U.S. Extended Continental Shelf Data

NCEI's Role

Determining the outer limits of the U.S. ECS requires large amounts of data that describe the depth, shape, and geophysical characteristics of the seabed and sub-sea floor. NCEI serves as the data management lead for the U.S. ECS, and provides archive and access services for all data related to the project. 

NCEI partners with federal agencies and academic partners to manage, document, and deliver scientific data. Our collaborations foster modern, standards-based oceanic data management and documentation practices, providing exceptional science and data reuse.

ECS Fact Sheet 

Partners

The work to determine the outer limits of the U.S. ECS is coordinated by the ECS Task Force, an interagency body of the U.S. government. The ECS Task force is chaired by the U.S. Department of State, with co-vice chairs from the Department of Interior and NOAA. For more information, visit the State Department's ECS Project Page. 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Archive of Marine Seismic Surveys (NAMSS) provides seismic data collected by USGS, private industry, and others. The USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center is the designated repository for physical samples collected for the U.S. ECS Project and coordinates all outside sample requests. The University of New Hampshire's Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center (UNH CCOM-JHC) collects and processes ECS-funded bathymetric products.