Sedimentological and radiochemical characteristics of marsh deposits from Assateague Island and adjacent vicinity, Maryland and Virginia, following Hurricane Sandy

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Sedimentological and radiochemical characteristics of marsh deposits from Assateague Island and adjacent vicinity, Maryland and Virginia, following Hurricane Sandy
Abstract:
The influence of tropical and extratropical cyclones on coastal wetlands and marshes is highly variable in both space and time and depends on a number of climatic, geologic, and physical variables. The impacts storms can be either positive or negative with respect to the wetland and marsh ecosystems. Small to moderate amounts of inorganic sediment added during storms or other events helps to abate pressure from sea-level rise. However, if the volume of sediment is large and the resulting deposits thick, the organic substrate may compact causing submergence and a loss in elevation. Similarly, thick deposits of coarse inorganic sediment may also alter the hydrology of the site and impede vegetative processes. Alternative impacts associated with storms include shoreline erosion at the marsh edge as well as potential emergence. Predicting the outcome of these various responses and potential long-term implications can be obtained from a systematic assessment of both historical and recent event deposits. The objectives of this study are to 1) characterize the surficial sediment of the relict to recent washover fans and back-barrier marshes, and 2) characterize the sediment of 6 marsh cores from the back-barrier marshes and a single marsh island core near the mainland. These geologic data will be integrated with other remote sensing data collected along Assateague Island, Maryland / Virginia and assimilated into an assessment of coastal wetland response to storms.
Supplemental_Information: None
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Smith, Christopher G., 20150501, Sedimentological and radiochemical characteristics of marsh deposits from Assateague Island and adjacent vicinity, Maryland and Virginia, following Hurricane Sandy:.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Smith, Christopher G., Marot, Marci E., Ellis, Alisha M., Wheaton, Cathryn J., Bernier, Julie C., and Adams, C. Scott, 20150501, Sedimentological and radiochemical characteristics of marsh deposits from Assateague Island and adjacent vicinity, Maryland and Virginia, following Hurricane Sandy: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2015-1169, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, FL.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.46667
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.11111
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 38.26667
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.82222
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 26-Mar-2014
    Ending_Date: 30-Oct-2014
    Currentness_Reference:
    Ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Tabular digital data
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the 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: 18
      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 0.001
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.001
      Planar coordinates are specified in Meters
      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.
      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?
    14CTB_Spring&Fall 2014_Site Information.xlsx
    Microsoft Excel workbook defining the location and water quality parameters at each surface and core sediment sample site collected from March/April 2014 and October 2014 from Assateague Island and the mainland, Virginia and Maryland (U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity Number 2014-301-FA and 2014-322-FA) (Source: USGS)
    Sample ID
    Sample identification number (Source: USGS) Character string
    Date Collected
    Date sample was collected (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:04/01/2014
    Maximum:10/26/2014
    Units:mm/dd/yyyy
    Resolution:1 day
    Latitude (NAD83)
    Latitude of sample location in decimal degrees (NAD83) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:38.01759
    Maximum:38.25004
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.00001
    Longitude (NAD83)
    Longitude of sample location in decimal degrees (NAD83) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-75.36587
    Maximum:-75.13172
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.00001
    Easting (m)
    X-coordinate (easting) of sample location in meters (NAD83, UTM Zone 18N) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:467906.7213
    Maximum:488474.577
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.001
    Northing (m)
    Y-coordinate (northing) of sample location in meters (NAD83, UTM Zone 18N) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:4207802.372
    Maximum:4233566.382
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.001
    Elevation (m)
    Elevation of sample location in meters (NAVD88, GEOID12A) (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.0671
    Maximum:2.4093
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.0001
    Environment Type
    The type of environment where the sample was collected. (Source: USGS) Character string
    Vegetation Type/Coverage
    The type and density of vegetation coverage where the sample was collected. (Source: USGS) Character string
    Water Depth (cm)
    Water depth of sample location in centimeters (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.0
    Maximum:10
    Units:centimeters
    Resolution:0.1
    Temperature (¡C)
    Water temperature in degrees Celsius at each sample location (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:8.9
    Maximum:19.1
    Units:degrees celsius
    Resolution:0.1
    Barometric Pressure (mmHg)
    Barometric pressure at each sample location (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:749.2
    Maximum:767.3
    Units:millimeters of mercury
    Resolution:0.1
    Dissolved Oxygen (%)
    Percent dissolved oxygen at each sample location (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:4.6
    Maximum:133.5
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.1
    Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)
    Dissolved oxygen at each sample site expressed in milligrams per liter (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.44
    Maximum:11.3
    Units:milligrams per liter
    Resolution:0.1
    Specific Conductance (mS/cm)
    Specific conductance in millisiemens per centimeter at each sample location (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:22.57
    Maximum:42.35
    Units:millisiemens per centimeter
    Resolution:0.01
    Salinity
    Salinity at each sample location (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:13.64
    Maximum:27.24
    Units:practical salinity units
    Resolution:0.01
    pH
    pH at each sample location (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:6.61
    Maximum:7.96
    Units:hydrogen ion concentration
    Resolution:0.01
    pH (mV)
    pH at each sample location in millivolts (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-87.1
    Maximum:-5.53
    Units:millivolt
    Resolution:0.1
    ORP (mV)
    Oxidation-reduction potential at each sample location in millivolts (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-238
    Maximum:-77.1
    Units:millivolt
    Resolution:0.1

