{"thcode":23,"term":{"code":20,"name":"Physical\/Chemical Features","parent":7,"scope":"Geological, chemical, or hydrodynamic features that are ecologically important or influence patterns of human uses of the ocean. Examples include seamounts, persistent upwelling zones, areas of low dissolved oxygen, and areas of reduced pH. Distributions are recorded observations of parameters and features, often as a function of time as well as place, also including maps and three-dimensional predictions of distributions based on combinations of observations and theory. Distributions of physical and chemical features (for example, physical habitat, substrate, or bathymetry) are often used as data to support habitat-biota models. Assessments provide information about the value, impact, drivers, connections, or functions of a feature in its present distributions, or they evaluate the effects of physical\/chemical features on ecology or suitability for use. Assessments can include climate change models that project environmental effects of climate change and acidification. Larger assessments that combine physical\/chemical features with other Resources and Uses categories can appropriately be included here and also in the other related Resources or Uses categories. Predictions are the results of models or projections of future distributions, values, or impacts, which include anticipated changes produced by natural and human processes, and they are also the results of scenario-testing models for comparing outcomes of different management actions."},"uf":[],"bt":[{"code":7,"name":"Nonliving Resources","parent":6,"scope":"Data are about chemical, physical, or geological features that are of use or importance to humans or ecologies."},{"code":6,"name":"Data Content Subjects","parent":1,"scope":"Environmental characteristics and processes as well as human activities that use, rely on, or impact those features."},{"code":1,"name":"Data Categories for Marine Planning","parent":null,"scope":"Categories indicating the breadth of information types required for ocean planning from a national, multidisciplinary perspective. Published in USGS Open-File Report 2015-1046, doi:10.3133\/ofr20151046"}],"nt":[{"code":22,"name":"Bathymetry and Elevation","parent":20,"scope":"Includes measures of the height of a location above or below a reference surface. Bathymetry is the elevation of the Earth's surface beneath a body of water, especially the ocean, typically determined by measurements of depth from the water surface at mean lower low water. Distributions are topographic maps and bathymetric charts based on collected data and also include smoothed or gridded maps of bathymetry and elevation from observational data or other associated factors. Assessment data types include models of ecological value, economic value, or current rates of alterations due to erosion, accretion, climate change, and other stressors (for example, wetland habitat loss). Predictions are the results of models or projections of future distributions, values, or ecological impacts of bathymetry, including predicted changes due to natural and human forces such as erosion, deposition, sea-level rise, and dredging activities; predictions also include the results of scenario-based models of bathymetry changes under different management strategies."},{"code":21,"name":"Physical Habitats and Geomorphology","parent":20,"scope":"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)."},{"code":23,"name":"Substrate","parent":20,"scope":"Represents the character and composition of the surface and near surface of the sea floor in subtidal or intertidal areas, as defined in the Substrate Component of CMECS or in similar classification systems. Distributions are records of substrate characteristics based on visual or photographic inspection or on analysis of samples and cores, and they also include interpretive maps classifying areas on the basis of combinations of observations, hydrodynamic models, or geological models. Assessments include evaluations of present ecological or economic values of substrate distributions, drivers of substrate change, and functions of substrates. Predictions are the results of models or projections of future substrate distributions, values, or ecological impacts, including predicted substrate changes due to natural and human forces including erosion, accretion, sea-level change, extraction, trawling, or other factors; and they are the results of scenario-based models of substrate changes on ecological or economic values under different management strategies or other human alterations."},{"code":24,"name":"Water Column Features","parent":20,"scope":"Includes persistent or regularly occurring waves, layers, water masses, upwellings, stratifications, and fronts that are defined by patterns of water velocity, physical properties, and biogeochemical properties; these features are listed and defined in the Layer, Hydroform, and Biogeochemical Feature layers of the Water Column Component of CMECS. Distributions are records of currents, physical properties, or biogeochemical water properties, often based on shipboard surveys or coastal monitoring programs, and maps of currents or water property climatology, which indicate the expected locations of features under present conditions or apply a classification structure like that of CMECS. Assessments are data that provide information about the ecological or economic values, impacts, drivers, connections, or functions of water column features in their present distributions. Predictions are the results of models projecting future changes to currents or other persistent oceanographic features (for example, clines, stratification, connectivity, linkages, and zones of separation) due to climate change, ice-cap melt, and changing freshwater inputs; models predicting the ecological or economic impacts of these changes; and scenario-testing models comparing ecological or economic outcomes of different management actions."},{"code":25,"name":"Water-Quality Parameters","parent":20,"scope":"Includes measures of the ranges and distributions of the chemical, physical, and biological constituents of waters, including temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, total suspended solids, chlorophyll, nutrients, bacteria, and toxicants. Distributions are recorded observations as a function of time and place, including measures of one or more parameters; maps that use observations and consider hydrodynamic factors to estimate present distributions or ranges; or categorizations of areas using classification systems such as CMECS to identify ranges. Assessments evaluate the current ecological, human health, or economic effects, values, or harms linked to water-quality parameters as well as evaluating effects on ecosystems, biotic distributions, and ecological processes. In the case of temperature, this includes ecological, industrial, and human service values but does not include values related to energy production, which are covered in the Energy Resources category. Predictions are the results of models or projections of future distributions, values, and human health or ecological impacts of water-quality parameters; Predictions include predicted effects due to changes in climate, industrial or residential needs, land use, or other natural and human forces and include scenario-based models of the impacts of changes to parameters on ecological, human health, or economic values under different management strategies or other human alterations."}],"rt":[]}