Characterization

ocean coastline with rocky cliff
Big Sur nearshore habitat, just north of McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Photo: Steve Lonhart/NOAA

Site characterizations provide an account of habitats, biodiversity, resources, and ecological processes controlling environmental character, including links with physical processes. Characterizations can also include the history of a site, the effects of human activities on natural systems, socioeconomic information, and resource protection efforts.

Sanctuary staff are involved in site characterization projects to better understand sanctuary habitats, including iconic kelp forests, the sanctuary soundscape, and Davidson Seamount.

a pink and white leathery seastar in a kelp forest

Iconic Kelp Forests

Monitoring kelp forests is necessary to better understand how changes in kelp canopy cover will impact sanctuary resources.

a graphic of animals in the ocean with sound waves

Whale Conservation: Soundscapes

Sanctuary scientists and partners are characterizing the sanctuary soundscape at both shallow and deep-water listening stations to improve our understanding of soundscapes and to assess variation over time and space.

Group of pink octopuses sitting upside down in a brooding position at Davidson Seamount

Davidson Seamount

Considered an oasis in the deep, Davidson Seamount hosts large coral forests, vast sponge fields, brooding octopus gardens, and other fascinating deep-sea inhabitants.

red and white rockfish and a common sunstar with 12 arms on seafloor

Shelf Characterization and Image Display

Explore this user-friendly, map-based interface for viewing imagery and summary data collected in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Shelf Characterization and Image Display was designed by and continues to be supported by scientists at the Institute for Applied Marine Ecology at California State University Monterey Bay.