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/3302/

Suggested Citation: Dartnell, P., 2014, Data integration and visualization, Offshore of Coal Oil Point map area, California, sheet 4 in Johnson, S.Y., Dartnell, P., Cochrane, G.R., Golden, N.E., Phillips, 

E.L., Ritchie, A.C., Kvitek, R.G., Dieter, B.E., Conrad, J.E., Lorenson, T.D., Krigsman, L.M., Greene, H.G., Endris, C.A., Seitz, G.G., Finlayson, D.P., Sliter, R.W., Wong, F.L., Erdey, M.D., Gutierrez, C.I., 

Leifer, I., Yoklavich, M.M., Draut, A.E., Hart, P.E., Hostettler, F.D., Peters, K.E., Kvenvolden, K.A., Rosenbauer, R.J., and Fong, G. (S.Y. Johnson and S.A. Cochran, eds.), California State Waters Map 

Series—Offshore of Coal Oil Point, California: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3302, pamphlet 57 p., 12 sheets, scale 1:24,000, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3302.

ISSN 2329-132X (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3302

US Army Corps

of Engineers

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

300

100

200

250

150

50

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 may be 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 Coal Oil Point map area.

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

map of the Offshore of Coal Oil Point 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 2, 3, and 6 show the colored 

shaded-relief bathymetry of the Offshore of Coal Oil Point map area, as viewed from different 

directions. These views show a few examples of the complex shelf morphology in this map 

area, as well as the head of the submarine Goleta landslide complex.

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

data (figs. 1, 5, 6) highlights the relations between the backscatter intensity and the seafloor 

morphology, as well as any anthropogenic influences on the seafloor.

Video-mosaic images created from seafloor digital video (fig. 4) 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, video mosaics can capture larger areas 

and, thus, can show transitional zones between different seafloor environments.

Block diagrams (fig. 1), which combine the acoustic-backscatter imagery with seismicreflection-profile data (see sheet 8 of this report), help reveal the stratigraphic and structural 

relations between the surface and subsurface.

REFERENCES CITED

Dartnell, P., Conrad, J.E., Stanley, R.G., and Cochrane, G.R., 2010, Onshore and offshore 

geologic map of the Coal Oil Point area, southern California: U.S. Geological Survey 

Scientific Investigations Map 3124, scale 1:24,000, pamphlet 18 p., available at 

http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3124/.

Fisher, M.A., Normark, W.R., Greene, H.G., Lee, H.J., and Sliter, R.W., 2005, Geology and 

tsunamigenic potential of submarine landslides in Santa Barbara Channel, southern 

California: Marine Geology, v. 224, p. 1–22. 

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 Coal Oil Point Map Area, California

By

Peter Dartnell

2014

APPROXIMATE MEAN

DECLINATION, 2014

MAGNETIC NORTH

12 / ° 1 2

TRUE NORTH

Perspective views by Peter Dartnell, 2012. Acoustic-backscatter imagery in figures 1, 5, and 6 from map on sheet 3, this report. Seismic-reflection profile in figure 1 from 

sheet 8, this report. Bathymetric profiles in figures 2 and 3 by Peter Dartnell, 2012. Video-mosaic image in figure 4 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 June 2, 2014

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

Map view. Colored shaded-relief bathymetry map of 

Offshore of Coal Oil Point map area, generated from 

multibeam-echosounder and bathymetric-sidescan 

data. Colors show depth: reds and oranges indicate 

shallower areas; dark blues and purples, 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.

Figure 3. Perspective view to northeast over nearshore area northwest of Coal Oil Point, showing undivided Tertiary bedrock (see sheet 10, 

this report), which has about 5 m of relief, exposed on seafloor (e). South flank of exposed bedrock represents “ramp” that formed landward 

of paleo-shoreline and wave-cut platform; similar paleo-shoreline “ramp” is present to east off Goleta Point. Blue line shows inflection at 

base of slope. Bathymetric profile B–B’ reveals that average slope of seafloor ramp is 5.1°, whereas average slope of surrounding mainland 

shelf is less than 1°; blue arrow shows where base of slope (blue line in perspective view) intersects profile. Vertical exaggeration, 2x; 

distance across bottom of image, about 2.8 km.

