Sedimentary Data from the Coastal Marshes Fringing the Lower Waccasassa River, Northwest Florida

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Sedimentary Data from the Coastal Marshes Fringing the Lower Waccasassa River, Northwest Florida
Abstract:
Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center extracted sediment and surface samples along transects at three saltmarsh sites situated on the lower end of the Waccasassa River in north-west Florida in order to increase understanding of the region’s environmental history and the ongoing soil chemical processes. To this end, they obtained 17 (ten long and seven short) sediment cores and seven surface samples from saltmarshes along the margins of the river, during field trips in November 2014 and February 2015. Site names are WC01, WC04, WC05, WC10, WC11, WC12, WC20, WC21, WC22, and WC23. Long cores from each location are given the location name and the suffix “R”, surface samples are noted with a “S”, and short cores are given the location name and the suffix “D”, except for the cores taken at sites WC22 and WC23. At those two sites, the short cores were obtained by extracting two parallel peat auger samples to a depth of 50 cm, named WC22Ra-b, and WC23Ra-b, respectively.
Supplemental_Information:
To ensure that USGS-St. Petersburg data management protocols were followed, each survey was assigned the following USGS field activity number (FAN): 2014-335-FA (November 2014, Project ID 14CCT02), 2015-308-FA (February 2015, Project ID 15CCT01). 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/.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    McCloskey, Terrence A., 20171121, Sedimentary Data from the Coastal Marshes Fringing the Lower Waccasassa River, Northwest Florida: U.S. Geological Survey Data Release doi:10.5066/F73J3B5K, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, FL.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -82.828638
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -82.782909
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 29.182862
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 29.134358
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 20-Nov-2014
    Ending_Date: 25-Feb-2015
    Currentness_Reference:
    Ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Multimedia presentation
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • Point (11)
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
      UTM_Zone_Number: 17
      Transverse_Mercator:
      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.9996
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: 81.0
      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 0.00001
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.00001
      Planar coordinates are specified in Meters
      The horizontal datum used is WGS84.
      The ellipsoid used is G1150.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.0.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257223563.
      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:
      Altitude_System_Definition:
      Altitude_Datum_Name: North American Vertical Datum of 1988
      Altitude_Resolution: 0.001
      Altitude_Distance_Units: Meters
      Altitude_Encoding_Method: Attribute values
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    CoreLocations.cvs
    Comma-separated values text file defining the station locations and elevations of sediment collection along the margins of the Waccasassa River, North West Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    CoreLocations.xlsx
    Microsoft Excel workbook defining the station locations and elevations of sediment collection along the margins of the Waccasassa River, North West Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    Core Locations
    Location where sediment sample cores were collected (Source: USGS) Character string
    Site
    Site identifier (Source: USGS) Character string
    Date
    Date identifier (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:11/21/2014
    Maximum:02/25/2015
    Units:mm/dd/yyyy
    Latitude-NAD83 (2011/CORS96/2007)
    Latitude of station location, in decimal degrees (NAD83) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:29.16803
    Maximum:29.18320
    Units:Decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.00001
    Longitude-NAD83 (2011/CORS96/2007)
    Longitude of site location, in decimal degrees (NAD83) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-82.78505
    Maximum:-82.80878
    Units:Decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.00001
    Elevation_NAVD88 (GEOID12A)
    Elevation (orthometric height) of station location, in meters (GEOID 12A) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.41
    Maximum:0.65
    Units:Meters
    Northing (m)
    Northing, in meters, of sample locations (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:3227954.88
    Maximum:3229602.27
    Units:Meters
    Resolution:0.01
    Easting (m)
    Easting, in meters, of sample locations (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:324097.16
    Maximum:326408.48
    Units:Meters
    Resolution:0.01
    LOI.cvs
    Comma-separated values text file listing percent values for water (wet weight), organic (dry weight), carbonate (dry weight, and residuals (dry weight) of sediment cores (1-cm-resolution) collected along the margins of the Waccasassa River, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    LOI.xlsx
    Microsoft Excel workbook listing percent values for water (wet weight), organic (dry weight), carbonate (dry weight, and residuals (dry weight) of sediment cores (1-cm-resolution) collected along the margins of the Waccasassa River, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    Core Name
    Core identifier (Source: USGS) Character string
    Depth (cm)
    Depth in core of sample data (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:250
    Units:Centimeters
    % Water (Wet Weight)
    Percent of water (wet weight) content (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:21.81
    Maximum:62.29
    Units:Percent
    % Organic (Dry Weight)
    Percent of organic (dry weight) content (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.52
    Maximum:61.64
    Units:Percent
    % Carbonate (Dry Weight)
    Percent of carbonate (dry weight) content (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.01
    Maximum:36.38
    Units:Percent
    Residual (Dry Weight)
    Percent of carbonate (dry weight) content (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:34.69
    Maximum:97.71
    Units:Percent
    XRF.csv
    Comma-separated values text file listing elemental concentrations of sediment cores (2-cm-resolution) collected along the margins of the Waccasassa River, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    XRF.xlsx
    Microsoft Excel workbook listing Elemental concentrations of sediment cores (2-cm-resolution) collected along the margins of the Waccasassa River, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    RadioCarbonDates.csv
    Comma-separated values text file listing radiocarbon and calibrated dates of thirteen samples selected from sediment cores (2-cm-resolution) collected along the margins of the Waccasassa River, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    RadioCarbonDates.xlsx
    Microsoft Excel workbook listing radiocarbon and calibrated dates of thirteen samples selected from sediment cores (2-cm-resolution) collected along the margins of the Waccasassa River, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    Core
    Core identifier (Source: USGS) Character string
    Depth (cm)
    Depth in core of sample data (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:22
    Maximum:190
    Units:Centimeters
    Lab#
    Lab identifier (Source: USGS) Character string
    Type
    Sample material type (Source: USGS) Character string
    14 C age
    Radiocarbon age (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:325
    Maximum:3760
    Units:Years
    cal yr BP (2 sigma)
    Calendar years before 1950 CE as calibrated by the CALIB 7.0 software (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:348
    Maximum:4227
    Units:Years
    Prob. Distrib
    Percentage of area under the curve for each date range (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.011
    Maximum:100
    Units:Percent
    Med. Prob. (cal yr BP)
    Number of years before 1950 CE with the median probability of correctly assessing the age of the sample. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:386
    Maximum:4121
    Units:Years
    Pollen_Data-WC20R-Counts.csv
    Comma-separated values text file listing pollen count by taxa by interval for core WC20R extracted from the Waccasassa River, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    Pollen_Data-WC20R-Counts.xlsx
    Microsoft Excel workbook listing pollen count by taxa by interval for core WC20R extracted from the Waccasassa River, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    Pollen_Data-WC20R-Concentration.csv
    Comma-separated values text file listing pollen concentration by interval for core WC20R extracted from the Waccasassa River, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    Pollen_Data-WC20R-Concentration.xlsx
    Microsoft Excel workbook listing pollen concentration by interval for core WC20R extracted from the Waccasassa River, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    AlphaSpecData.csv
    Comma-separated values text file listing specific activity for Pb-210 for core WC10D, extracted from the Waccasassa River, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    AlphaSpecData.xlsx
    Microsoft Excel workbook listing specific activity for Pb-210 for core WC10D, extracted from the Waccasassa River, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    Core ID
    Core identifier (Source: USGS) Character string
    Date Collected
    Date of collection (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:02/23/2015
    Maximum:02/23/2015
    Units:mm/dd/yyyy
    Depth (cm)
    Depth in core of sample data (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0-1
    Maximum:35-36
    Units:Centimeters
    Pb-210 (dpm/g)
    Lead-210 specific activity measured in disintegrations per minute per gram of dry sediment at the date of field collection. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:4.91
    Maximum:10.02
    Units:dpm/g
    Pb-210 Error (+/- dpm/g)
    Lead-210 specific activity counting error measured in disintegrations per minute per gram of dry sediment at the date of field collection. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.22
    Maximum:0.42
    Units:dpm/g
    GammaSpecData.csv
    Comma-separated values text file listing specific activity for Be-7, C3-137, Pb-210, Ra-226, Th-234, K-40 for core WC20D, extracted from the Waccasassa River, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    GammaSpecData.xlsx
    Microsoft Excel workbook listing specific activity for for Be-7, C3-137, Pb-210, Ra-226, Th-234, K-40 for core WC20D, extracted from the Waccasassa River, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    Core ID
    Core identifier (Source: USGS) Character string
    Date Collected
    Date of collection (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:02/24/2015
    Maximum:02/24/2015
    Units:mm/dd/yyyy
    Depth (cm)
    Depth in core of sample data (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0-1
    Maximum:37-38
    Units:Centimeters
    Be-7 (dpm/g)
    Beryllium-7 specific activity measured in disintegrations per minute per gram of dry sediment at the date of field collection. ND represents a value of "not detected". (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:ND
    Maximum:ND
    Units:dpm/g
    Be-7 Error (+/- dpm/g)
    Beryllium-7 specific activity counting error measured in disintegrations per minute per gram of dry sediment at the date of field collection. ND represents a value of "not detected". (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:ND
    Maximum:ND
    Units:dpm/g
    Cs-137 (dpm/g)
    Cesium-137 specific activity measured in disintegrations per minute per gram of dry sediment at the date of field collection. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.15
    Maximum:1.57
    Units:dpm/g
    Cs-137 Error (+/- dpm/g)
    Cesium-137 specific activity counting error measured in disintegrations per minute per gram of dry sediment at the date of field collection. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.03
    Maximum:0.10
    Units:dpm/g
    Pb-210 (dpm/g)
    Total Pb-210 specific activity measured in disintegrations per minute per gram of dry sediment by alpha spectroscopy at the date of field sample collection. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:9.80
    Maximum:10.07
    Units:dpm/g
    Pb-210 Error (+/- dpm/g)
    Total Pb-210 specific activity counting error measured in disintegrations per minute per gram of dry sediment by alpha spectroscopy at the date of field sample collection. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.000
    Maximum:0.517
    Units:dpm/g
    Ra-226 (dpm/g)
    Radium-226 specific activity measured in disintegrations per minute per gram of dry sediment at the date of field collection. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:2.52
    Maximum:4.45
    Units:dpm/g
    Ra-226 Error (+/- dpm/g)
    Radium-226 specific activity counting error measured in disintegrations per minute per gram of dry sediment at the date of field collection. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.07
    Maximum:0.14
    Units:dpm/g
    Th-234 (dpm/g)
    Thorium-234 specific activity measured in disintegrations per minute per gram of dry sediment at the date of field collection. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.39
    Maximum:2.16
    Units:dpm/g
    Resolution:0.01
    Th-234 Error (+/- dpm/g)
    Thorium-234 specific activity counting error measured in disintegrations per minute per gram of dry sediment at the date of field collection. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.20
    Maximum:0.33
    Units:dpm/g
    K-40 (dpm/g)
    Potassium-40 specific activity measured in disintegrations per minute per gram of dry sediment at the date of field collection. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:5.46
    Maximum:11.29
    Units:dpm/g
    K-40 Error (+/- dpm/g)
    Potassium-40 activity specific activity counting error measured in disintegrations per minute per gram of dry sediment at the date of field collection. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.63
    Maximum:1.31
    Units:dpm/g
    GrainSizeData.csv
    Comma-separated values text file listing grain size parameters for cores WC04D, WC10D, WC20D, and WC21D, extracted from the Waccasassa River, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    GrainSizeData.xlsx
    Microsoft Excel workbook listing grain size parameters for cores WC04D, WC10D, WC20D, and WC21D, extracted from the Waccasassa River, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    SedimentPhysicalProperties.csv
    Comma-separated values text file listing water content, bulk density and loss-on-ignition data for cores WC10D,WC11D, WC12D, WC20D, WC21D, WC22D, WC23D, and seven surface samples extracted from the Waccasassa River saltmarsh, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    SedimentPhysicalProperties.xlsx
    Microsoft Excel workbook listing water content, bulk density and loss-on-ignition data for cores WC10D,WC11D, WC12D, WC20D, WC21D, WC22D, WC23D, and seven surface samples extracted from the Waccasassa River saltmarsh, north west Florida (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA, 2015-308-FA). (Source: USGS)
    Core ID
    Core identifier (Source: USGS) Character string
    Date Collected
    Date of collection (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:02/23/2015
    Maximum:02/25/2015
    Units:mm/dd/yyyy
    Depth (cm)
    Depth in core of sample data (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0-1
    Maximum:50-51
    Units:Centimeters
    Water Content (gwater/gwet)
    grams water/grams wet weight (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.23
    Maximum:0.80
    Units:Years
    Dry Bulk Density (g/cm-3)
    grams/cubic cm of sediment (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.20
    Maximum:1.5
    Units:Years
    Loss On Ignition (gOM/gdry)
    grams organic matter/grams of sediment (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.05
    Maximum:0.62
    Units:Years
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    The detailed attribute descriptions for the X-ray fluorescence elemental concentrations are provided in the included data dictionary (XRF_Data_Dictionary.pdf). These metadata are not complete without this file.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
    Data dictionary for XRF data tables, in: McCloskey, T.A., Smith, C. G., Haller, C., and Marot, M., 2017, Sedimentary data from the coastal marshes fringing the lower Waccasassa River, northwest Florida, U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F73J3B5K.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    The detailed attribute descriptions for the pollen workbooks are provided in the included data dictionaries (DataDictionary-PollenConcentration.pdf and DataDictionary-PollenCounts.pdf). These metadata are not complete without these files.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
    Data dictionaries for pollen counts, and pollen concentrations data tables, in: McCloskey, T.A., Smith, C. G., Haller, C., and Marot, M., 2017, Sedimentary data from the coastal marshes fringing the lower Waccasassa River, northwest Florida, U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F73J3B5K.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    The detailed attribute descriptions for the grain size workbooks are provided in the included data dictionary (Grain_Size_Data-Dictionary.pdf). These metadata are not complete without this file.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
    Data dictionary for grain-size data tables, in: McCloskey, T.A., Smith, C. G., Haller, C., and Marot, M., 2017, Sedimentary data from the coastal marshes fringing the lower Waccasassa River, northwest Florida, U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F73J3B5K.

