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/3225/

Suggested Citation: Dartnell, P., 2012, Data integration and visualization, Hueneme Canyon and vicinity, California, sheet 4 in Johnson, S.Y., Dartnell, 

P., Cochrane, G.R., Golden, N.E., Phillips, E.L., Ritchie, A.C., Kvitek, R.G., Greene, H.G., Krigsman, L.M., Endris, C.A., Clahan, K.B., Sliter, R.W., Wong, 

F.L., Yoklavich, M.M., and Normark, W.R. (S.Y. Johnson, ed.), California State Waters Map Series—Hueneme Canyon and vicinity, California: U.S. 

Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3225, pamphlet 41 p., 12 sheets, available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3225/.

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

400

300

200

100

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 Hueneme Canyon and vicinity.

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

map of Hueneme Canyon and vicinity (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, and 5 show the colored 

shaded-relief bathymetry of Hueneme Canyon, as viewed from the south, southeast, and southwest, respectively. These views show a few examples of the complexity of the canyon terrain and 

try to match the scale of the terrain with more commonly known structures.

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.

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. 6), which combine the bathymetry with seismic-reflection-profile data, 

help reveal the stratigraphic and structural relations between the surface and subsurface.

REFERENCES CITED

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, accessed April 5, 2011, at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1246/.

Warrick, J.A., and Farnsworth, K.L., 2009b, Dispersal of river sediment in the southern California 

Bight, in Lee, H.J., and Normark, W.R., eds., Earth science in the urban ocean—The 

Southern California Continental Borderland: Geological Society of America Special Paper 

454, p. 53–67.

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, Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity, California

By

Peter Dartnell

2012

APPROXIMATE MEAN

DECLINATION, 2012

13°

MAGNETIC NORTH

TRUE NORTH

Onshore elevation data from NOAA Coastal Services Center (data collected 

by EarthData International in 2002-2003) and from U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers (data collected by Fugro Pelagos in 2009). Offshore shaded-relief 

bathymetry from map on sheet 2, this report

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 11N

NOT INTENDED FOR NAVIGATIONAL USE

Bathymetric profiles in figures 1, 2, 5, and 6 by Peter Dartnell, 2011. Acoustic-backscatter imagery in figure 3 from map on sheet 

3, this report. 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. Seismic-reflection profile in figure 6 from sheet 8, this report

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

Edited by Taryn A. Lindquist

Manuscript approved for publication July 25, 2012

3

6

1

5

2

Oxnard

Port of Hueneme

Channel Islands Harbor

H u e n e m e C a n y o n

Map view. Colored shaded-relief bathymetry map of Hueneme Canyon and vicinity, generated 

from multibeam-echosounder and bathymetric-sidescan data. Colors show depth: reds and 

oranges indicate shallower areas; 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 6. Perspective views to southeast over meandering upper section of Hueneme Canyon. A, Perspective view showing interpreted features on east wall of canyon. Black line 

shows location of seismic-reflection profile in B below; dashed where inferred behind northwest canyon wall. B, Same perspective view as A, converted to block diagram that 

combines bathymetry with northeast-southwest-trending seismic-reflection profile HC-21 from Sliter and others (2008). Blue shading shows inferred upper Pleistocene and Holocene 

(post–Last Glacial Maximum) deposits; blue dashed lines show erosional channels within, and at base of, blue-shaded unit; green dashed lines show south-dipping reflections and 

prominent angular unconformity; solid yellow line is seafloor multiple (see sheet 8). Vertical exaggeration of bathymetry in both views, 2x; vertical exaggeration of seismic-reflection 

profile, about 1.1x; base of profile, about 200 m below water surface; distance across bottom of both images, about 1 km.

A

slump scarp

gullied canyon wall

lowstand lateral canyon fill

thalweg thalweg

stratified canyon fill

18° slope

nose of ridge extending

from shelf on east canyon flank

inner shelf

slump scarp

16° slope

gullied canyon wall

lowstand lateral canyon fill

thalweg thalweg

stratified canyon fill

18° slope

nose of ridge extending

from shelf on east canyon flank

inner shelf

B

16° slope

Figure 5. Perspective view to northeast over deeper section of Hueneme Canyon. Below 

perspective view, bathymetric profile C–C’ crossing canyon shows that, in this area, canyon is 

about 2,000 m (1.2 miles) wide and about 370 m (1,214 ft) deep, almost as deep as Empire State 

Building in New York City is tall. Top of Empire State Building is 381 m (1,250 ft) high; tower on top of 

building is additional 62 m (204 ft) high. West wall of canyon (on left) has slightly steeper average 

slope (23°) than east wall (19°). Vertical exaggeration of perspective view, 2x; distance across 

bottom, about 2.2 km. 

C C'

100

Depth (m)

200

300

Distance (m)

0 500 1000 1500 2000

C C'

Approximate height of Empire State Building

0 approximate height of ocean surface

drift weed

sandy seafloor with modified, 

low-amplitude wave ripples 

~60 cm (23.6 in)

bedrock and gravel 

algae 

bedrock and gravel 

algae 

Figure 4. Video mosaic of area east of Heuneme Canyon, which reveals that seafloor is composed of thin 

layer of sand over bedrock and patches of gravel (see figure 3 for location). Algae are attached to harder 

surfaces. 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.

Figure 3. Perspective view to northeast of acoustic-backscatter image of area east of Hueneme Canyon: lighter tones indicate stronger backscatter intensity, 

possibly from rock or sands, whereas darker tones indicate weaker backscatter intensity, possibly from finer sediments. Two linear features of higher 

backscatter (e,f), roughly perpendicular to shoreline, are outfall pipes. Thin yellow line shows path of camera sled, towed 1 to 2 m over seafloor, that captured 

video and photographs. Yellow rectangle shows location of video mosaic (fig. 4) generated from video captured within region of slightly higher backscatter. 

Vertical exaggeration of perspective view, 2x; distance across bottom, about 1.5 km.

f

e

Figure 2. Perspective view to northwest of midsection of Hueneme Canyon. Below perspective view, bathymetric profile B–B’ reveals that canyon floor 

generally dips about 2.5° overall in this area; however, slope is broken by series of steps that are characterized by locally steeper slopes (about 14°) and 

three flat, downcanyon plunge pools (a,b,c). Landslide headscarp (d) is evidence of slope failure in canyon wall; lack of obvious landslide deposit at base 

of scarp indicates transport of such deposits down canyon axis. Vertical exaggeration of perspective view, 2x; distance across bottom, about 750 m.

Distance (m)

140

B

Depth (m) 144

148

136

2.5° slope

14° slope

a

b

c

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

152

B

B'

b

c

a

d

A

A’

A A'

20

40

60

0 100 200 300 400

Distance (m)

Depth (m)

12° slope 6° slope

Figure 1. Perspective view to north of head of Hueneme Canyon. 

Below perspective view, bathymetric profile A–A’ shows that 

canyon begins directly offshore, in about 5 m of water, and then 

drops away relatively quickly, to about 70 m deep 0.5 km offshore. 

Bedforms within thalweg (bottom) of canyon suggest that, in past, 

canyon transported sediment from shallower nearshore region to 

deep Santa Monica Basin to south (Warrick and Farnsworth, 

2009b). More recently, however, dredging activities within and 

near Channel Islands Harbor pipe sediment across head of 

canyon and deposit it to southeast. Therefore, Hueneme Canyon 

probably is no longer primary sediment contributor to Santa 

Monica Basin. Vertical exaggeration of perspective view, 2x; 

distance across bottom, about 750 m. 

Scientific Investigations Map 3225

Sheet 4 of 12

Pamphlet accompanies map

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey