Multi-Sensor Core Logger (MSCL) data of piston and gravity cores collected in September 2019 offshore of south-central California (USGS FAN 2019-642-FA)

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Multi-Sensor Core Logger (MSCL) data of piston and gravity cores collected in September 2019 offshore of south-central California (USGS FAN 2019-642-FA)
Abstract:
This dataset includes multi-sensor core logger (MSCL) data for 39 piston and gravity cores that were collected as part of a groundtruthing survey in September 2019 aboard the R/V Bold Horizon. This dataset is one of several collected as part of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)-funded California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing (Cal DIG I) project. The purpose of the study is to assess shallow geohazards, benthic habitats, and thereby the potential for alternative energy infrastructure (namely floating wind turbines) offshore south-central California due to its proximity to power grid infrastructure associated with the Morro Bay power plant. These core data provide information about the geology of the seafloor and shallow subsurface offshore of the south-central California coast.
Supplemental_Information:
Additional information about the USGS field activity from which these data were derived is available online at:
https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2019-642-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?
    Kennedy, Daniel J., Walton, Maureen A., Cochrane, Guy R., Paull, Charlie, Gwiazda, Roberto, Lorenson, Thomas D., Addison, Jason A., and Lundsten, Eve, 20211016, Multi-Sensor Core Logger (MSCL) data of piston and gravity cores collected in September 2019 offshore of south-central California (USGS FAN 2019-642-FA): data release DOI:10.5066/P9DE639J, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, California.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Kennedy, Daniel J., Walton, Maureen A., Cochrane, Guy R., Paull, Charlie, Gwiazda, Roberto, Lorenson, Thomas D., Addison, Jason A., and Lundsten, Eve, 2021, Piston and gravity core data collected during USGS cruise 2019-642-FA offshore of south-central California in support of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing (Cal DIG I) alternative energy project, September 2019: data release DOI:10.5066/P9DE639J, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -121.106945
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -121.869382
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 35.782235
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 34.535102
  3. What does it look like?
    2019-642-FA_core_thumbnail.png (png)
    Bathymetry map of study area with sample sites in purple
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Calendar_Date: 27-Sep-2019
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition at the time the samples were collected
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: comma-delimited and tab-delimited text files
  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 (76)
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.00001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.00001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is D_WGS_1984.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS_1984.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.0.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257223563.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    Multi-sensor core logging (MSCL) data from piston and gravity cores. Each folder contains a .csv file that includes the scanning parameters and measurements, as well as several files including the following: a .raw file (machine-readable text file) containing the raw, uncalibrated data collected by the GeoTek system; an .out file (machine-readable text file) is the lab-calibrated file (the processed data) using calibration parameters outlined in the header of the .out file (the .out file is likely to be the file of most interest to users); a GeoTek system file (.dat); and a calibration files (.cal). The .dat and .cal files can be used to open, view, and manipulate the logging data using a GeoTek software system.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: U.S. Geological Survey

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Daniel J. Kennedy
    • Maureen A. Walton
    • Guy R. Cochrane
    • Charlie Paull
    • Roberto Gwiazda
    • Thomas D. Lorenson
    • Jason A. Addison
    • Eve Lundsten
  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?

This dataset was collected in order to identify shallow geohazards, benthic habitats, and thereby the potential for alternative energy infrastructure (namely floating wind turbines) offshore south-central California due to its proximity to power grid infrastructure associated with the Morro Bay power plant.

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: 01-Mar-2020 (process 1 of 1)
    Piston (JPC) and gravity (GC) cores were collected at sea aboard the R/V Bold Horizon on U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) cruise 2019-642-FA in conjunction with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). Often, a trigger core (TC) and a jumbo piston core accompanies each other at the same site; gravity cores will not have associated trigger cores. The trigger cores provide the shallowest sedimentary record at jumbo piston core sites. The cores were cut at sea into sections of maximum 1.5 meters and transported back to the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, CA. In the lab, cores were run through a GeoTek Multi-Sensor Core logger (MSCL), which measures gamma density, P-wave seismic velocity, and magnetic susceptibility. Measurements were calibrated to account for changes in core diameter and temperature. Gamma density measurements were calibrated using a known standard. Data are presented in folders per core. Folders follow the naming convention ##CoreType where ## is the core site number and CoreType is either TC (trigger core), JPC (jumbo piston core), or GC (gravity core) at that core site. Core sections were most often logged in sequence from top to bottom of the core (for example, starting with section 1, the shallowest section in the core, and then logging in sequence downsection from there). This method provides a continuous downcore data file in most cases. In some cases, a section needed to be relogged due to equipment or user issues. When relogging was necessary, folders have been appended with section numbers and/or data types (for example, 17JPC_section5) indicating which sections and/or data types were relogged. These folders contain only the data for those relogged sections. Each folder contains a .csv file that includes the scanning parameters and measurements, as well as several files including the following: a .raw file (machine-readable text file) containing the raw, uncalibrated data collected by the GeoTek system; an .out file (machine-readable text file) is the lab-calibrated file (the processed data) using calibration parameters outlined in the header of the .out file (the .out file is likely to be the file of most interest to users); a GeoTek system file (.dat); and a calibration files (.cal). The .dat and .cal files can be used to open, view, and manipulate the logging data using a GeoTek software system. Person who carried out this activity:
    Roberto Gwiazda
    Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)
    Research Specialist
    7700 Sandholdt Road
    Moss Landing, CA

    831-775-1828 (voice)
    rgwiazda@mbari.org
  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?
    No formal attribute accuracy tests were conducted
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    The locations of samples were determined using the R/V Bold Horizon's internal Yonav navigation system. No other formal positional accuracy tests were conducted.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Piston and gravity cores were collected from 39 of the 40 sampling sites. Site 08GC returned a 0 cm length core, with only a sample collected, so this site was not possible to log. Some jumbo piston cores (JPC) are missing logging from the bottom 22.5 cm; this is because a 5 cm long whole-round section was removed 17.5 cm from the base of some jumbo piston cores for sampling. In these cases, the lowest 22.5 cm of the logging data have been omitted to avoid a 5 cm gap in the logging data and likely artifacts from logging the short 17.5 cm sections at the base of these cores. 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 accuracy 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: None
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. Please recognize and acknowledge the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as the originator 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
    Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator
    2885 Mission Street
    Santa Cruz, CA

    831-427-4747 (voice)
    pcmsc_data@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Multi-sensor core logging (MSCL) data are packaged per core or core segment as identified in the folder file name. Within each folder are .cal, .dat, .out, .raw, and .csv files.
  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 have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by 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: Multi-sensor core logging (MSCL) data are packaged per core or core segment as identified in the folder file name. Within each folder are .cal, .dat, .out, .raw, and .csv files. in format various delimited text files (version NA) Size: 144.7
      Network links: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9DE639J
    • Cost to order the data: None.

  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    Users will need WinZip, pkUnzip, or similar software to unzip the data package. Within the unzipped folder, data are presented per core. Each sub-folder contains GeoTek proprietary .cal, .dat, .out, and .raw files. Excel or any text-reading software can be used to read the .csv file.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 16-Oct-2021
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_P9DE639J/2019-642-FA_MSCL_metadata.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.50 on Mon Oct 18 16:19:50 2021