Marine geophysical data - Point Sal to Refugio State Beach, southern California

This data release includes approximately 1,032 km of marine single-channel seismic-reflection data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey on a research cruise (USGS survey 2014-632-FA) in July and August, 2014, between Point Sal and Refugio State Beach. The dataset includes 168 profiles, most of which were collected on tracklines roughly perpendicular to the coast at 1 km line spacing; additional profiles were collected on coast-parallel tie lines. These data were acquired to support the California Seafloor Mapping Program and USGS Geologic Hazards projects.

Seismic-reflection data were collected using a minisparker system that creates an acoustic signal by discharging an electrical pulse between electrodes and a ground that generates a frequency spectrum roughly between 200 and 1,600 Hz. At boat speeds of 4 to 4.5 nm/hour, seismic traces were collected roughly every 1 to 2 meters. Water depths were generally between 50 m and 150 m, but as shallow as 10 meters near the shoreline, and as deep as 480 m for profiles crossing the Santa Barbara basin. Acoustic pulses were generated at 0.5-second intervals on most profiles; a 1-second interval was used on the few profiles collected in deeper water. Standard SEG-Y files were generated using a Triton Subbottom Logger (SBL). Seismic data processing was accomplished using Sioseis, a public-domain software developed at Scripps Institute of Oceanography (part of the University of California at San Diego). The processing of these data consisted of a bandpass filter, mute function, automatic gain control, water bottom detect, swell correction, and scaling/plotting. Both raw data in SEG-Y format and processed data (Corrected SEG-Y) are provided in this data release.