We present the first digital seafloor geomorphic features map (GSFM) of the global ocean. The GSFM includes 131,192 separate polygons in 29 geomorphic feature categories, used here to assess differences between passive and active continental margins as well as between 8 major ocean regions (the Arctic, Indian, North Atlantic, North Pacific, South Atlantic, South Pacific and the Southern Oceans and the Mediterranean and Black Seas). The GSFM provides quantitative assessments of differences between passive and active margins: continental shelf width of passive margins (88 km) is nearly three times that of active margins (31 km); the average width of active slopes (36 km) is less than the average width of passive margin slopes (46 km); active margin slopes contain an area of 3.4 million km2 where the gradient exceeds 5°, compared with 1.3 million km2 on passive margin slopes; the continental rise covers 27 million km2 adjacent to passive margins and less than 2.3 million km2 adjacent to active margins. Examples of specific applications of the GSFM are presented to show that: 1) larger rift valley segments are generally associated with slow-spreading rates and smaller rift valley segments are associated with fast spreading; 2) polar submarine canyons are twice the average size of non-polar canyons and abyssal polar regions exhibit lower seafloor roughness than non-polar regions, expressed as spatially extensive fan, rise and abyssal plain sediment deposits – all of which are attributed here to the effects of continental glaciations; and 3) recognition of seamounts as a separate category of feature from ridges results in a lower estimate of seamount number compared with estimates of previous workers. Reference: Harris PT, Macmillan-Lawler M, Rupp J, Baker EK Geomorphology of the oceans. Marine Geology.

Norwegian Download service for INSPIRE Sea Regions.

Long-term monitoring programs on benthic fauna are missing for large areas of the Arctic. In areas where repeated monitoring has occurred, it is difficult to compare data due to different sampling approaches and different targets of monitoring efforts. There is a need for an international standardization of long- term benthic monitoring. The CBMP Benthos Expert Network has identified potential ways to improve benthic monitoring coverage, and has come up with a map showing a Pan Arctic station map.

The data on observation of white whales (-lt;i-gt;Delphinapterus leucas-lt;/i-gt;) during the planned sailing of the research scientific ship "Mikhail Somov" (Arkhangelsk–Wrangel Island–Arkhangelsk) from September 6 to December 6 2010 are presented. The results obtained confirm and correct the existing ideas of the distribution of white whales and directions of their migrations in seas of the Russian Arctic. Original provider: Institute of Ecology and Evolution of Russian Academy of Sciences Dataset credits: Boris Solovyev, Institute of Ecology and Evolution of Russian Academy of Sciences Marine Mammal Council Supplemental information: Aerial surveys were conducted on board a helicopter based at he Scientific-Expedition Ship Mikhail Somov. The tracks represent those of the helicopter. Tracks were provided as summarized shapefiles and are not registered in the OBIS-SEAMAP database. Thus, spatial and temporal exploration of the tracks is not available online. Among them, the tracks on 2010-10-08 are not shown due to the technical issue.

Happywhale.com is a resource to help you know whales as individuals, and to benefit conservation science with rich data about individual whales. Original provider: Happywhale Dataset credits: Happywhale and contributors Supplemental information: Sightings and images were submitted to Happywhale by contributors. A portion of the Happywhale data were transferred to OBIS-SEAMAP upon the agreement between Happywhale and OBIS-SEAMAP. There may be duplicate records among Happywhale datasets and other OBIS-SEAMAP datasets. The precision of date/time vary per record. Some records have date accuracy up to year only. This dataset includes sightings and photos from the following 14 contributors in alphabetic order: Adelie Xiaohang Li; Alex Sinclair Lack; Greta Henderson; Joel Moore; Karen Mulders; MACHI YOSHIDA; Marian Herz; Marilia Olio; Nacho Oria; Olivier Blaud; Raina Burke; Sabine+Ulf; Sara Jenner; Tobias Brehm

Samples of the macrobenthic fauna of soft sediments were collected from around Svalbard during the 1991 Arctic EPOS cruise of RVPolarstern Although faunal variability could be related to sediment granulometry and depth, all stations to the south and east of the Archipelago lay within the broadly defined central Barents Sea community. In this community, (alfa-diversity was variable and sampled between 77 and 337 m showed no clear relationship to depth. Diversity in the area close to the polar front was notably high, rarefaction predicting that 43 ± 5.5 species might occur in a sample of 201 individuals. k-Dominance plots suggested that muddy sand communities around Sval- bard were no less diverse than similar assemblages in the North Sea.

