The Geomorphology, Habitats, and Mapping of the Hawaiian Archipelago Joyce Miller and John Rooney NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Coral Reef Ecosystem Division, Pacific Islands Benthic Habitat mapping Center

Hawaiian-Emperor chain formation history Sea-level dynamics Reef and shoreline development Mapping, habitats and applications On-going work Outline Photo of FFS Corals by J. Kenyon

● 6,126 km long ● Older to the NW: Meiji 85 Ma old, Kure ~30 Ma, Nihoa 7.2 Ma ● 129 volcanoes, 104 islands, 39 islands > 1 km ● 1 island/time Ma, no islands Ma, multiple islands after Lisianski (23 Ma) ● Pacific Plate (Clague, 1996) ~7 cm/yr, 85 – 5 Ma ~10 cm/yr, ~5 Ma – present ● Moving Hotspot? (Tarduno, et al., 2003 ) Hawaii-Emperor Chain VolcanosNo. / MaSpacing (km) Emperor Chain1.157 NWHI1.745 MHI4.030

Hawaiian Hotspot

Vertical Tectonics

Original Size of Hawaiian Islands Sea Surface Subaerial Volcanic Shield H1 Break in Slope Pre-SubsidencePost-Subsidence H1H2 7o7o D 7o7o Post-Erosion Rock Outcrop D x Tan 7 o H1 Subsidence ErosionSlow Subsidence Submergence/Atoll Coral Cap Uplift (subsides to m) Ma 1.9 – 2.6 m/1000 yrs m/1000 yrs Midway Subsidence ~0.024 m/1000 yrs. (Grigg, 1997) Yellow areas around banks and islands represent calculated areas of original islands as presented in Price and Clague (2002), How old is the Hawaiian biota? Figure after Price and Clague, 2002.

Glacial/Interglacial Figure from C. Fletcher, Coastal Geology 420

Late Quaternary Sea Level and Reef Development Glacial Periods (Low sea level) Interglacial Periods (High sea level)

Holocene Sea Level PeriodFFSMidwayOahu 1905 – 2003NA – 2003NA Sea Level Rise (mm/yr) ● Holocene Trangression ● Kapapa mid-Holocene highstand

Big Island Reef Terraces Mapping data collected by NOAA and MBARI show major terraces at 150 and 400 m on the W. Kohala Coast. Other locations on Hawaii may or may not have reefs at similar levels. Webster et al., 2006, conclude that the 400- m reef was initiated about 220,000 yrs ago and the reef drowned during deglaciation at ~134,000 yrs ago. Webster et al., 2006, conclude that the 150- m was initiated about 126,000 yrs. ago and was drowned during de-glaciation 12,000 – 14,000 yrs. ago, perhaps by a meltwater pulse event. Reef sequences on the rapidly subsiding island of Hawaii are relatively straightforward to understand because deeper reefs are generally older than shallow ones. Mapping data collected by NOAA and MBARI show major terraces at 150 and 400 m on the W. Kohala Coast. Other locations on Hawaii may or may not have reefs at similar levels. Webster et al., 2006, conclude that the 400- m reef was initiated about 220,000 yrs ago and the reef drowned during deglaciation at ~134,000 yrs ago. Webster et al., 2006, conclude that the 150- m was initiated about 126,000 yrs. ago and was drowned during de-glaciation 12,000 – 14,000 yrs. ago, perhaps by a meltwater pulse event. Reef sequences on the rapidly subsiding island of Hawaii are relatively straightforward to understand because deeper reefs are generally older than shallow ones. 400 m terrace 150 m terrace

Waimanalo Reef – Coastal Plain, 8 m thick, above sea level ,000 to 143,000 yrs ago. Holocene (recent) Reef – Some dunes, +3 to -4 m, Present to 8000 yrs. ago. Waianae Reef – Shelf areas, -6 to -20 m, 200,000 to 220,000 yrs ago. Same age as Hawaii 400 m terrace. Leahi Reef and dunes to -24 m, 83,000 – 110,000 yrs ago. Unnamed sequence at -49 to - 54 m. No dates yet. Rugged terraces at similar depths seen in NWHI (e.g. Midway). Waimanalo Reef – Coastal Plain, 8 m thick, above sea level ,000 to 143,000 yrs ago. Holocene (recent) Reef – Some dunes, +3 to -4 m, Present to 8000 yrs. ago. Waianae Reef – Shelf areas, -6 to -20 m, 200,000 to 220,000 yrs ago. Same age as Hawaii 400 m terrace. Leahi Reef and dunes to -24 m, 83,000 – 110,000 yrs ago. Unnamed sequence at -49 to - 54 m. No dates yet. Rugged terraces at similar depths seen in NWHI (e.g. Midway). Shorelines dominated by sea level change are much more complex, because ages are not sequential. South Oahu Shorelines Information from C. Fletcher, Geology 420 Midway Terraces

Mapping, Habitats, and Applications Coral Reef Ecosystems Essential Fish Habitat Resources Protected Species Research Management Needs (e.g. Boundaries, Charts) Management Needs (e.g. Boundaries, Charts) Data Synthesis and Integration Data Synthesis and Integration

Mapping Techniques Satellite/aerial imagery and estimated depths LIDAR (airborne) – bathymetry and backscatter Acoustic techniques – bathymetry and backscatter Optical validation Satellite/aerial imagery and estimated depths LIDAR (airborne) – bathymetry and backscatter Acoustic techniques – bathymetry and backscatter Optical validation

Geomorphic Habitat % Coral Cover Predicted Net Accretion Fore Reef/Pass (mm/yr) Back Reef271.5 (mm/yr) Lagoonal Reef273.9 (mm/yr) Mean (weighted)202.1 (mm/yr) Reef Crest & RR ??? ??? Coral Studies at Kure Atoll

Whaleskate Is., FFS Whaleskate Is., FFS Sealevel or Transport Change?

Habitat Analysis and Sampling Protocols Which Parameters, At What Scales? Habitat Analysis and Sampling Protocols Which Parameters, At What Scales? Fledermaus 3-D Image of FFS Bank Backscatter or Hard/Soft Rugose vs. Smooth, Scale? Bathymetry (depth) Slope Rugosity, complexity Bathymetric Position Index (Crests, Flats, Depressions, …) Variance (variability of signal) Backscatter Hardness Roughness Variance (variability of signal) IKONOS imagery Classifications Estimated depths Variance (variability of signal) Bathymetry (depth) Slope Rugosity, complexity Bathymetric Position Index (Crests, Flats, Depressions, …) Variance (variability of signal) Backscatter Hardness Roughness Variance (variability of signal) IKONOS imagery Classifications Estimated depths Variance (variability of signal) Integration of different data types

Sand Deposits Low Relief Structures On Top Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) defined by: Depth Slope Backscatter Values Rugosity? BotCam Studies MHI Synthesis, Whale Habitat Low rugosity Low slope Penguin Bank, MHI Brooks Banks, NWHI W. Nihoa NWHI Study of MHI and NWHI Banks

MHI & NWHI Mapping Synthesis Work Collaborative effort between UH SOEST & NOAA, Mapping > 100 m almost complete, < 100 m – AHI or LIDAR work to do, 50 m grid at

NWHI-MNM Operational Statistics and Estimates Multibeam Completed Estimate To Complete To Complete (km 2 ) (Days) (Days) Deep (>100m) 38, (km 2 ) (Days) (Days) Deep (>100m) 38, Shallow (20-100m) 3, Totals 42, Totals 42, Optical Optical Deep (>20 m, towed camera): Deep (>20 m, towed camera): 3733 still photos; 191 videos, ~ 2 km each Shallow (≤30m, towboard cameras): Shallow (≤30m, towboard cameras): 135+ tracks, ~2 km each, reoccupied biennially Multibeam Completed Estimate To Complete To Complete (km 2 ) (Days) (Days) Deep (>100m) 38, (km 2 ) (Days) (Days) Deep (>100m) 38, Shallow (20-100m) 3, Totals 42, Totals 42, Optical Optical Deep (>20 m, towed camera): Deep (>20 m, towed camera): 3733 still photos; 191 videos, ~ 2 km each Shallow (≤30m, towboard cameras): Shallow (≤30m, towboard cameras): 135+ tracks, ~2 km each, reoccupied biennially

Management & Research Questions Sea level changes and the effects on geology, beach formations, habitats, ages of banks… How much coral is there, where does it occur? Design of sampling protocols. Hard vs. soft, rugose vs. smooth, variability of parameters? Evolution of submerged banks. How much EFH? Location? Protected areas? Location of resources: sand -- for beaches, construction, protected species, anchorages. Data for boundaries and nautical charts. Habitats: whales, bottom fish, reef fish, lobsters. Other questions????

Future Research ● Mapping a. Continue MB data collection b. Bathy and backscatter processing c. Bathy and backscatter analysis d. IKONOS, MB or LIDAR for shallow depths? ● Groundtruth a. Develop ROV/AUV capabilities b. Optical data collection & processing c. Coring ● Data Interpretation and Integration a. Defining appropriate products for specific needs b. Interpretation of individual data types c. Integration of disparate data types d. Creation of “seamless” habitat maps for many different species

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