Cyber Seafloor Tour of the Bay

We often take a cynical view of how government agencies spend taxpayer dollars, but rarely, if ever, do we take issue with the efforts of NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) or USGS (US Geological Survey). In fact, without the work of these agencies, the navigational info available to American mariners would be drastically reduced.

The video below is a very cool byproduct of survey work done by both agencies in collaboration with the California State University Monterey Bay. It’s a virtual flyover of San Francisco Bay — without the water — that reveals detailed contours of the seafloor, including actual rock pinnacles, sand waves and the influences of human activities. As you’ll see, the bird’s eye view takes you on a tour from the South Bay north to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, then southwest through Raccoon Strait, around the Central Bay, out the Golden Gate and back in again. 

Beyond the gee-whiz factor, you can glean some useful insights into why currents would flow faster in some places than others, as well as the best spots to anchor — and not to anchor — during Fleet Week or while doing an inside-the-Bay overnight. Our hats are off to Peter Dartnell of the USGS, who produced the four-minute video in 2009.

Video courtesy US Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center