Bathymetric Analysis of St. Croix Ridge, U.S. Virgin Islands

In early 2015, seafloor to the southeast of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands was mapped using multibeam sonar data collected by a Kongsberg EM302 system on the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. Bathymetry and backscatter data were post-processed with CARIS HIPS and SIPS 9.0 software to examine two submarine canyons which range in depth from 600 to 3,500 m. Both canyons cut through shallow ridges and converge in the deep ocean, and are approximately 3.5 and 6.0 km in length. Hard substrate is necessary for coral settlement, and hardground canyon walls are often sites for deep coral habitat. Bathymetric surfaces overlain with backscatter imagery are used to identify areas of highest potential for deep coral habitat. Pinpointing these sites is essential to designating potential marine protected areas and protecting the biodiversity of this region.