Seamarks/INT-1 Section J
Section J - Nature of the Seabed
Rendering of chart symbols and letters indicating the nature of the seabed surface are intended to show starting at zoom level 14 and higher (like for rocks) and at the point or center of an area/polygon (like for anchorages). The boundary of an seabead_area without danger to shipping at the surface (i.e. no obstruction, distinct from K1) shall be indicated with a thin and short dashed black line like indicated in INT-1 J20 (alternatively similar to K31 or I20).
Additional references for particle size classification are provided in the international standard ISO 14688-1 and are described for seabeds in a publication on Substrate Data for European Maritime Areas.
Types of Seabed
INT-1 Ref | Seamark Rendering | Seamark Tagging | Notes | Wiki Page |
---|---|---|---|---|
J1 | S | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=sand |
Sand: Tiny grains of crushed or worn rock (particles of 0.0625-2.0mm). | Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
J2 | M | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=mud |
Mud: Soft, wet earth. | Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
J3 | Cy | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=clay |
Clay: Stiff, sticky earth that becomes hard when baked (particles of less than 0.002mm). | Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
J4 | Si | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=silt |
Silt: When dried on hand will rub off easily (particles of 0.002-0.0625mm). | Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
J5 | St | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=stones |
Stones: Rock fragments ranging in size from pebbles and gravel to boulders or a large rock mass. | Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
J6 | G | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=gravel |
Gravel: Small stones with coarse sand (particles of 2.0-4.0mm). | Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
J7 | P | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=pebbels |
Pebbles: Small stones made smooth and round by being rolled in water (particles of 4.0-64.0mm). | Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
J8 | Cb | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=cobbles |
Cobbles: Stones worn round and smooth by water and used for paving (particles of 64.0-256.0mm). | Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
J9.1 | R | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=rocky |
Rock, Rocky: Any formation of natural origin that constitutes an integral part of the lithosphere. The natural occurring material that forms firm, hard, and solid masses. | Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
J9.2 | Bo | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=boulders |
Boulder(s): A rounded rock with diameter of 256 mm or larger. | Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
J10 | Co | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=coral |
Coral, |
Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
J11 | Sh | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=shells |
Shells (skeletal remains): Exoskeletons of various water dwelling animals. | Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
no equivalent | Lv | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=lava |
Lava: The fluid or semi-fluid matter flowing from a volcano. The substance that results from the cooling of the molten rock. | Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
J12.1 | S/M | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=sand;/;mud |
Two layers, e.g. sand over mud | Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
J12.2 | fS.M.Sh | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=sand;mud;shells seamark:seabed_area:surface_qualification=fine;; |
The main constitutent is given first for mixtures, e.g. fine sand with mud and shells
The different tags should be in a ordered, semicolon-separated list. This also applies to the qualifying term tags which should be in the same order. Where a surface type has no qualifying term, use an empty list item. Here e.g. three surface types seperated by semicolon, where the qulifying term is specified only for the first one. |
Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
J13.1 | Wd | seamark:type=weed ![]() ![]() seamark:weed:category=sea_weed |
Weed (including Kelp), general description, seaweed as macroalgae | Weed/Kelp (CATWED)(en) |
J13.2 | ![]() |
seamark:type=weed ![]() ![]() seamark:weed:category=sargasso genus=Sargassum taxon=* |
Weed, specific description e.g. category Sargasso, optional addition of genus and taxon for complete specification, Mediterranean sargassum species INT-1 display: ![]() ![]() ![]() S-101 Portrayl Catalogue: ![]() |
Weed/Kelp (CATWED)(en) |
J13.2 | ![]() |
seamark:type=weed ![]() ![]() seamark:weed:category=kelp genus=<Laminaria, Saccharina, Macrocystis, etc.> taxon=* |