Happywhale.com is a resource to help you know whales as individuals, and to benefit conservation science with rich data about individual whales. Original provider: Happywhale Dataset credits: Happywhale and contributorsSupplemental information: Sightings and images were submitted to Happywhale by contributors. A portion of the Happywhale data were transferred to OBIS-SEAMAP upon the agreement between Happywhale and OBIS-SEAMAP. There may be duplicate records among Happywhale datasets and other OBIS-SEAMAP datasets. The precision of date/time vary per record. Some records have date accuracy up to year only. This dataset includes sightings and photos from the following 1 contributors in alphabetic order: Marilia Olio

Happywhale.com is a resource to help you know whales as individuals, and to benefit conservation science with rich data about individual whales. Original provider: Happywhale Dataset credits: Happywhale and contributorsSightings and images were submitted to Happywhale by contributors. A portion of the Happywhale data were transferred to OBIS-SEAMAP upon the agreement between Happywhale and OBIS-SEAMAP. There may be duplicate records among Happywhale datasets and other OBIS-SEAMAP datasets. The precision of date/time vary per record. Some records have date accuracy up to year only. This dataset includes sightings and photos from the following 280 contributors in alphabetic order: adam maire; Adelie Xiaohang Li; Adrian Neubert; Alexandre Lhériau; Alex Sinclair Lack; Alicia; Allan Finney; Allied Whale North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalog; Allison Chen; Ana; Andrew Newlun; Andrew Stewart; Andy Rose; Angela Bowler; ANGEL SOLE; Anja Robanke; Anke Kugelstadt; Anna Astafurova; Annette Bombosch; AnninaS; Antoine Viot; Audrey Stephens; Austin Wyatt; Avner Chen; Babsi Neubarth; Barbara Anne Brandon; Beatriz Benares; Benoit Nabholz; B. Noordermeer; Bonnie Gretz; Borbala; Boyd Taylor; brad siviour; Calle Schönning; Camilo Rada; Carlos Rincon; Caroline Hodgkiss; Cassandra Ruiz; Cees Tineke; Charles Lavin; Charlotte Taplin; Chris Croxson; Christian Engelke; Christian Thrane; Christoph Fritz; Chrys Tremththanmor; Conor Ryan; Dani Abras; Daniel Stevens; Danilo Foresti; DarrenJew; Dave Matlin; David Bradley; David German; Dennis Boon; Devienne Gilles; Dimitri Vitkin; Dirk van Zandwijk; Dmitrii Kiselev; Domininc Barrington; Doug Gould; Eckhard; Eden Zang; Eivind Aksnes; Elaine Purnell; Elie Vannier; Eliott Lehoux; Elísabet Ýr Guðjónsdóttir; Elke; Ellen Klein; Elodie; emma; Emma Luck; Emma Neave-Webb; Emmanuelle Peyredieu; Enrico Hoefer; Eric Clark; Eric ROURE; Erin Sneider; Eugene Saxentoff; Eyd M. Grønadal; Fabian Schmalzried; Fabio; Familia Sanchez Planell; Fanny; Federico Arribere; Florentine Guinot; françois; Frank J.; Fredrik Broms; Gabriel Lett Viviani; gaidet; Gail Cousins; Garry Bray; Geffen family; Geir Hareide Hansen; Ghada; GordieBryce; Gordon Riddell; Greta Henderson; Hanna Michel; hannes heylen; Hans Verdaat; Harold Moses; Hazel Pittwood; Heidi Krajewsky; Henk Kamstra; Herman Sips; Herve Sibert; Husavik Research Centre; Ian Gordon; Irati Maruri; Isabella Clegg; James F C Hyde IV; Jamie Coleman; Jan Kajzar; Javier Cotin; Javier Solis; Jeff Reynolds; Jenifer; Jérôme JACOB; Jim Wilson; Joe Arceneaux; Joel Moore; John Mina; Jonas Astrup; Jonathan Rempel; joost vaeyens; Josef Wolf; Joy Martinello; Joy van der Beek; Judith Scott; Judit Roch; Julia Jayne; Juliane Schlei; Julia Yr Thorvaldsdottir; Julie Skyte; karen McMullen; Kate Sauvain; Kate Weston; Katrin Schmidt; Kayla Spencer; Ken Jensen; Ken Wells; Kerstin Langenberger; Kevin; Kirsten MacTaggart; Kit Kovacs; Konstantinos Kafritsas; Kurt Methfessel; LAMBIN Jean-Marc; Lars Maltha Rasmussen; Laura; Laurence Fischer; Laurens; Laurie Horsfall; Leendert; Lena Nicola; Lene Zachariassen; Leslie Stueben-Trumphour; Lisa Hildebrand; Loes de Heus; Maëva Accart; Manfred Moormann; Marc Gose; MARC SELLERS; Marcus Bergström; Margrét Ósk Elíasdóttir; Marian Herz; Marijke Nita de Boer; Marika Marnela; Marilia Olio; Marion JONCHERES; Marjolein Meijdam; Mark Harris; Marley Watkins; Martine; Martin Kemper; Mary Keenan; Matt McDermit; Max Schweiger; Menno Schaefer; Michael Scott; Michael Sterling; Michel Pierfitte; Mick Peerdeman; Mona Beate Wendelborg; Mona Wong; Mouser Williams; MS Fram; MS Maud; MS Otto Sverdrup; MS Spitsbergen; Nacho Oria; Nadine Hunziker; Natascha; Niklas Astrom; Nils; NOAA National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML); Ocean Missions; Olaf Pignataro; Olivier Blaud; Pascal Mauerhofer; Patrick Ruf; Patrick Scherer; Pat Sanders; Pauline van Monsjou; Paul Soulby; Per Nikolaj Bukh; Per Olsson; Petra Glardon; Petr Petrik; Philippe Jeanty; Pim Wolf; Pupanoid; Queloz; Rachael Barber; Radovan Sutora; Rafael Martins; Raina Burke; Rand Rudland; Rebecca Malkewicz; Richard Allan; Richard Lovelock; Richard Walker; Richard White; Rob Gons; Rodrigo A. Martinez Catalan; Rod White; Romane R; Rosa M. Coronas; Russian Cetacean Habitat Project; Ruud; Sabine Griesser; Sais Céline; Samantha Wormley; Sandra Zijlstra; Sea Fever Productions; Shannon; Shantala Wentink; Sheila Miller; S. Helgu; Siairra Tharp; Simon Smith; Slater T Moore; Sophie Carr; Soyer; Stacey Colebaugh; Steffen G.; Steffen Oehme; Steffo Polar; Stephan Uhlemann; Stephen King; Steve Jones; Steven dos-Remedios; Steve Willetts; Susan Smith; suse; Tanja; Ted Creek; Teresa Blase; Therese Horntrich; Thomas Podesta; Tiffany Fare; Tim Wright; Tobias Brehm; Tobias Paul; Tony Littler; Tressarieu; Tudor Morgan; Ursula Brändle; Vicki Beaver; Virgil Reglioni; Vladimir Burkanov; Whale Wise; Wilfried Schnessl; Wouter Verwee; Years of the North Atlantic Humpback whale (YoNAH); Yuri Choufour; Yves Roumazeilles

