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chuuk Maps: reefs

Coral reefs

Reef location

Extent of coral reefs

This map shows the extent of coral reefs of Chuuk Lagoon. The data layer shown here is a subset of Chuuk base layer created by Island Research & Education Initiative (iREi) (2020) by manually digitizing of shorelines and from Digital Line Graphs (DLGs) of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 1:25,000-scale topographic maps (1996-1997). The shoreline was created in entirety and coral reef features were slightly shifted and partially modified based on WorldView-2 satellite imagery from DigitalGlobe (2015-2016) provided by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Reef classification

Reef geomorphology

This map classifies the reefs of Chuuk Lagoon by their geomorphology. The dataset used here is the same as the one used for the reef habitat types map. It was created by the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project by the Institute for Marine Remote Sensing – University of South Florida (IMaRS-USF) and the Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD) (2005). Island Research & Education Initiative (iREi) (2020) extracted a subset of the original dataset and formatted it for use in this atlas.

Reef habitat types

This map classifies the reefs of Chuuk Lagoon by their habitat type. The dataset used here is the same as the one used for the reef geomorphology map. It was created by the Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project by the Institute for Marine Remote Sensing – University of South Florida (IMaRS-USF) and the Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement (IRD) (2005). Island Research & Education Initiative (iREi) (2020) extracted a subset of the original dataset and formatted it for use in this atlas.

Ocean floor

Lagoon circulation

Passes in the barrier reef

This map shows the locations of the passes in the barrier reef allowing entry of large vessels from open ocean into Chuuk Lagoon, as well as the most prominent reef and mangrove channels allowing transit and shore access by small boats and canoes. This data layer was derived by Island Research & Education Initiative (iREi) (2020) from data from Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), Geoview, and Student Atlas of Chuuk, published by Island Research & Education Initiative (iREi) (2018). We have updated many place names to reflect modern Chuukese orthography, but they are still subject to verification and correction if necessary.

Bathymetry

Bathymetry

This map shows the bathymetry (depth to seafloor) around Chuuk Lagoon. The dataset was extracted from the 2020 General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) by the GEBCO Compilation Group (2020) as part of the Seabed 2030 Project. Known as the GEBCO 2020 Grid, this is a continuous terrain model for ocean and land with a spatial resolution of 15 arc seconds. It is an updated version of previous GEBCO Grids, first published in January 2009. Island Research & Education Initiative (iREi) (2020) extracted a subset of the original dataset and formatted it for use in this atlas.

Bathymetry

This map shows the bathymetry (depth to seafloor) around Chuuk Lagoon. The dataset was extracted from the 2020 General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) by the GEBCO Compilation Group (2020) as part of the Seabed 2030 Project. Known as the GEBCO 2020 Grid, this is a continuous terrain model for ocean and land with a spatial resolution of 15 arc seconds. It is an updated version of previous GEBCO Grids, first published in January 2009. Island Research & Education Initiative (iREi) (2020) extracted a subset of the original dataset and formatted it for use in this atlas.

Recreation

Diving and snorkeling

Popular dive sites

This map shows the locations of popular dive sites in Chuuk Lagoon. The data layer was created by Island Research & Education Initiative (iREi) (2020) by digitizing several tourist and historic maps depicting the sites of WWII wrecks in Chuuk Lagoon and cross-referencing them with exact location data reported by Jeffery (2007), war graves, munition dumps and pleasure grounds: A post-colonial perspective of Chuuk Lagoon’s submerged World War II sites; as well as Jeffery (2012), The future of Chuuk Lagoon's submerged WW II sites. All dive sites shown here are sunken ships, planes, and related war remains.

Swimming

Popular swim and picnic sites

This map shows the locations of popular swimming spots and small-island beach and picnic sites in Chuuk Lagoon. The data layer was created by Island Research & Education Initiative (iREi) (2020), using information provided as KML files by Nely Mori Ruben (Chuuk Visitor's Bureau). Note that only the best known locations are included on this map. Many others are not shown.