Geochemistry of sediment and organic matter in drainages burned by the Altas and Nuns wildfires in October 2017 and of nearshore seabed sediment in north San Francisco Bay from March to April 2018

Metadata also available as - [Outline] - [Parseable text] - [XML]

Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Geochemistry of sediment and organic matter in drainages burned by the Altas and Nuns wildfires in October 2017 and of nearshore seabed sediment in north San Francisco Bay from March to April 2018
Abstract:
Fine-grained sediment was collected from the banks of Napa River, Sonoma Creek, and tributaries in March 2018 and from shallow nearshore areas of the northern reach of San Francisco Bay in April 2018. Bulk sediment was dated using activities of short-lived cosmogenic radionuclides (beryllium-7, cesium-137, and lead-210). Contents of potentially toxic metals and source-rock-indicative elements, including rare earth elements, were quantified in the fine fraction of sediment (particles less than 0.063 mm diameter). Ratios of stable carbon-13/carbon-12 isotopes and total carbon to total nitrogen were determined in sedimentary organic matter.
Supplemental_Information:
Additional information about the field activities from which these data were derived is available online at:
http://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2018-623-FA
http://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2018-624-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?
    Takesue, Renee K., 20200218, Geochemistry of sediment and organic matter in drainages burned by the Altas and Nuns wildfires in October 2017 and of nearshore seabed sediment in north San Francisco Bay from March to April 2018: data release DOI:10.5066/P9VDTDSC, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, California.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.5307
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -121.9268
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 38.4951
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 38.0407
  3. What does it look like?
    https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5d3f4014e4b01d82ce8d92ad?name=SanFranciscoNorthBayWildfireStreamNearshoreSedimentGeochemistry2018_SampleMap.jpg&allowOpen=true (JPEG)
    Map showing sample locations
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 17-Mar-2018
    Ending_Date: 27-Apr-2018
    Currentness_Reference:
    Terrestrial soil and sediment were collected five months post-fire. Nearshore sediment was collected six months post-fire.
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: comma-delimited text
  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 (43)
    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 0.0001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.0001. 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 6378137.0000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.2572.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    Attribute table
    Table of data. Abbreviations: ND, not determined. (Source: Producer defined)
    Lab I.D.
    Unique laboratory identifier assigned to each sample by the CMERSC Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (Source: Producer defined) Sequential unique sample identifier assigned by the CMERSC Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
    Field I.D.
    Unique sample identifier assigned during field collection based on location, basin, and/or type. (Source: Producer defined) Unique alphanumeric sample identifier
    Site description
    Unique description of the location where the sample was collected. (Source: Producer defined) Unique alphanumeric site descriptions
    Collection date
    Date the sample was collected, in mm/dd/yy (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:03/17/18
    Maximum:04/27/18
    Units:mm/dd/yy
    Resolution:1
    Latitude
    Latitude where the sample was collected (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:38.0407
    Maximum:38.4951
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.0001
    Longitude
    Longitude where the sample was collected (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-122.5307
    Maximum:-121.9268
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.0001
    Sediment type
    Type of sediment sample (Source: Producer defined)
    ValueDefinition
    EstuarineSediment collected landward of the mouth of a river or creek where salinity is higher than zero.
    StreamTerrestrial sediment collected from a freshwater river, stream, creek, or tributary
    MarineMarine sediment collected seaward of the shoreline
    Stable carbon-13/carbon-12 isotope ratio, in permil
    Ratio of carbon-13 to carbon-12 relative to the Vienna PeeDee Belemnite standard reference material. ND, not determined. (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-28.2
    Maximum:-24.3
    Units:standard permil notation
    Resolution:0.1
    Total carbon to total nitrogen ratio
    Weight of total carbon divided by weight of total nitrogen. ND, not determined. (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:9.0
    Maximum:19.0
    Units:unitless
    Resolution:0.1
    Beryllium-7 activity, in dpm per g
    Activity of Beryllium-7. ND, not determined. (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:2.70
    Units:disintegrations per minute per gram (dpm per g)
    Resolution:0.01
    Beryllium-7 activity error, in dpm per g
    Measurement uncertainty of Beryllium-7 activity estimated from: detector efficiency, background correction, and one standard deviation of the counting error. ND, not determined. (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:1.90
    Units:disintegrations per minute per gram (dpm per g)
    Resolution:0.01
    Cesium-137 activity, in dpm per g
    Activity of Cesium-137. ND, not determined. (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:0.47
    Units:disintegrations per minute per gram (dpm per g)
    Resolution:0.01
    Cesium-137 activity error, in dpm per g
    Measurement uncertainty of Cesium-137 activity estimated from: detector efficiency, background correction, and one standard deviation of the counting error. ND, not determined. (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:0.21
    Units:disintegrations per minute per gram (dpm per g)
    Resolution:0.01
    Unsupported Lead-210 activity, in dpm per g
