USGS Studies in Long Island Sound:
Geology, Contaminants, and Environmental Issues

Bathymetry, or the depth of the sea floor beneath the water surface, is a dominant factor in the dynamics of marine ecosystems. It impacts the distribution of sedimentary environments, benthic habitats, and contaminant accumulation. Bathymetric data is also crucial to current and sediment transport models.

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Figure 1. Regional bathymetric perspective of Long Island Sound and vicinity. This image was generated from a gridded bathymetric data set.

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Figure 2. Digital terrain map (DTM) showing the multibeam bathymetric survey of The Race in easternmost Long Island Sound.

Multibeam Bathymetry

Interpretive Reports:

• The Race
• Southeastern Sound
• North-Central Sound
• Six Mile Reef

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Figure 3. A contoured bathymetric map (scale 1:100,000) of Long Island Sound developed with NOAA bathymetry and USGS topographic-bathymetry maps.

Bathymetric Contours

Link to Bathymetric Contours data in USGS Open-File Report 98-502.

To download compressed bathymetry data that is in a GIS format, click here for the Zipped Shapefile.

Download Zip Application

Figure 4. Regional bathymetric perspective of Long Island Sound and vicinity. This image was generated from a gridded bathymetry data set.

Other Gridded Bathymetry

Link to Gridded Bathymetry data in USGS Open-File Report 98-502.