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Abstract

This talk provides an overview of an undertaking commissioned by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) as a means of developing a standardized and practical global ecosystems classification and map for the oceans. It is considered a key outcome of the GEO Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON), as well as a contribution to GEO’s Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON). The project, entitled Ecological Marine Units (EMUs), is one of four components of the GI-14 GEO Ecosystems Initiative developed for eventual use by the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). The EMUs can be thought of as a global 3D analytic base map for the oceans and are comprised of a global point mesh framework, created from 52,487,233 points from the NOAA World Ocean Atlas; spatial resolution is ¼° by ¼° by varying depth; temporal resolution is currently decadal; each point has x, y, z, as well as six attributes of chemical and physical oceanographic structure (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, silicate, phosphate) that are likely drivers of many ecosystem responses. We implemented a k-means statistical clustering of the point mesh (using the pseudo-F statistic to help determine the numbers of clusters), allowing us to identify and map 37 environmentally distinct 3D regions (candidate “ecosystems”) within the water column. These units can be attributed according to their productivity, direction and velocity of currents, species abundance, global seafloor geomorphology (from Harris et al.), and much more. A series of data products for open access shares the 3D point mesh and EMU clusters at the surface, bottom, and within the water column, as well as 2D and 3D web apps for exploration of the EMUs and the original World Ocean Atlas data. There are currently 15 EMU use cases underway by a variety of organizations around the world, and a global delineation of global Ecological Coastal Units (ECUs) is in progress to connect the EMUs to land.

The talk will also include additional information about Esri’s science program, partnerships, and student opportunities.

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Publication Date

4-9-2021

Document Type

Presentation

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