    Activity of Lead-210. ND, not determined. (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-1.15
    Maximum:1.86
    Units:disintegrations per minute per gram (dpm per g)
    Resolution:0.01
    Unsupported Lead-210 activity error, in dpm per g
    Measurement uncertainty of Lead-210 activity estimated from: detector efficiency, background correction, and one standard deviation of the counting error. ND, not determined. (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.20
    Maximum:0.51
    Units:disintegrations per minute per gram (dpm per g)
    Resolution:0.01
    Total Hg by CVAA, in mg/kg
    Total mercury (Hg) content analyzed by cold vapor atomic absorption (CVAA) (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.058
    Maximum:2.590
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.001
    Al by fusion, in %
    Aluminum (Al) content of fused, digested sediment in units of weight percent (%) (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:6.85
    Maximum:9.28
    Units:weight percent (%)
    Resolution:0.01
    Ca by fusion, in %
    Calcium (Ca) content of fused, digested sediment in units of weight percent (%) (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.67
    Maximum:2.16
    Units:weight percent (%)
    Resolution:0.01
    Fe by fusion, in %
    Iron (Fe) content of fused, digested sediment in units of weight percent (%) (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:3.29
    Maximum:5.56
    Units:weight percent (%)
    Resolution:0.01
    K by fusion, in %
    Potassium (K) content of fused, digested sediment in units of weight percent (%) (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.91
    Maximum:2.31
    Units:weight percent (%)
    Resolution:0.01
    Mg by fusion, in %
    Magnesium (Mg) content of fused, digested sediment in units of weight percent (%) (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.41
    Maximum:2.28
    Units:weight percent (%)
    Resolution:0.01
    Na by multi-acid, in %
    Sodium (Na) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of weight percent (%) (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.90
    Maximum:1.92
    Units:weight percent (%)
    Resolution:0.01
    S by multi-acid, in %
    Sulfur (S) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of weight percent (%) (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.02
    Maximum:0.85
    Units:weight percent (%)
    Resolution:0.01
    Si by fusion, in %
    Silica (Si) content of fused, digested sediment in units of weight percent (%) (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:22.5
    Maximum:28.6
    Units:weight percent (%)
    Resolution:0.1
    Ti by fusion, in %
    Titanium (Ti) content of fused, digested sediment in units of weight percent (%) (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.41
    Maximum:1.01
    Units:weight percent (%)
    Resolution:0.01
    Ag by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Silver (Ag) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.29
    Maximum:2.99
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    As by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Arsenic (As) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:5.6
    Maximum:34.0
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Ba by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Barium (Ba) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:443
    Maximum:830
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:1
    Be by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Beryllium (Be) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.38
    Maximum:4.53
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    Bi by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Bismuth (Bi) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.11
    Maximum:0.39
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    Cd by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Cadmium (Cd) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.09
    Maximum:0.43
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    Ce by fusion, in mg/kg
    Cerium (Ce) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:38.1
    Maximum:75.2
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Co by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Cobalt (Co) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:11.1
    Maximum:28.2
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Cr by fusion, in mg/kg
    Chromium (Cr) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:55
    Maximum:575
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:1
    Cs by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Cesium (Cs) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:2.77
    Maximum:25.70
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    Cu by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Copper (Cu) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:26.2
    Maximum:286.0
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Dy by fusion, in mg/kg
    Dysprosium (Dy) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:3.48
    Maximum:9.23
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    Er by fusion, in mg/kg
    Erbium (Er) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:2.06
    Maximum:5.69
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    Eu by fusion, in mg/kg
    Europium (Eu) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.85
    Maximum:1.44
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    Ga by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Gadolinium (Ga) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:15.2
    Maximum:24.6
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Gd by fusion, in mg/kg
    Gadolinium (Gd) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:3.75
    Maximum:9.20
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    Hf by fusion, in mg/kg
    Hafnium (Hf) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:3
    Maximum:13
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:1
    Ho by fusion, in mg/kg
    Holmium (Ho) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.73
    Maximum:1.97
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    In by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Indium (In) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.044
    Maximum:0.082
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.001
    La by fusion, in mg/kg
