Elevation data for four sites in the coastal marsh at Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, from October 2016 through October 2017

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

Frequently anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
Elevation data for four sites in the coastal marsh at Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, from October 2016 through October 2017
Abstract:
To understand sediment deposition in marsh environments, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (USGS-SPCMSC) selected four study sites in the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi (GNDNERR). Each site consisted of four plots located along a transect perpendicular to the marsh-estuary shoreline at 5-meter (m) increments (5, 10, 15, and 20 m from the shoreline). Each plot contained four net sedimentation tiles (NST) that were secured flush to the marsh surface using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe. NST are an inexpensive and simple tool to assess short- and long-term deposition that can be deployed in highly dynamic environments without the compaction associated with traditional coring methods. The NST were deployed for three months, measuring quarterly sediment deposition for one year from October 2016 to October 2017. In addition, three NST were deployed at the 10-m plot on October 5th prior to the landfall of Hurricane Nate (October 8, 2017) and retrieved after 12 days, providing measurements of storm deposition. Sediment deposited on the NST were processed to determine physical characteristics, such as deposition thickness, volume, wet weight/dry weight, and organic content (loss-on-ignition [LOI]). When available, additional data collected at each site including water level, elevation, and turbidity data are provided in this data release. Data were collected during Field Activities Numbers (FAN) 2017-303-FA, 2017-315-FA, 2017-333-FA, 2017-346-FA, and 2017-363-FA (also known as subFANs 17CCT01, 17CCT02, 17CCT03, 17CCT04, and 17CCT05, respectively). Additional survey and data details are available from the U.S. Geological Survey Coastal and Marine Geoscience Data System (CMGDS) at, https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/. Please read the full metadata for details on data collection, data set variables, and data quality.
Supplemental_Information:
USGS scientists collected sediment samples and shore profiles from Grand Bay, Mississippi during a total of six surveys from October 2016 to October 2017 (USGS Field Activity Numbers (FAN) 16CCT07, 17CCT01, 17CCT02, 17CCT03, 17CCT04, and 17CCT05). Samples were collected from four survey sites, which host a variety of depositional and eroding environments, including eroding marsh edges, tidal creek, and sheltered estuarine environments. Site 1 is located at the mouth of Bayou Heron, the main access channel for Grand Bay. Site 2 is located on an eroding marsh edge in the south-western portion of the Middle Bay (North Rigolets Island) . Site 3 is a protected marsh edge located in the north western portion of Middle Bay, and Site 4 is located along a large tidal channel in the far south-western area of the survey extent. Position and elevation data were recorded using Ashtech DGPS receivers and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antennas. A stop-and-go rapid-static survey technique was used with static occupations at each survey point, with a recording interval of 1 s. Two additional DGPS receivers, recorded concurrent static data at benchmark locations within the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR): National Geodetic Survey (NGS) Permanent Identifier [PID]DO5987, stamping 0166 B 2010 (recording site name B166) located at the boat ramp at the northern end of Bayou Heron, and NGS PID DO5977, stamping S 189A 2012 (recording site name 189A) located near the railroad tracks at the entrance of the Refuge. The differential positioning of all acquired survey points was obtained through the post processing of the rover data to the base station data using GrafNav version 8.6 (Waypoint Product Group). This dataset was transformed from the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83) acquisition datum and ellipsoid height, to NAD83 and North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88) orthometric height using the GEOID 12A model (NOAA NGS VDatum software version 3.6 - http://vdatum.noaa.gov/).
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Smith, Kathryn E.L., Terrano, Joseph F., Khan, Nicole, and Stalk, Chelsea A., 20200226, Elevation data for four sites in the coastal marsh at Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, from October 2016 through October 2017: U.S. Geological Survey Data Release doi:10.5066/P9BFR2US, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, FL.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Smith, Kathryn E.L., Terrano, Joseph F., Khan, Nicole, and Stalk, Chelsea A., 20200226, Shore proximal sediment deposition, elevation, turbidity, and water level data in a coastal marsh at Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, from October 2016 through October 2017: U.S. Geological Survey Data Release doi:10.5066/P9BFR2US, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, FL.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -88.41443
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -88.39625
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.38386
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.36241
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 20-Oct-2016
    Ending_Date: 18-Oct-2017
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Tabular digital data (CSV)
  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.
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
      UTM_Zone_Number: 16
      Transverse_Mercator:
      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.9996
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -87.0
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.0
      False_Easting: 500000.0
      False_Northing: 0.0
      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.6096
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.6096
      Planar coordinates are specified in Meter
      The horizontal datum used is D_North_American_1983.
      The ellipsoid used is GRS_1980.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.0.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222101.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    Grand_Bay_Elevation_Data.csv