Abstract: Happywhale.com is a resource to help you know whales as individuals, and to benefit conservation science with rich data about individual whales. Original provider: Happywhale Dataset credits: Happywhale and contributors Supplemental information: Sightings and images were submitted to Happywhale by contributors. A portion of the Happywhale data were transferred to OBIS-SEAMAP upon the agreement between Happywhale and OBIS-SEAMAP. There may be duplicate records among Happywhale datasets and other OBIS-SEAMAP datasets. The precision of date/time vary per record. Some records have date accuracy up to year only. This dataset includes sightings and photos from the following 50 contributors in alphabetic order: Adelie Xiaohang Li; Adrian Boyle; Alex Cowan; Andrew Emmerson; Ann; Annette Bombosch; Barbara Messner; Bart Van Gelder; Cees Tineke; Christian Engelke; Conor Ryan; Doug Cheeseman; Doug Gould; Elke; Greta Henderson; Hadleigh Measham; Hannah Brightley; Hans Verdaat; Heidi Krajewsky; Hondius; Jamie Coleman; Jeff Higgott; Jeff Reynolds; Jérôme JACOB; Joel Moore; Joy van der Beek; Katharina Stoll; Keely Crowder; Kerstin Langenberger; Léa Zinsli; Loes de Heus; Marian Herz; Marijke Nita de Boer; Marilia Olio; Marit Pedersen; Mary Want; Menno Schaefer; Nacho Oria; Olivier Blaud; Petra Glardon; Philip Stone; Philip van Dueren; Phil Schultz; Pippa Low; Rémi Bigonneau; Sara Jenner; Sophie Ballagh; Steffo Polar; Tobias Brehm; Ulf Velander

Happywhale.com is a resource to help you know whales as individuals, and to benefit conservation science with rich data about individual whales. Original provider: Happywhale Dataset credits: Happywhale and contributors Supplemental information: Sightings and images were submitted to Happywhale by contributors. A portion of the Happywhale data were transferred to OBIS-SEAMAP upon the agreement between Happywhale and OBIS-SEAMAP. There may be duplicate records among Happywhale datasets and other OBIS-SEAMAP datasets. The precision of date/time vary per record. Some records have date accuracy up to year only. This dataset includes sightings and photos from the following 19 contributors in alphabetic order: ANGEL SOLE; Babsi Neubarth; Carola Heiner-Braun; Chiari Massimiliano; Dave Teunissen; David Desaulnier; Eric Clark; Esther van der Stappen; Jeremy Thomas; Joanna Clegg; Lynn Murray; MACHI YOSHIDA; Mark Veeken; Michel Lau; MS Fram; MV Hondius; Patricia Bally Triebold; Simon Merz; Wendy Upton