    Lanthanum (La) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:18.1
    Maximum:33.7
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Li by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Lithium (Li) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:8.7
    Maximum:63.2
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Lu by fusion, in mg/kg
    Lutetium (Lu) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.30
    Maximum:0.85
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    Mn by fusion, in mg/kg
    Manganese (Mn) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:576
    Maximum:1430
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:1
    Mo by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Molybdenum (Mo) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.50
    Maximum:2.30
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    Nb by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Niobium (Nb) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:5.8
    Maximum:18.7
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Nd by fusion, in mg/kg
    Neodymium (Nd) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:16.9
    Maximum:35.7
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Ni by fusion, in mg/kg
    Nickel (Ni) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:25
    Maximum:224
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:1
    P by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Phosphorus (P) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:368
    Maximum:1180
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:1
    Pb by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Lead (Pb) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:11.6
    Maximum:229.0
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Pr by fusion, in mg/kg
    Praseodymium (Pr) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:4.75
    Maximum:9.40
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    Rb by fusion, in mg/kg
    Rubidium (Rb) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:48.7
    Maximum:133.0
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Sb by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Antimony (Sb) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg. QC=value did not meet quality control criteria (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.69
    Maximum:3.77
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    Sc by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Scandium (Sc) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg. QC=value did not meet quality control criteria (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:11.5
    Maximum:22.0
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Sm by fusion, in mg/kg
    Samarium (Sm) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:3.7
    Maximum:8.5
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Sn by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Tin (Sn) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.7
    Maximum:8.0
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Sr by fusion, in mg/kg
    Strontium (Sr) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:110
    Maximum:260
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:1
    Ta by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Tantalum (Ta) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.36
    Maximum:1.35
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    Tb by fusion, in mg/kg
    Terbium (Tb) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.58
    Maximum:1.50
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    Th by fusion, in mg/kg
    Thorium (Th) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:5.1
    Maximum:10.0
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Tl by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Thallium (Tl) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.27
    Maximum:0.69
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    Tm by fusion, in mg/kg
    Thulium (Tm) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.31
    Maximum:0.86
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    U by fusion, in mg/kg
    Uranium (U) content of fused, digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.95
    Maximum:5.37
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.01
    V by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Vanadium (V) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:61.9
    Maximum:171.0
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    W by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Tungsten (W) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.8
    Maximum:3.6
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Y by fusion, in mg/kg
    Yttrium (Y) content of fused digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:19.8
    Maximum:52.3
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Yb by fusion, in mg/kg
    Ytterbium (Yb) content of fused digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:2.1
    Maximum:5.5
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Zn by multi-acid, in mg/kg
    Zinc (Zn) content of multi-acid digested sediment in units of mg/kg (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:54.3
    Maximum:157.0
    Units:milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg)
    Resolution:0.1
    Zr by fusion, in %
    Zirconium (Zr) content of the fused, digested sediment in units of weight percent (%) (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:118
    Maximum:512
    Units:weight percent (%)
    Resolution:1
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview: The first line of the csv file is a header line.
    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)
    • Renee K. Takesue
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    Dry-sieved (less than 0.063 mm diameter) sediments were submitted for compositional analysis to the Analytical Chemistry Project of the USGS Central Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center (CMERSC), which contracted with SGS Laboratories for analyses. CMERSC staff performed quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) checks. Stable isotope analyses were performed by the Stable Isotope Laboratory of the University of California at Santa Cruz.
  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?