    CSV file containing attribute information associated with location and elevation data collected in Grand Bay, Mississippi during 2016 and 2017. (Source: USGS)
    Sample_ID
    Sample identification number (Source: USGS) Character string. Sample IDs listed within the table used the naming convention FAN-GBXYY-ZZ, where FAN represents the USGS abbreviated field activity number (17CCT01, 17CCT02, 17CCT03, 17CCT04 and 17CCT05), the last number denoting what trip number it was, GB denotes samples are from Grand Bay, X is the site number (1,2,3, or 4), YY is the sample number, ZZ denotes the code where the elevation was collected from (see "type" field). For example, sample ID 17CCT01_GB100_WLT is from the first trip of the year (17CCT01) from site 1 measuring the elevation of the top of the water level logger well. Some samples have further specified sample numbers that follow ZZ. These sample numbers are used to distinguish samples of the same type collected at a specific site. For example "17CCT01-GB100-SL-01" is from the first trip of the year (17CCT01) from site 1 measuring shoreline elevations, with this specific point being the first point collected. Another example is "17CCT04-GB101-R170E". This sample is from the fourth trip of the year (17CCT04) from site 1 measuring the elevation of the random surface sample (sample number 170) from the estuary.
    FAN
    USGS field activity number (FAN) assigned to each sample collection trip. (Source: USGS) Field activity numbers were assigned by the USGS to track field collection of samples. The FAN number consists of YYYY-XXX-FA, with YYYY being the 4-digit year, XXX being the trip number, and FA representing that it is a field activity.
    Alt_FAN
    Alternate (abbreviated) FAN number assigned each collection trip. (Source: USGS) FAN numbers were assigned by the USGS and are YYCCTXX, where YY is the 2-digit year, CCT stands for coastal change and transport, and XX is the trip number. For example, 17CCT01 was from 2017 sample collection trip 01.
    Site
    Site number (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:4
    Date
    Date the elevations were collected from Grand Bay in M/DD/YYYY or MM/DD/YYYY format. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:20161020
    Maximum:20171018
    Type
    Codes used to identify what object was measured for elevation. (Source: USGS)
    ValueDefinition
    BMElevation benchmark
    WLTElevation at the top of the water level logger well
    WLSSediment surface elevation at base of water level logger well
    05TElevation at the 5-meter net sedimentation tile plot
    10TElevation at the 10-meter net sedimentation tile plot
    15TElevation at the 15-meter net sedimentation tile plot
    20TElevation at the 20-meter net sedimentation tile plot
    05FElevation at the 5-meter feldspar plot
    10FElevation at the 10-meter feldspar plot
    15FElevation at the 15-meter feldspar plot
    20FElevation at the 20-meter feldspar plot
    BPElevation at the net sedimentation tile bead plot
    NTUElevation of the EcoNTU turbidity sensor
    SLElevation of the shoreline
    R0Random surface samples collected at the bead plot
    R05Random surface samples collected between 0 to 5-meters from the bead plot
    R10Random surface samples collected between 6 to 10-meters from the bead plot
    R15Random surface samples collected between 11 to 15-meters from the bead plot
    R20Random surface samples collected between 16 to 20-meters from the bead plot
    Occ_time
    Occupation time for the elevation data collection in seconds (s) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:29
    Maximum:10160
    Time_UTC
    Time in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) the elevation were collected from Grand Bay in HH:MM:SS format. (Source: USGS) Time the elevations were collected from Grand Bay in HH:MM:SS format.
    East
    Easting coordinate of the elevation collection location in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83) Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 16N (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:364089.058
    Maximum:365849.136
    North
    Northing coordinate of the elevation collection location in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83) Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 16N (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:3359793.467
    Maximum:3362148.392
    Lat
    Latitude of the elevation collection location in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:30.36241
    Maximum:30.38386
    Long
    Longitude of the elevation collection location in the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-88.41443
    Maximum:-88.39625
    Elev
    Elevation, in meters, in the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88) GEOID 12A (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-1.0462
    Maximum:1.9287
    Ver_elev
    Vertical elevation, in meters, in the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.4366
    Maximum:1.3858
    Vert_error
    Vertical elevation error, in meters (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.0143
    Maximum:3.5031
    Horiz_error
    Horizontal elevation error, in meters (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.001
    Maximum:1.130
    Method
    Codes used to identify what method was used to measure elevation (Source: USGS)
    ValueDefinition
    DGPSElevation collected using a differential GPS
    TSElevation collected using a total station
    Flag
    Codes used to identify potential errors in the data (Source: USGS)
    ValueDefinition
    VVerified acceptable data
    EHigh vertical error; Recommend not using these data or using extreme caution taking into consideration the vertical error
    XElevation measurement is subject to extreme error and should not be used
    AElevation was adjusted due to sampling or processing error; Recommend using adjusted elevation only
    Notes
    Notes about the GPS data collection (Source: USGS) Values are errors or written locations of where the elevation measurement was collected. Shorelines are represented as a series of continuous sequential numbers. Random surface samples (R) have an angle and distance. The angle and distance were used to determine where to collect the sample from a fixed point (bead plot at shoreline (0,0)).