Figure 6. Perspective views to northeast over midshelf area offshore of Coal Oil Point and Goleta Point, showing colored shaded-relief bathymetry (A) and acoustic-backscatter imagery 

(B). Views show rough seafloor composed of folded marine sedimentary rocks, which include rocks of the Miocene and Pliocene Monterey and Sisquoc Formations and also younger 

strata (Dartnell and others, 2010). Narrow, continuous ridges (f), which have 1 m of relief and higher backscatter intensity, are as much as 1.5 km long. Natural hydrocarbon seeps are 

common throughout this area. Outfall pipe (g) is seen west of Goleta Point. Vertical exaggeration, 4x; distance across bottom, about 4 km.

sand star

tilted layers of bedrock 

sand with pebbles

and shell material 

pebbles

Figure 5. Perspective view to west over nearshore area northwest of Coal Oil Point, showing acoustic-backscatter imagery (see sheet 3, this report) and its complex pattern of high and low backscatter 

intensities; lighter tones indicate higher backscatter intensity, and darker tones indicate lower backscatter intensity. Linear, east-west-trending lines are data-collection artifacts. Area of higher 

backscatter intensity in foreground (d), mapped as undifferentiated Miocene and Pliocene bedrock (see sheet 10, this report), has relatively sharp boundary with areas of lower backscatter intensities. 

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 captured over area of higher backscatter intensity. Vertical exaggeration, 2x; distance across bottom, about 1 km.

Figure 2. Perspective view to northeast over headwall of submarine Goleta landslide complex (Fisher and others, 2005). Bathymetric profile A–A’ reveals that 

headwall of landslide has average slope of 23°, whereas lower part has average slope of about 9.3°. Vertical exaggeration, 2x; distance across bottom of image, 

about 800 m.

approx 1.4 m

sand with pebbles

and shell material 

bat star

Figure 1. Perspective views to west over relatively smooth midshelf east of Coal Oil Point and Goleta Point, showing acoustic-backscatter imagery (see sheet 3, this report); 

lighter tones indicate stronger backscatter intensity, possibly from rock or coarse-grained sand, and darker tones indicate weaker backscatter intensity, possibly from finer 

sediments (see sheet 3, this report). Linear, east-west-trending lines are data-collection artifacts. A, Perspective view showing slightly lower backscatter intensity in midshelf 

area (a) compared to that in nearshore (b) and outer shelf (c) areas. Dark-blue line shows location of seismic-reflection profile in B below. B, Same perspective view as A, 

converted to block diagram that combines backscatter imagery with part of north-south-trending seismic-reflection profile SBC–124 from Sliter and others (2008; see also, fig. 

5 on sheet 8). Block diagram reveals folded strata in subsurface that have no detectable sediment cover in nearshore and outer shelf areas in this part of profile. A few meters 

of sediment (blue shading) covers folded bedrock in midshelf, corresponding to area of slightly lower backscatter intensity. Vertical exaggeration of perspective view (A), 2x; 

distance across bottom of perspective view (A), about 2 km; depth of seismic-reflection profile (B) at deepest point (lower right corner), about 120 m below sea level.

Coal Oil Point

Goleta Point

A

B

b

c

a

b

c

a

A

A’

Figure 4. Video mosaic of nearshore area northwest of Coal Oil Point (see fig. 5 for location), which reveals 

tilted, layered seafloor of differentially eroded bedrock interspersed with sand, pebbles, and shell material, 

corresponding to area of higher backscatter intensity. Red-colored rock is taller ridge illuminated by 

camera-sled lights during close encounter. Video mosaic created 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.

d

B

f

f

Coal Oil Point

Goleta Point

Coal Oil Point

Goleta Point

Coal Oil Point

Goleta Point

A

f

f

Coal Oil Point

Goleta Point

e

Depth (m)

B 5.1 slope 0.9 slope

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

Distance (m)

10

20

30

40

50

o o

B'

Distance (m)

A A'

0 100 200 300 400 500

100

200

Depth (m)120

140

160

180

23 slope o 9.3 slope o

B

B'

g

g

5

3

2

1

6

Scientific Investigations Map 3302

Sheet 4 of 12

Pamphlet accompanies map

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey