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Geology and geomorphology--Monterey Canyon and Vicinity Map Area, California

Published by U.S. Geological Survey | Department of the Interior | Metadata Last Checked: July 18, 2025 | Last Modified: 20220405
This part of DS 781 presents data for the geologic and geomorphic map of Monterey Canyon and Vicinity, California. The vector data file is included in "Geology_MontereyCanyon.zip," which is accessible from http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/781/MontereyCanyon/data_catalog_MontereyCanyon.html. These data accompany the pamphlet and map sheets of Dartnell, P., Maier, K.L., Erdey, M.D., Dieter, B.E., Golden, N.E., Johnson, S.Y., Hartwell, S.R., Cochrane, G.R., Ritchie, A.C., Finlayson, D.P., Kvitek, R.G., Sliter, R.W., Greene, H.G., Davenport, C.W., Endris, C.A., and Krigsman, L.M. (P. Dartnell and S.A. Cochran, eds.), 2016, California State Waters Map Series—Monterey Canyon and Vicinity, California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016–1072, 48 p., 10 sheets, scale 1:24,000, https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161072. Marine geology and geomorphology were mapped in the Monterey Canyon and Vicinity map area from approximate Mean High Water (MHW) across the continental shelf, as well as in Monterey Canyon to a water depth of about 1,750 m. This map area includes much of central Monterey Bay, extending just beyond the limit of California’s State Waters (note that the California’s State Waters limit, which generally is 3 nautical miles [5.6 km] from shore, extends farther offshore (as much as 12 nautical miles) between Santa Cruz and Monterey, so that it encompasses all of Monterey Bay. Offshore geologic units were delineated on the basis of integrated analyses of adjacent onshore geology with multibeam bathymetry and backscatter imagery, seafloor-sediment and rock samples, digital camera and video imagery, and high-resolution seismic reflection profiles. Aerial photographs taken in multiple years were used to map the nearshore area (0 to 10 m water depth) and to link the offshore and onshore geology.

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