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Terrence A. McCloskey
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Christopher G. Smith
    Research Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    727-502-8000 (voice)
    cgsmith@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

Dissemination of processed sediment data from sediment cores and surface samples collected from the margins of Waccasassa River, Florida, in November 2014 and February 2015 (USGS FANs 2014-335-FA and 2015-308-FA).

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: 2015 (process 1 of 18)
    A GPS base station, named WCB1, was erected at the NGS PID AC5947 site located southeast of the centerline of County Road 326 in Levy County, FL, within approximately 10 km of the furthest sample site. GPS receivers recorded the 12-channel full-carrier-phase positioning signals (L1/L2) from satellites via the Thales choke-ring antenna. This GPS instrument combination was duplicated on the rover GPS. The base receiver and the rover receiver record their positions concurrently at 1-second (s) recording intervals throughout the survey. Occupation times at the sample sites were a minimum of 30 minutes. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Nancy DeWitt
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    (727) 502-8000 (voice)
    ndewitt@usgs.gov
    Date: 2015 (process 2 of 18)
    The coordinate values of the GPS base station (WCB1) are the time-weighted average of values obtained from OPUS. The base station coordinates were imported into GrafNav and GrafNet, version 8.6 (Waypoint Product Group) and the GPS data from the rover were post-processed to the concurrent GPS session data at the base station. The GPS data were processed and exported in the World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84) (G1150) geodetic datum. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Nancy DeWitt
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    (727) 502-8000 (voice)
    ndewitt@usgs.gov
    Date: 2015 (process 3 of 18)
    Sample locations were transformed from the acquisition datum of WGS84 to NAD83, and NAVD88 orthometric elevation (geoid model of 2009, GEOID09) using NOAA VDatum version 3.4 transformation software (http://vdatum.noaa.gov/). Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Nancy DeWitt
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    (727) 502-8000 (voice)
    ndewitt@usgs.gov
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • CoreLocations.zip
    Date: 2015 (process 4 of 18)
    Sediments were collected in 50 cm intervals with an Eijkelkamp Peat Sampler with a 5.78 cm hemispherical barrel. Ten total cores were collected; cores WC04R, WC05R, WC20R, WC21R, WC22R, and WC23R at site A; WC01R at site B and WC10R, WC11R and WC12R at site C. At all sites, cores were pushed until refusal, resulting in occasional overlaps between the bottom two segments. Sediments were photographed in the field with a NIKON Coolpix AW100 camera while in the peat sampler. Sediments were then transferred to pre-cut PVC pipes, wrapped in plastic wrap, duct tape and labelled. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Christopher G. Smith
    Research Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    727-502-8000 (voice)
    cgsmith@usgs.gov
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • CorePhotos.zip
    Date: 2015 (process 5 of 18)
    During the 2015 sampling trip, approximately 25 cubic centimeters (cc) of surface sediments were collected at 7 coring sites (WC10, WC11, WC12, WC20, WC21, WC22, and WC23) by scraping the top 1 cm of surface material into plastic test tubes, which were then capped and labelled in the field. These are the surface samples, designated with an “S” in the data files. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Christopher G. Smith
    Research Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    727-502-8000 (voice)
    cgsmith@usgs.gov
    Date: 2015 (process 6 of 18)