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Kathryn E.L. Smith
    • Joseph F. Terrano
    • Nicole Khan
    • Chelsea A. Stalk
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    Acknowledgment of the U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, as a data source would be appreciated in products developed from these data, and such acknowledgment as is standard for citation and legal practices. Sharing of new data layers developed directly from these data would also be appreciated by the U.S. Geological Survey staff. These data are not legal documents and are not to be used as such.
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    U.S. Geological Survey St Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Attn: Kathryn Smith
    Research Ecologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL

    727-502-8073 (voice)
    727-502-8182 (FAX)
    kelsmith@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

This data release contains elevation data for shorelines, net sedimentation tile plots, elevation benchmarks, and water level logger wells. Elevation data can be used in conjunction with in-situ sedimentation data to track lateral erosion and accretion of the marsh and estuary surface. Elevation data were collected using a total station and differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). Data should not be used for navigational purposes.

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: 2017 (process 1 of 5)
    GPS base stations were erected on two NGS benchmarks located within the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR), B166 (PID DO5987) and 189A (PID DO5977). Ashtech Z-Xtreme DGPS receivers recorded the 12-channel full-carrier-phase positioning signals (L1/L2) from satellites via a Thales choke-ring antenna at the base stations. A similar instrument combination (Ashtech Z-Xtreme receiver and Ashtech GNSS antenna) was used for the rover GPS systems. The base receiver and the rover receiver record their positions concurrently at 1 s recording intervals throughout the survey. A stop-and-go rapid-static survey technique was used, with a static occupation. For FAN 17CCT01, total station measurements were collected instead of using DGPS . The total station measures the sloping distance of an object to the instrument. A temporary USGS-installed benchmark was surveyed before collecting marsh data to get a static reference point. This reference point was then used to determine elevation for the rest of the samples. Person who carried out this activity:
    Chelsea A. Stalk
    Researcher III
    600 4th Street South
    St.Petersburg, FL
    USA

    727-502-8000 (voice)
    cstalk@contractor.usgs.gov
    Date: 2017 (process 2 of 5)
    The final, time weighted coordinates from 16CCT07 for the GPS base stations were imported into GrafNav, versions 8.6 (Novatel Waypoint Product Group) and the data from the rover GPS were post-processed to the concurrent GPS session data from the nearest base station; baseline distances for all sample sites were less than 9 km and dependent upon site location. The GPS data were acquired in the NAD83 geocentric datum. Due to a local base station malfunction, data from survey 17CCT05 were post-processed using concurrent CORS data from the neared station, ALDI (baseline distance 30 km). Person who carried out this activity:
    Chelsea A. Stalk
    Researcher III
    600 4th Street South
    St.Petersburg, FL
    USA

    727-502-8000 (voice)
    cstalk@contractor.usgs.gov
    Date: 2017 (process 3 of 5)
    The exported file from GrafNav was converted using the NOAA VDatum software conversion tool version 3.6 (http://vdatum.noaa.gov/). The sample locations were transformed from the GPS acquisition datum of NAD83 horizontal and vertical, to NAD83, Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 16 North (16N) horizontal reference frame and the NAVD88 orthometric elevation, using the NGS geoid model 2012A (GEOID 12A). Person who carried out this activity:
    Chelsea A. Stalk
    Researcher III
    600 4th Street South
    St.Petersburg, FL
    USA

    727-502-8000 (voice)
    cstalk@contractor.usgs.gov
    Date: 2018 (process 4 of 5)
    Elevation data from all trips were compiled into tabular digital datasets (Comma separated values [CSV] format). Data with errors in collection or processing were flagged and noted as such in the published data file. Person who carried out this activity:
    Kathryn Smith
    Researcher III
    600 4th Street South
    St.Petersburg, FL
    USA

    727-502-8073 (voice)
    kelsmith@usgs.gov
    Date: 13-Oct-2020 (process 5 of 5)
    Added keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword. 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?
    Terrano, Joseph F., 2018, An Evaluation of Marsh Shoreline Erosion and Sediment Deposition in the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, USA: University of South Florida Scholar Commons, Tampa, Florida.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Contains detailed process descriptions for net sedimentation tile construction, deployment, collection, and laboratory processing.

