Physical Habitats and Geomorphology
Includes measures of the geologic and structural characteristics of the coast or sea floor, such as the features defined in the Geoform Component of CMECS. Distributions are detailed topographic and bathymetric maps, geolocated photographs, or sea-floor descriptions; Distributions includes maps that interpret observations to categorize areas on the basis of geoform types such as those in CMECS. Assessment types include evaluations of ecological or human use value and can include models that project environmental or economic effects of erosion, climate change, dredging, and other stressors. Predictions are the results of models or projections of future distributions, values, or ecological impacts of physical habitats, including predicted changes due to natural and human forces; they are also from scenario-based models of resource losses, gains, or impacts on ecological or economic values under different management strategies (for example, mining, removal, relocation, or the building of structures).