    Rectangular sediment slabs with approximately 15 x 15 cm cross sections were collected with a 46 cm long AMS, Inc. “Montana Sharpshooter” shovel at sites WC04D, WC10D, WC11D, WC12D, WC20D, and WC21D. The slabs were photographed in the field with a NIKON AW100 camera, then placed on a transparent PVC board, wrapped in plastic wrap, duct tape and labelled. Core lengths ranged from 34-40 cm. At sites WC22 and WC23, an Eijkelkamp Peat Sampler was used to obtain two replicate hemispherical cores of the top 50 cm of sediments. The two hemispherical cores from each location were later combined in the lab and treated as a single short core, named WC22R-a-b, WC23R-a-b. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Christopher G. Smith
    Research Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    727-502-8000 (voice)
    cgsmith@usgs.gov
    Date: 2016 (process 7 of 18)
    Long cores (WC01R, WC04R, WC05R, WC10R, WC11R, WC12R, WC20R, WC21R, WC22R, and WC23R) were transported to the Global Change and Coastal Paleoecology Laboratory of Louisiana State University, where they were opened and all cores subjected to X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis with an Innov-X Delta Premium DP-4000 handheld XRF unit at 2 cm resolution down the length of the core. The device analyzes each sample across three frequencies for 30 seconds per frequency producing elemental concentrations in parts per million (ppm) for the following elements: S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe,Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Pt, Au, Hg, Bi, Th, U and Pb. Elements that were below the limit of detection for all samples (Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Pt, Au, Hg, Bi, Th, U) were excluded from the dataset. The device was calibrated with certified standards NIST 2710a and 2711a. These lithologic data have not been independently verified for accuracy. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Christopher G. Smith
    Research Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    727-502-8000 (voice)
    cgsmith@usgs.gov
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • XRF.zip
    Date: 2016 (process 8 of 18)
    Following XRF analysis, the long cores (WC01R, WC04R, WC05R, WC10R, WC11R, WC20R, WC21R, and WC22R) were subjected to loss-on-ignition analysis using the methodology employed by the Global Change and Coastal Paleoecology Laboratory of Louisiana State University. Sediment was removed in approximately 1-cc volumes continuously down the center of each core at 1-cm intervals and placed in pre-weighed ceramic crucibles. The crucibles were then dried for 12 hours at 100 degrees Celsius (°C) and reweighed to determine percentage (wet weight) of water content. The crucibles were then placed in a muffle furnace and heated to 550°C for 2 1/2 hours and reweighed to determine percentage (dry weight) of organic matter, then placed in a muffle furnace at 1000°C for 2 hours and reweighed to determine percentage of carbonates (dry weight) and residuals (predominately clastics). These lithologic data have not been independently verified for accuracy. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Christopher G. Smith
    Research Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    727-502-8000 (voice)
    cgsmith@usgs.gov
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • LOI.zip
    Date: 2015 (process 9 of 18)
    Nineteen subsamples, each approximately 1 cc in volume, were extracted from core WC20R at the following depths (cm) 1, 5, 15, 20, 35, 55, 75, 95, 105, 115, 125, 135, 145, 165, 185, 199, 217, 230 and 245, packed in sterile plastic bags and sent to the USGS Pollen Lab in Reston, VA for palynological analysis. The nineteen samples were processed and counted following the procedures described in Bernhardt and Willard, 2015. These pollen data have not been independently verified for accuracy. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Christopher G. Smith
    Research Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    727-502-8000 (voice)
    cgsmith@usgs.gov
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • Pollen-WC20R.zip
    Date: 2016 (process 10 of 18)