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    The positional accuracy of the sample locations is determined by the accuracy of the raw position data recorded by the GPS and antenna during data collection. DGPS coordinates were obtained using post-processing software packages (National Geodetic Survey On-Line Positioning User Service (OPUS), and Waypoint Product Group GrafNav, version 8.6. Water level readings were corrected to NAVD88 and compared to a nearby National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) water level station. The total station only provides elevation measurements and does not produce positional data; therefore, no positional data were reported for those samples. The random surface samples (R) were collected using an angle and distance from the bead plot. The angles and distances were reported in the notes section and were approximate locations and should not be considered precise positions. If positions are desired the reader is requested to contact the authors for more information.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    All static GPS base station sessions were processed through the OPUS maintained by NGS. The OPUS base station solutions were entered into a spreadsheet to compute a final, time-weighted positional coordinate (latitude, longitude, and ellipsoid height) for each base station. Base station positional error was calculated as the absolute value of the final position minus the session position value. The maximum horizontal error of the base station coordinates used for post-processing the sample locations were 0.00081 s latitude and 0.00063 s longitude for B166, and 0.00054 s latitude and 0.00036 s longitude for 189A. The time-weighted positions for both base stations were compared against the derived coordinates from the first survey (16CCT07). All subsequent survey occupations (17CCT01-17CCT05 produced time weighted averages that were within 3 standard deviations of the first occupation and therefore, for consistency, the 16CCT07 coordinates were used in all post-processing.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    All static GPS base station sessions were processed through OPUS. The OPUS base station solutions were entered into a spreadsheet to compute a final, time-weighted positional coordinate (latitude, longitude, and ellipsoid height) for each base station. Base station positional error for each GPS session was calculated as the absolute value of the final position minus the session position value. For all base station occupations, the maximum standard deviations of the base station ellipsoid heights were 0.021 m for B166, 0.012 m for 189A and the maximum vertical errors for the base stations were 0.028 m and 0.029 m, respectively. The time-weighted positions for both base stations were compared against the derived coordinates from the first survey (16CCT07), which individually has a standard deviation of 0.007 m (B166) and 0.011 m (189A). All subsequent survey occupations (17CCT01-17CCT04) produced time weighted averages that were within 3 standard deviations of the first occupation and therefore, for consistency, the 16CCT07 coordinates were used in post-processing. Data acquired during survey 17CCT05 was post-processed using data downloaded from the NGS website for CORS station ALDI (https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/CORS/Sites/aldi.html). The station is located approximately 30 km away from the survey location, causing significant errors due to extended baseline distance. Total station samples are referenced to a benchmark at each of the study sites.
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    This dataset includes the locations of 1,236 elevation points collected from shorelines, water level logger wells, elevation benchmarks, random surface samples, and net sedimentation tile study sites that were collected from Grand Bay Mississippi from October 2016 to October 2017 (USGS FANs 16CCT07, 17CCT01, 17CCT02, 17CCT03, 17CCT04, and 17CCT05). This dataset is considered complete for the information presented, as described in the abstract section. Users are advised to read the rest of the metadata record carefully for additional details. In some cases, sensor malfunctions or significant errors caused data loss for some sites or FANs. During 17CCT01 a total station was used in some cases and there is no occupation time, collection time, easting, northing, latitude, longitude, verified elevations, or horizontal error.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    Position and elevation data at each sample site were recorded with Ashtech DGPS receivers and GNSS antennas. Additionally, DGPS data were recorded concurrently throughout the survey at two NGS benchmarks using a similar instrument combination. Due to a local base station malfunction during survey 17CCT05, the nearest Continually Operating Reference Station (CORS) ALDI (PID=DL3486), located on the east end of Dauphin Island, Alabama, was utilized for post-processing. The final sample locations, including elevation, are the post-processed DGPS coordinates processed to the nearest base station; baseline distances for all sample sites were approximately less than 9 kilometers (km), sample elevations from survey 17CCT05 have a baseline upwards of 30 km. Total station samples do not include occupation times, collection times, positional data, or horizontal errors. The random surface samples (R) collected with the total station do not include verified elevations and should be used with caution.

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:
The U.S. Geological Survey requests to be acknowledged as originator of the data in future products or derivative research. This metadata record should be reviewed in its entirety to ensure specific data are suitable for other studies. These data should not be used for navigational purposes.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey St Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Attn: Kathryn Smith
    Research Ecologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL

    727-502-8073 (voice)
    727-502-8182 (FAX)
    kelsmith@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Grand_Bay_Elevation_Data.csv
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    This digital publication was prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution imply any such warranty. The U.S. Geological Survey shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and (or) contained herein. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof.
  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 13-Oct-2020
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey St Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Attn: Joseph F. Terrano
Researcher III
600 4th Street South
St. Petersburg, FL

727-502-8047 (voice)
727-502-8182 (FAX)
jterrano@contractor.usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/spcmsc/Grand_Bay_Elevation_Metadata.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.50 on Tue Sep 21 18:18:50 2021