Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Project

Seafloor Morphology between Año Nuevo and Santa Cruz, California

Preliminary map

Select key sites A, B, and C.

This preliminary seafloor map displays submarine rock exposures found along the northern part of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The extent of rock exposures on the sea floor is based on interpretations of side-scan sonar records, seismic-reflection records (not displayed here), and underwater video. The mapping defines the nearshore morphology of the central California coast between Point Año Nuevo and Point Santa Cruz. The extensive occurrence of nearshore rock outcrops poses questions concerning longshore sediment transport pathways, sediment storage sites in the nearshore zone, and identifies previously unmapped fish and wildlife habitats.