    Thirteen sediment intervals were subsampled to obtain radiocarbon dates. Samples were collected from depths of 123 cm in WC01R, 112 cm in WC05R, 96 cm in WC10R, 85 and 186 cm in WC11R, 22, 90, 132,174, and 212 cm in WC20R, 92 cm in WC21R, and 71 and 190 cm in WC22R. Sample selection depths were based on stratigraphic changes. Small (approximately 1-2 cc) volumes of material were removed from interior sections of the sediment cores and were passed through a 63 micron sieve to remove silt and clay. Plant fragments were selected from the remaining material under a dissecting microscope after being washed in de-ionized water. The selected organic fragments were then placed in sterilized glass vials containing de-ionized water. When sufficient material was collected, each vial was placed in an oven at 60°C until all moisture was removed (variable time, but usually 1-4 days). This material was sent to the National Ocean Sciences accelerator mass spectrometry (NOSAMS) laboratory at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (Woods Hole, MA, USA), where accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating was performed by means of a 500 kV compact pelletron accelerator. The radiocarbon date for the plant material was calibrated to calendar years using Calib 7.0 and the INTCAL 13 curve, based on the dataset from Reimer and others (2013). The Calib 7.0 program provides a median probability date for each sample, calculated from the probability distribution. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Christopher Smith
    Research Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    727-502-8000 (voice)
    cgsmith@usgs.gov
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • RadioCarbonDates.zip
    Date: 2016 (process 11 of 18)
    The LOI and XRF results for the overlapping segments of cores WC01R, WC04R, WC05R, WC10R, WC11R, WC20R, WC21R, and WC22R, were used to create a single dataset for each core, with the depth of segment transition accurately determined with a resolution of transition of approximately 1 cm. Visual logs were created using Canvas 15 software to display core photos. A separate photo log was created for each peat borer core (WC01R, WC04R, WC05R, WC10R, WC11R, WC12R, WC20R, WC21R, WC22R, and WC23R) by aligning the separate 50-cm segments on scale bars. The overlap (when applicable) is marked by non-horizontal alignment of the photos. All segment intervals were analyzed for LOI and XRF. Specifying which data were used to create a single dataset, for each core, was determined by carefully matching the two overlapping segments and choosing the precise depth (1-cm resolution) for the transition. XRF and LOI data are presented using the consolidated dataset for each core. Photo logs were also created for shovel cores WC01R, WC04D, WC05D, WC10D, WC11D, WC12D, WC20D, WC21D, and the short peat borer cores WC22Ra-b, and WC23Ra-b. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Christopher G. Smith
    Research Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    727-502-8000 (voice)
    cgsmith@usgs.gov
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • LOI-XRF-Diagrams.zip
    • CorePhotos.zip
    Date: 2015 (process 12 of 18)
    Bulk density analysis was conducted, at the USGS SPCMSC, on the sediment samples (surface samples, shovel cores WC04D, WC10D, WC11D, WC12D, WC20D, WC21D and the replicate hemispherical surface cores WC22Ra-b, and WC23Ra-b) that were not transported to the Global Change and Coastal Paleoecology Laboratory of Louisiana State University. The subsamples were homogenized in the sample bag and a subsample of each 1 or 2 cm interval was processed for basic sediment characteristics. Water content and dry bulk density were determined using water mass lost during drying. A known volume (15-60 mL) of each wet subsample was packed into a graduated syringe with 0.5 ml resolution. The wet sediment was then extracted into a pre-weighed aluminum tray and the weight of the wet sediment was recorded. The wet sediment and tray were placed in a drying oven for approximately 48 hours at 60°C. Water content was determined as the mass of water (in other words, mass lost when dried) relative to the initial wet mass. Replicate analyses of bulk density are reported for quality assurance. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Attn: Marci E. Marot
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    U.S.

    (727) 502-8000 (voice)
    mmarot@usgs.gov
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • SedimentPhysicalProperties.zip
    Date: 2015 (process 13 of 18)
    Organic matter content analysis was also conducted, at the USGS SPCMSC, on the samples listed in the previous processing step. The dry sediment created as a result of the bulk density analysis described above was homogenized using a porcelain mortar and pestle. Approximately 5 g of the dry sediment was placed into a pre-weighed porcelain crucible. The mass of the dried sediment was recorded with an analytic balance to a precision of 0.01 g. The samples were then placed into a laboratory muffle furnace with stabilizing temperature control. The furnace was ramped to 550°C over a 30-minute interval and then held at 550°C for 6 hours. The furnace temperature was then lowered to 60°C and held at this temperature until the sediments could be reweighed. The latter step prevents the absorption of moisture, which can affect the measurement. Samples were reweighed using the same analytic balance and to a precision of 0.01 g. The mass lost during the 6-hour baking period, relative to the initial dry mass, is used as a metric of organic matter content. Replicate analyses of loss on ignition are reported for quality assurance. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Attn: Marci E. Marot
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    U.S.

    (727) 502-8000 (voice)
    mmarot@usgs.gov
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • SedimentPhysicalProperties.zip
    Date: 2015 (process 14 of 18)
    Prior to particle size analysis, organic material was chemically removed from subsamples of cores WC04D, WC10D, WC20D, and WC21D, by treatment with 30% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Wet sediment from the marsh samples were dissolved in H2O2 overnight. The H2O2 was then evaporated and the sediment washed and centrifuged twice with deionized water. Grain-size analyses were performed using a Coulter LS 200 (https://www.beckmancoulter.com/) particle-size analyzer, which uses laser diffraction to measure the size distribution of sediments ranging in size from 0.4 microns to 2 millimeters (mm) (clay to very coarse-grained sand). In order to prevent shell fragments from damaging the LS 200, particles greater than 1 mm in diameter were separated from all samples prior to analysis using a number 18 (1000 microns or 1 mm) U.S. standard sieve, which meets the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E11 standard specifications for determining particle size using woven-wire test sieves. Two subsamples from each depth interval were processed through the LS 200 a minimum of four runs each. The LS 200 measures the particle-size distribution of each sample by passing sediment suspended in solution between two narrow panes of glass in front of a laser. Light is scattered by the particles into characteristic refraction patterns measured by an array of photodetectors as intensity per unit area and recorded as relative volume for 92 size-related channels (bins). The size-classification boundaries for each bin were specified based on the ASTM E11 standard. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Christopher G. Smith
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    (727) 502-8000 (voice)
    cgsmith@usgs.gov
    Date: 2015 (process 15 of 18)
    The raw grain size data were then run through the free software program GRADISTAT (Blott and Pye, 2001; https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.261), which calculates the mean, sorting, skewness, and kurtosis of each sample geometrically in metric units and logarithmically in phi units method. GRADISTAT also calculates the fraction of sediment from each sample by size category (for example, clay, coarse silt, fine sand). A macro function in Microsoft Excel, developed by the USGS SPCMSC, was applied to the data to calculate average and standard deviation for each sample set (four runs per sample), and highlight runs that varied from the set average by more than ±1.5 standard deviations. Excessive deviations from the mean are likely the result of equipment error or extraneous organic material in the sample and are not considered representative of the sample. The highlighted runs were removed from the results and the sample average was recalculated using the remaining runs. The averaged results for all samples, including the number of runs included and the standard deviation of the averaged results were summarized in an of Excel workbook with each core on its own tab. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Christopher G. Smith
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    (727) 502-8000 (voice)
    cgsmith@usgs.gov
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • GrainSizeData.zip
    Date: 2015 (process 16 of 18)
    Dried sediment (15-30 g) from core WC20D were sealed in airtight polypropylene containers. The sample weights and the geometry of the counting container were matched to pre-made calibration standards. The sealed samples were allowed to sit for a minimum of 3 weeks to allow Ra-226 to come into secular equilibrium with its daughter isotopes Pb-214 and Bi-214. The sealed samples were then counted for 48-72 hours on a planar-style, low energy, high purity germanium, gamma-ray spectrometer. Sample count rates were corrected for detector efficiency (referenced to the IAEA RGU-1 standard), standard photo peak intensity, and self-absorption corrections using a U-238 sealed source. Activities are decay-corrected to the date of field collection. The radioisotopic activities reported in the Excel spreadsheet include the counting error for all samples. The critical level is reported for the sample set. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Attn: Marci E. Marot
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    U.S.

    (727) 502-8000 (voice)
    mmarot@usgs.gov
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • GammaSpecData.zip
    Date: 2015 (process 17 of 18)
    Total Pb-210 (via granddaughter polonium-210 [Po-210]) was determined by alpha spectroscopy for core WC10D. Five grams of sediment was spiked with 0.5 mL of Po-209 of known activity (12 decays per minute per milliliter). Sediments were leached with a combination of concentrated nitric and hydrochloric acid with the addition of 30% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to remove organics. Sediments were taken to dryness and re-saturated three times with hydrochloric acid until all nitric acid was removed. Po-209 and Po-210 were electroplated onto silver planchets and counted on an alpha spectrometer. Count rate efficiencies for Po-209 were determined and applied to Po-210 counts. Total Pb-210 is then assumed to be in secular equilibrium with Po-210 in the down-core sediment. The radioisotopic activities reported in the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet include the counting error for all samples. A subset of samples were analyzed in duplicate for quality assurance. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Attn: Marci E. Marot
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    U.S.

    (727) 502-8000 (voice)
    mmarot@usgs.gov
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • AlphaSpecData.zip
    Date: 13-Oct-2020 (process 18 of 18)
    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?
    Bernhardt, C. E., Willard, D. A., 2015, Pollen and spores of terrestrial plants, in Handbook of Sea-Level Research (eds I. Shennan, A. J. Long and B. P. Horton): John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK.