In October 2017, wildfires burned more than 100,000 acres of grassland, vineyards, and residential, urban, and mercury mining areas in Napa and Sonoma watersheds. Geochemical source-indicative signatures were identified in soil and sediment from tributary streams, Napa River, and Sonoma Creek in burned areas, and were used to explore terrestrial sediment and contaminant runoff and dispersal to shallow nearshore areas of north San Francisco Bay.

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: 27-Apr-2018 (process 1 of 5)
    SAMPLE COLLECTION AND GROUND CONDITIONS. Terrestrial soil and sediment were collected five months post-fire and after a week of rainstorms. Nearshore sediment was collected six months post-fire and when daytime high tides allowed access to San Francisco Bay tidal flats.
    Date: 19-Sep-2018 (process 2 of 5)
    STABLE CARBON ISOTOPE RATIOS (d13C) and CARBON TO NITROGEN RATIOS (C:N) in sedimentary organic matter. Dried and homogenized decarbonated sediments were analyzed for ratios of total carbon to total nitrogen and stable carbon-13/carbon-12 isotopes in sedimentary organic matter using a CE Instruments NC2500 elemental analyzer interfaced to a ThermoFinningan Delta Plus XP isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Person who carried out this activity:
    Dyke Andreasen
    Stable Isotope Lab at the University of California at Santa Cruz
    Laboratory Manager
    1156 High Street, E&MS Bldg C512
    Santa Cruz, CA

    831-459-5751 (voice)
    andreasn@ucsc.edu
    Date: 12-Oct-2018 (process 3 of 5)
    SHORT-LIVED RADIONUCLIDE ACTIVITIES. Prior to quantification by gamma spectrometry, bulk sediment was oven-dried at 60 degrees Celsius, homogenzied, and packed into 10 ml graduated polystyrene vials with air-tight caps. Activities of short-lived radionuclides were counted for 24 hours in a high-purity low-background germanium well detector in the Radiochemistry Lab of the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center. Beryllium-7 activities were counted the 477.6 kiloelectron volt (keV) peak, Cesium-137 activities were counted the 661.6 keV peak, and unsupported Lead-210 activities were quantified by subtracting Lead-210 activities counted at the 46.52 keV peak from the average of supported Radium-226 activities counted indirectly at the Bismuth-214 351.9 keV and Lead-214 609.3 keV peaks.
    Date: 04-Sep-2018 (process 4 of 5)
    ELEMENTAL COMPOSITIONS. Prior to total elemental analyses, sediment was oven-dried at 60 degrees Celsius, disaggregated gently to avoid changing grain sizes, and dry-sieved through stainless steel sieves to obtain the less than 0.063 mm size fraction for geochemical analyses. Sieved sediment was sent to the Analytical Chemistry Project of the USGS Central Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center (CMERSC), which contracted with SGS Laboratories, a nationally accredited laboratory, for analyses. Sediment was decomposed using two methods: a near-total four-acid digestion for major, minor, and trace elements, and a total digestion with a sodium peroxide fusion for major, minor, rare earth elements (REE), and other elements hosted in resistant minerals. Quantification was performed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) for major and some minor elements and by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) for some minor and all trace elements.
    Date: 19-Oct-2020 (process 5 of 5)
    Edited metadata to add keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword. No data were changed. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: VeeAnn A. Cross
    Marine Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-548-8700 x2251 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    vatnipp@usgs.gov
  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?
    For stable carbon isotope ratios (d13C) and total carbon to total nitrogen ratios (C:N) in sedimentary organic matter, samples were calibrated with in-house standards for accuracy, sample size, carbon and nitrogen content, and long-term consistency. Average percent recoveries of d13C and C:N for three in-run standards were better than or equal to 0.5% of expected values. For short-lived cosmogenic radionuclide activities, sample activities were calculated by comparison to certified reference materials with the same geometry and counting time. Reported uncertainties include: 1 standard deviation counting errors, detector efficiency, and background corrections. For compositional data, reference materials, internal standards, and consistency standards were used to assess immediate and long-term accuracy. The percent recoveries for all elements were within 15% of reference values for concentrations that were five times the limit of detection or higher.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    The Garmin 78sc handheld GPS used to determine sample positions reported a horizontal accuracy of +/- 3 meters.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Dataset is considered complete for the information presented.
  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: 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 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 - ScienceBase
    Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302
    Denver, CO

    1-888-275-8747 (voice)
    sciencebase@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? These data are available in csv format (SanFranciscoNorthBayWildfireStreamNearshoreSedimentGeochemistry2018.csv) contained in a single zip file (SanFranciscoNorthBayWildfireStreamNearshoreSedimentGeochemistry2018.zip) which also includes CSDGM FGDC-compliant metadata.]
  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?
  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    These data can be viewed with any text reader

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 19-Oct-2020
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/ScienceBase/DR_P9VDTDSC/SanFranciscoNorthBayWildfireStreamNearshoreSedimentGeochemistry2018_metadata.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.50 on Tue Sep 21 18:17:34 2021