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Christopher G. Smith
  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) 502-8035 (voice)
    cgsmith@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

The file includes all site information and water quality parameters collected from each marsh and sandy overwash surface sediment and core sample site collected on Assateague Island and the mainland of Virginia and Maryland in March/April and October 2014 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center.

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: 2014 (process 1 of 4)
    GPS base stations were erected at multiple National Park Service (NPS) benchmarks located on the back-barrier side of Assateague Island. An Ashtech Z-Xtreme GPS receiver recorded the 12-channel full-carrier-phase positioning signals (L1/L2) from satellites via a Thales choke-ring antenna at the base station. A similar GPS instrument combination (Ashtech Z-Xtreme receiver and Ashtech geodetic antenna) was used for 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 ranged from 5 to 30 minutes, and baseline distances to the nearest base station ranged from about 0.5 to 15 kilometers. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Julie Bernier
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    (727) 502-8000 (voice)
    jbernier@usgs.gov
    Date: 2014 (process 2 of 4)
    The NPS control coordinates of the GPS base stations were imported into GrafNav and GrafNet, version 8.4 (Waypoint Product Group) and the data from the rover GPS were post-processed to the concurrent GPS session data from the nearest base station. All S sites (5 minute occupation) sites were post-processed in GrafNav and all M sites (30 minute occupation) were post-processed in GrafNet. The GPS data were acquired and processed in the World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84) (G1150) geodetic datum. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Julie Bernier
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    (727) 502-8000 (voice)
    jbernier@usgs.gov
    Date: 2014 (process 3 of 4)
    Using the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) transformation software packages HTDP (http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/TOOLS/Htdp/Htdp.shtml), version 3.2.3 and VDatum, version 3.2 (http://vdatum.noaa.gov/), the sample locations were transformed from the GPS acquisition datum (WGS84) to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83), Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 18 north (18N) reference frame and the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88) orthometric elevation using the NGS geoid model of 2012A (GEOID12A). Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Julie Bernier
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    (727) 502-8000 (voice)
    Date: 13-Oct-2020 (process 4 of 4)
    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?

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. Differential Geographic Positioning System (DGPS) coordinates were obtained using post-processing software packages (National Geodetic Survey's On-Line Positioning User Service, OPUS, and Waypoint Product Group's GrafNav and GrafNet, version 8.40).
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    All static GPS base station sessions were processed through the On-Line Positioning User Service (OPUS) maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Geodetic Survey (NGS). The OPUS base-station solutions were entered into a spreadsheet to compute a final positional coordinate (latitude, longitude, and ellipsoid height). Using the OPUS values and duration of each session, the final position was calculated as a time-weighted average of all GPS sessions. 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 was 0.00005 seconds latitude and 0.00015 seconds longitude.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    All static base station sessions were processed through OPUS maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Geodetic Survey (NGS). 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 maximum standard deviation of the base station ellipsoid height was 0.009 m and the maximum vertical error for the base station was +/- 0.016 m. The time-weighted average positions were compared with the NPS network control numbers for each base station; the time-weighted elevations for each base station occupation were within 2 standard deviations of the NPS control elevations. The NPS control coordinates were used for subsequent post-processing.
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    This is a complete processed site information data file for the 2014-301-FA and 2014-322-FA surface sediment time series and core archive.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    This dataset contains the post-processed DGPS coordinates for samples collected during two separate surveys in March and October 2014.

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
    Attn: Christopher G. Smith
    Research 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?
    • Availability in digital form:
      Data format: This Microsoft Excel workbook contains site information for surficial and subsurface sediment samples collected from March/April 2014 and October 2014 (USGS Field Activity Numbers 2014-301-FA and 2014-322-FA). The .zip file also contains comma delimited files (.csv) of the site information for each core. The .csv data files contains the tabular data in plain text and may be viewed with a standard text editor. in format Microsoft Zip archive (version 1) .zip Size: 0.034
      Network links: https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151169
    • Cost to order the data: None, if obtained online

  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    This workbook was created using 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://www.microsoft.com/).

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:
FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/spcmsc/OFR20151169_Site_Information-met.faq.html>
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