    Online Links:

    Blott, S.J. and Pye, K., 2001, Gradistat: A grain size distribution and statistics package for the analysis of unconsolidated sediments: Earth Surface Processes and Landforms Volume 26.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: Pages 1237-1248
    McCloskey, T.A., Smith, C.G., Liu , K., Haller, C., and Marot, M., 20171117, How could a freshwater swamp produce a chemical signature characteristic of a saltmarsh?: American Chemical Society (ACS) Earth and Space Chemistry Volume 1, Issue 10.

    Online Links:

    P.J., Reimer, Bard, E., Bayliss, A., and Beck, J.W., 2015, IntCal13 and Marine13 Radiocarbon Age Calibration Curves 0–50,000 Years cal BP: Radiocarbon 55(4).

    Online Links:

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 was determined by the accuracy of the raw position data recorded by the GPS antenna during data collection, unless otherwise noted. Differential Geographic Positioning System (DGPS) coordinates were obtained using post-processing software packages (National Geodetic Survey's On-Line Positioning User Service (OPUS), version 2.2 and Waypoint Product Group's GrafNav and GrafNet, version 8.6). The positional accuracy of the sample location at site WC01 was determined by the accuracy of the Garmin GPSmap 62stc handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver used to record the sample site during the time of collection.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    All static base station sessions were processed through OPUS, which is maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Geodetic Survey (NGS), and the results were entered into a spreadsheet to compute a final, time-weighted positional coordinate (latitude, longitude, and ellipsoid height). Base-station positional error for each GPS session 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 was 0.00011 decimal seconds latitude and 0.00044 decimal seconds longitude.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    All static base station sessions were also processed through OPUS. The base location results from OPUS were entered into a spreadsheet to compute a final, time-weighted positional coordinate (latitude, longitude, and ellipsoid height). Base-station positional error for each GPS session was calculated as the absolute value of the final position minus the session position value. For this survey, the standard deviation or the base station ellipsoid height was 0.008 and the maximum spread from the average ellipsoid for the base station was +/- 0.020 m.
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    The data files archived in this data release are the complete sediment dataset for 10 long sediment cores, seven short sediment cores and seven surface samples collected along the margins of the Waccasassa River, north-west Florida. This data release contains the site location, field logs, core photos, core descriptions, and sediment data for loss-on-ignition (LOI), X-ray flourescence (XRF), radiocarbon, palynology, physical properties, grain size, gamma spectroscopy, and alpha spectroscopy. XRF elemental concentrations that were below the limit of detection for all samples were excluded from the dataset. Excluded elements are: Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Pt, Au, Hg, Bi, Th, and U.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    This dataset contains the post-processed Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) coordinates for samples collected during two separate surveys in 2014 and 2015. The GPS position and elevation data at each core site were recorded with an Ashtech Z-Xtreme GPS receiver and geodetic antenna (rover). A base station equipped with an equivalent GPS instrument combination was erected upon a nearby benchmark, and GPS data were recorded concurrently throughout the survey. The rover data was processed to the base station using Waypoint Grafnav post processing software version 8.6. The final core locations, including elevation, are the post-processed DGPS coordinates in the North American Datum 1983 (NAD83) for horizontal and North American Vertical Datum 1988 (NAVD88) for the elevation. The baseline distances from the core sites were in all cases less than 15 kilometers (km). Sample location at WC01 was recorded at the time of collection using a Garmin GPSmap 62stc handheld GPS receiver.

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 that it be acknowledged as the originator of this dataset in any future products or research derived from these data.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Attn: Christopher G. Smith
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    727-502-8000 (voice)
    cgsmith@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Downloadable data
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    This 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, or for general or scientific purposes, 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?
  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    The data tables for USGS FANs 2014-335-FA and 2015-308-FA were created in Microsoft Excel 2010 and can be opened using Microsoft Excel 2007 or higher; these data may also be viewed using the free Microsoft Excel Viewer (http://office.microsoft.com/). The data tables are also provided as comma-separated values text files (.csv).

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 13-Oct-2020
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
Attn: Christopher G. Smith
Research Geologist
600 4th Street South
St. Petersburg, FL
USA

727-502-8000 (voice)
cgsmith@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/spcmsc/Metadata_Waccasassa.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.50 on Tue Sep 21 18:18:51 2021