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The expansive and dynamic nature of the ocean's water column may limit the feasibility of the frequent in situ sampling that would be necessary to monitor these habitats and produce region-wide map products with any regularity. Alternatives to in situ sampling such as remote sensing and classification offer a means of routinely characterizing the environmental forcing functions that shape and determine habitat suitability and distribution. Four products derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-aqua satellite (chlorophyll concentration, salinity, sea-surface temperature, and euphotic depth) and a hydrodynamic modeled product for bottom to surface temperature differences (At) were evaluated to assess the utility of these products as proxies for in situ measurements. MODIS images covering the northern Gulf of Mexico were obtained for a 5-year time period Uanuary 2005 - December 2009; 300 total images) and processed through Automated Processing System. The products were used to classify surface waters in three regions of the northern Gulf of Mexico using subcomponents and modifiers from the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) Water Column Component (WC) to determine if CMECS categories could be affectively used to categorize the products into meaningful management units. Products were assessed for each month over the five year period. Sea-surface temperature and salinity were classified into CMECS WC temperature and salinity subcomponent categories, respectively. Three modifiers from the WC were also used for the pelagic classification: water column stability, productivity, and turbidity. At was used to assign classification for water column stability; surface chlorophyll was used to determine phytoplankton productivity; and euphotic depth was used to indicate the level of turbidity. Statistical analyses of the products compared to the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission's Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program in situ data indicated that the MODIS and hydrodynamic modeling products were consistently different from the in situ data; however, we believe the potential is strong for use of these standard products to enhance water column information. Use of the CMECS WC with appropriate modifiers captures all the significant pelagic environmental parameters which influence habitat and species distributions. Of the parameters evaluated, the sea-surface salinity and temperature, as expected, were most useful for making comparisons. Further research incorporating different types of data is necessary to explore the full potential of this approach. Specifically, resource managers would like to see the incorporation of sediment and bathymetry data. We believe addition of these data layers would result in more robust habitat maps and provide an innovative tool for resource managers. Published by Elsevier Ltd.