Kelp, Weed, if possible, add Genus and Taxon for complete description of the specie INT-1 display: ![]() ![]() ![]() S-101 Portrayl Catalogue: ![]() |
Weed/Kelp (CATWED)(en) |
J13.3 | Sg | seamark:type=seagrass ![]() ![]() seamark:seagrass:category=unspecified |
Seagrass, see S-4, change in S-101 update 2021, DCEG Edition 1.0.1, see also difference between seagrass and seeweed | new object Seagrass (SEAGRA)(en) and categories (catseg)(en) (old category Weed/Kelp (CATWED)(en) until 2021-09) |
J13.4 | ![]() |
seamark:type=seagrass ![]() ![]() seamark:seagrass:category=specified genus=<genus within seagrass families Posidoniaceae, Zosteraceae, Hydrocharitaceae, or Cymodoceaceae> taxon=* |
Seagrass, see change and symbol proposed for S-4: |
new object Seagrass (SEAGRA)(en) and categories (catseg)(en) (old category Weed/Kelp (CATWED)(en) until 2021-09) |
J13.4 | ![]() |
seamark:type=seagrass ![]() ![]() seamark:seagrass:category=posidonia genus=Posidonia taxon= Posidonia oceanica (e.g. or other species) |
Posidonia seagrass | new object Seagrass (SEAGRA)(en) and categories (catseg)(en) (old category Weed/Kelp (CATWED)(en) until 2021-09) |
J14 | ![]() |
seamark:type=sand_waves ![]() ![]() |
Sandwaves, INT-1 display: ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Sand waves (SNDWAV)(en) |
J15 | ![]() |
seamark:type=spring ![]() |
Spring in seabed, INT-1 display: ![]() ![]() S-101 Portrayl Catalogue: ![]() |
Spring in seabed (SPRING)(en) |
Types of Seabed, Intertidal Areas
INT-1 Ref | Seamark Rendering | Seamark Tagging | Notes | Wiki Page |
---|---|---|---|---|
J20 | St.G ![]() pattern for areas not yet implemented |
seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=stones;gravel |
Areas with stones and gravel, INT-1 display for area with gravel, sand and mud: ![]() |
Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
J21 | ![]() and ![]() pattern for areas not yet implemented |
seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=rocky seamark:seabed_area:water_level=covers |
Rocky area, which covers and uncovers, INT-1 display: ![]() |
Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
J22 | ![]() and ![]() pattern for areas not yet implemented |
seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=coral seamark:seabed_area:water_level=covers |
Coral reef, which covers and uncovers, INT-1 display: ![]() |
Nature of surface (NATSUR)(en) |
Qualifying Terms
INT-1 Ref | Seamark Rendering | Seamark Tagging | Notes | Wiki Page |
---|---|---|---|---|
J30 | f | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=sand seamark:seabed_area:surface_qualification=fine |
Fine, only used in relation to sand: Falls within the smallest size continuum for a particular nature of surface term. | Nature of surface qualifying term (NATQUA)(en) |
J31 | m | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=sand seamark:seabed_area:surface_qualification=medium |
Medium, only used in relation to sand: Falls within the moderate size continuum for a particular nature of surface term. | Nature of surface qualifying term (NATQUA)(en) |
J32 | c | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=sand seamark:seabed_area:surface_qualification=coarse |
Coarse, only used in relation to sand: Falls within the largest size continuum for a particular nature of surface term. | Nature of surface qualifying term (NATQUA)(en) |
J33 | bk | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=<surface> seamark:seabed_area:surface_qualification=broken |
Broken: Fractured or in pieces. | Nature of surface qualifying term (NATQUA)(en) |
J34 | sy | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=<surface> seamark:seabed_area:surface_qualification=sticky |
Sticky: Having an adhesive or glue like property. | Nature of surface qualifying term (NATQUA)(en) |
J35 | so | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=surface> seamark:seabed_area:surface_qualification=soft |
Soft: Not hard or firm. | Nature of surface qualifying term (NATQUA)(en) |
J36 | sf | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=<surface> seamark:seabed_area:surface_qualification=stiff |
Stiff: Not pliant - thick, resistant to flow. | Nature of surface qualifying term (NATQUA)(en) |
J37 | v | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=<surface> seamark:seabed_area:surface_qualification=volcanic |
Volcanic: Composed of or containing material ejected from a volcano. | Nature of surface qualifying term (NATQUA)(en) |
J38 | ca | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=<surface> seamark:seabed_area:surface_qualification=calcareous |
Calcareous: Composed of or containing calcium or calcium carbonate. | Nature of surface qualifying term (NATQUA)(en) |
J39 | h | seamark:type=seabed_area ![]() ![]() seamark:seabed_area:surface=<surface> seamark:seabed_area:surface_qualification=hard |
Hard: Firm usually refers to an area of the sea floor not covered by unconsolidated sediment. | Nature of surface qualifying term (NATQUA)(en) |