroyo Burro

1

2

3

Figure 6. Perspective view to north-northeast over slightly rougher seafloor southwest of Santa Barbara, showing linear ridges (f) and depressions (g). Seafloor geology in this 

area is mapped as undifferentiated field of hydrocarbon-seep-related features (see, for example, Keller and others, 2007) and marine sediment (see sheet 10, this report). Thin 

yellow line shows path of camera sled, towed 1 to 2 m over seafloor, that captured video and photographs; yellow arrow shows tow direction. Yellow rectangle shows location 

of video mosaic (fig. 7) generated from video that captured natural hydrocarbon seep within pockmark (see inset high-resolution photograph). Vertical exaggeration, 2x; 

distance across bottom, about 1.5 km.

f

g

g

~2.7 m (8.9 ft)

Figure 2. Perspective view to north over seafloor southeast of Santa Barbara. Bathymetric profile A–A’ reveals rocky outcrop that is south limb and axis of roughly 

east-west-striking, east-plunging anticline (see sheets 8, 10, this report); magenta symbol shows trace of anticline axis. More resistant beds in south limb have as 

much as 1 to 3 m of seafloor relief; north limb, which has no seafloor relief, is covered by thin layer of uppermost Pleistocene to Holocene shelf deposits. Vertical 

exaggeration, 2x; distance across bottom, about 1.7 km.

Distance (m)

Depth (m)

sand, small bedforms,

 and shells 

red algae 

cobbles, gravel,

and sand

gorgonian 

transition from sand 

to mixed cobbles, gravel, 

and sand 

lasers from

camera sled 

~1.6 m (5.2 ft)

Figure 3. Perspective view to northwest over nearshore area east of Santa Barbara, showing acoustic-backscatter imagery; lighter tones indicate stronger backscatter intensity, possibly 

from rock or sand, and darker tones indicate weaker backscatter intensity, possibly from finer sediments (see sheet 3, this report). Subtle change in backscatter intensity can be seen 

from slightly higher intensity towards bottom of image (c) to slightly lower intensity towards middle of image (d). Patch of much higher backscatter intensity located nearshore (e) has 

sharp boundary with its surroundings. Thin yellow line in perspective view shows path of camera sled, towed 1 to 2 m over seafloor, that captured video and photographs; yellow arrow 

shows tow direction. Yellow rectangle shows location of video mosaic (fig. 4) generated from video that captured transition from higher to lower backscatter intensity. Vertical 

exaggeration, 2x; distance across bottom, about 1 km. 

c

d

e

Santa Barbara

A

A’

A A'

A

B

Figure 1. Perspective views to east over relatively featureless seafloor in nearshore area west of Santa Barbara. A, Perspective view showing small patch of rougher seafloor (a) 

protruding above surrounding smooth seafloor of shelf area. Rippled patterns on seafloor (b) are data-collection artifacts. Black line shows location of seismic-reflection profile in B

below. B, Same perspective view as A, converted to block diagram that combines bathymetry with north-south-trending seismic-reflection profile SBC-122 (Sliter and others, 2008; 

see also, fig. 3 on sheet 8). Block diagram reveals that, although seafloor is relatively featureless, subsurface contains complex series of faulted anticline and syncline structures, 

overlain by deposits that are younger than about 20,000 years old (blue shading). Patch of rougher seafloor (a) is tentatively interpreted as asphalt mound (see sheet 8, this report). 

Many asphalt mounds are present in Santa Barbara Channel region (see, for example, Keller and others, 2007), most typically along faults or anticlinal axes. Vertical exaggeration in 

both views, 2x; distance across bottoms, about 1.5 km; base of seismic-reflection profile (as seen at lower left), about 100 m deep.

Figure 4. Video mosaic of nearshore area east of Santa Barbara (see fig. 3 for location), which reveals transition in seafloor environments from sandy seafloor 

to more mixed environment composed of cobbles, gravel, and sand. Transition corresponds to sharp change in backscatter intensity visible in figure 3, with 

lower backscatter corresponding to sandy substrate and higher backscatter corresponding to mixed cobbles, gravel, and sand. Reddish material in both sandy 

and mixed areas is red algae. Video mosaic created using software developed by Dr. Yuri Rzhanov, Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping, University of New 

Hampshire, through a joint U.S. Geological Survey–University of New Hampshire cooperative agreement.

B

B’

B B’

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

Figure 7. Video mosaic within field of hydrocarbon-seep-related 

features southwest of Santa Barbara (see fig. 6 for location), 

which captures natural hydrocarbon seeps within pockmark. 

Three seeps bubble out of fine-grained sediment on seafloor; 

uppermost seep consists of five separate but aligned sets of 

bubbles. Although rising bubbles degrade quality of video 

mosaic, inset high-resolution photograph clearly shows one 

seep.

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280

65.0

65.2

65.4

65.6

65.8

66.0

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

18

20

22

24

26

28

300 

Scientific Investigations Map 3281

Sheet 4 of 11

Pamphlet accompanies map

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey