Photographs of sediment cores collected offshore Cascadia, during field activities 2020-633-FA and 2021-636-FA

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Photographs of sediment cores collected offshore Cascadia, during field activities 2020-633-FA and 2021-636-FA
Abstract:
This dataset includes photographs (linescan images) of sediment cores collected along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. These cores were collected by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) aboard the R/V Western Flyer in 2020 and 2021 using the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Doc Ricketts. All cores were transported to the U.S. Geological Survey's Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center sediment core photography.
Supplemental_Information:
Additional information about the field activity from which these data were derived is available online at:
https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2020-633-FA https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2021-636-FA
Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Hill, Jenna C., SeanPaul M. La Selle, Paull, Charles K., Gwiazda, Roberto, Lundsten, Eve M., Nieminski, Nora M., McGann, Mary L., Lorenson, Thomas D., Watt, Janet T., Caissie, Beth, and Starratt, Scott W., 20260108, Photographs of sediment cores collected offshore Cascadia, during field activities 2020-633-FA and 2021-636-FA: data release DOI:10.5066/P1JUTTAN, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, California.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Hill, Jenna C., SeanPaul M. La Selle, Paull, Charles K., Gwiazda, Roberto, Lundsten, Eve M., Nieminski, Nora M., McGann, Mary L., Lorenson, Thomas D., Watt, Janet T., Caissie, Beth, and Starratt, Scott W., 2026, Sediment core data from offshore Cascadia - USGS field activities 2020-633-FA and 2021-636-FA: data release DOI:10.5066/P1JUTTAN, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Suggested Citation: Hill, J.C, La Selle, S.M., Paull, C.K., Gwiazda, R., Lundsten, E.M., Nieminski, N.M., McGann, M.L., Lorenson, T., Watt, J.T., Caissie, B., and Starratt, S., 2026, Sediment core data from offshore Cascadia during field activities 2020-633-FA and 2021-636-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P1JUTTAN.
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -125.22413
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -125.17323
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.71185
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.70170
  3. What does it look like?
    VC874_01_photo_preview.jpg (JPG)
    Example linescan image of VC874, section 01.
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 09-Sep-2020
    Ending_Date: 31-Aug-2021
    Currentness_Reference:
    Ground conditions at time data were collected
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: TIFF format images
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Point data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • Point (24)
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:
      Depth_System_Definition:
      Depth_Datum_Name: Local surface
      Depth_Resolution: 0.1
      Depth_Distance_Units: centimeters
      Depth_Encoding_Method: Attribute values
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    2020-633-FA_2021-636-FA_core_photos.zip
    A zip file containing 24 16-bit RGB TIFF files of core photographs and their respective software-proprietary XML files. (Source: Producer defined)
    Linescan metadata XML files
    These Geotek software-proprietary XML files contain information on linescan acquisition settings and image scaling information. Each linescan TIFF file is accompanied by an XML file with the same filename. The following attributes and example attribute values are provided from 2020_633_DR1282_VC874_01_R.xml <geotek-image> <image-type>giRulerImage</image-type> <coreID>VC874_001</coreID> <section-number>01</section-number> <image-number>1</image-number> <physical-width>7.71</physical-width> <physical-height>149.80</physical-height> <physical-top>0.00</physical-top> <pixels-per-scan>5</pixels-per-scan> <pixels-per-CM>200</pixels-per-CM> <horizontal-resolution>200</horizontal-resolution> <exposure-time-ms>40</exposure-time-ms> <calibration-aperture>4.44</calibration-aperture> <image-aperture>3.43</image-aperture> <red-high-calibration>18.0</red-high-calibration> <green-high-calibration>18.0</green-high-calibration> <blue-high-calibration>18.0</blue-high-calibration> <red-low-calibration>0.0</red-low-calibration> <green-low-calibration>0.0</green-low-calibration> <blue-low-calibration>0.0</blue-low-calibration> <pixel-width>1524</pixel-width> <scan-lines>29960</scan-lines> <diameter>7.71</diameter> <filename>2020_633_DR1282_VC874_01_R.tif</filename> <geotek-camera-lighting version="2" mode="visible" bank2cluster1="0" bank2cluster2="0" bank2cluster3="0" bank2cluster4="0" bank1cluster1="0" bank1cluster2="0" bank1cluster3="0" bank1cluster4="0" /> <convg-x-red>0</convg-x-red> <convg-x-green>0</convg-x-green> <convg-x-blue>0</convg-x-blue> <convg-y-red>0</convg-y-red> <convg-y-green>4</convg-y-green> <convg-y-blue>8</convg-y-blue> <is-a-sync-scan-image>0</is-a-sync-scan-image> </geotek-image> (Source: Producer defined) Geotek software-proprietary XML files contain information on linescan acquisition settings and image scaling information. The values in the example provided may be different for each scan. Please contact the PCMSC data coordinator for more information on the contents of these XML files.

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Jenna C. Hill
    • SeanPaul M. La Selle
    • Charles K. Paull
    • Roberto Gwiazda
    • Eve M. Lundsten
    • Nora M. Nieminski
    • Mary L. McGann
    • Thomas D. Lorenson
    • Janet T. Watt
    • Beth Caissie
    • Scott W. Starratt
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator
    2885 Mission Street
    Santa Cruz, CA

    831-427-4747 (voice)
    pcmsc_data@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

As part of a multi-year project focused on characterizing offshore marine geohazards (tsunamis, earthquakes, and landslides), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program is collaborating with MBARI to conduct research along the Cascadia subduction zone. To gain a better understanding of the geologic hazards of the region, improve risk assessments for local communities and critical infrastructure, and to provide data for future research on regional tectonic, sedimentary, and geomorphic evolution of the coastal Pacific northwest, the USGS and MBARI collected sediment cores to enable a detailed investigation of Cascadia's geologic history and ongoing activity.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 2022 (process 1 of 1)
    Cores were segmented into 150 cm (or shorter) sections and split into "working" and "archive" halves in the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center core lab. Only the upper section (section 01) of each vibracore was split and photographed. Sediment surfaces were cleaned and smoothed on the "working" halves of split cores. A Geotek V Linescan Imaging system mounted to a Geotek Multisensor Core Logger (MSCL) was used to automate continuous downcore photography. A prime lens with a 50 mm focal length was mounted 38.6 cm above the core surface. Cross polarized light emitting diodes (LED) were used to illuminate the sediment surface. Colors were calibrated in the Geotek Linescan software using an 18 percent gray card and images were acquired at an aperture of f3.43 and exposure time of 40 milliseconds. Each image file corresponds to an individual color photograph of a core segment in 16-bit RGB TIFF format, along with proprietary metadata files containing image scaling information. File names correspond to the names of each core segment. For example '2020_633_DR1282_VC874_01_R.tif' corresponds to the first segment of the vibracore 'VC874'. A list of linescan core photo TIFF images is included in this data release in the 2020-633-FA_2021-636-FA_cores.csv file.
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    Quality control of attribute accuracy was conducted during field data collection and processing workflows.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    Core depth values are relative to the top of sediment in the uppermost core section. Coring-induced compaction, if any, was not determined. No formal vertical accuracy tests were conducted.
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Dataset is considered complete for the information presented, as described in the abstract. Only the upper section (section 01) of each vibracore was split and photographed. Users are advised to read the rest of the metadata record carefully for additional details.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    No formal logical consistency tests were conducted.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints No access constraints
Use_Constraints USGS-authored or produced data and information are in the public domain from the U.S. Government and are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. These data are marked with a Creative Common CC0 1.0 Universal License. Please recognize and acknowledge the U.S. Geological Survey as the originator(s) of the dataset and in products derived from these data.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey - CMGDS
    2885 Mission Street
    Santa Cruz, CA

    1-831-427-4747 (voice)
    pcmsc_data@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Core photographs are provided in a zip archive (2020-633-FA_2021-636-FA_cores_photos.zip) with CSDGM FGDC compliant metadata. Please contact the PCMSC Data Coordinator about availability.
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
    • Availability in digital form:
      Data format: Zip file contains core photographs in TIFF format and associated proprietary metadata in XML format. in format TIF, XML Size: 6210
      Network links: https://doi.org/10.5066/P1JUTTAN
    • Cost to order the data: None.

  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    Linescan images can be viewed with any standard image software. Proprietary metadata XML files can be viewed with any standard text editing software.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 08-Jan-2026
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator
2885 Mission Street
Santa Cruz, CA

831-427-4747 (voice)
pcmsc_data@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/pcmsc/DataReleases/CMGDS_DR_tool/DR_P1JUTTAN/2020-633-FA_2021-633-FA_cores_photos_metadata.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.51 on Fri Jan 16 11:53:35 2026