Sediment_PhysicalProperties-met: Archive of sediment physical properties and grain-size data for sediment samples collected offshore of Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Sediment_PhysicalProperties-met: Archive of sediment physical properties and grain-size data for sediment samples collected offshore of Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia
Abstract:
This data release serves as an archive of sediment physical properties and grain-size data for surficial samples collected offshore of Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia, for comparison with surficial estuarine and subaerial sedimentological samples collected and assessed following Hurricane Sandy (Ellis and others, 2015 (http://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151219); Smith and others, 2015 (http://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151169); Bernier and others, 2016 (https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/0999/)). The sediment samples were collected by scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) office in Woods Hole, Massachusetts while aboard the motor vessel (M/V) Scarlett Isabella as part of a larger effort to map the inner continental shelf (Pendleton and others, 2016 (http://doi.org/10.5066/F7MW2F60)). Following field work, the sediment samples were shipped to the USGS Coastal and Marine Science Center in St. Petersburg, Florida, where they were renamed for consistency with a previously existing naming scheme and processed for bulk density, loss on ignition (LOI), and grain-size. The grain-size subsamples were processed on a Coulter LS200 particle-size analyzer for consistency regarding methods and output statistics with related data sets from Chincoteague Bay and Assateague Island. For more information regarding sample collection and site information or the related data sets, refer to USGS data release Pendleton and others, 2016 (https://doi.org/10.5066/F7MW2F60); for more information regarding processing methods refer to USGS Open-File Report 2015Ð1219 (http://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151219). Downloadable data are available as Excel spreadsheets (.xlsx), comma-separated values text files (.csv), and formal Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) metadata.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Ellis, Alisha M., Wheaton, Cathryn J., and Smith, Christopher G., 20170630, Sediment_PhysicalProperties-met: Archive of sediment physical properties and grain-size data for sediment samples collected offshore of Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey Data Release doi:10.5066/F7HX19WB.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.4363
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.8350
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 38.1324
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.7005
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 22-Jul-2014
    Ending_Date: 25-Jul-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?
      This is a Point data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • Entity point (19)
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.000001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is D_WGS_1984.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS_1984.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257224.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    14CTB-OffshoreG_SedimentPhysicalProperties.zip
    Microsoft Excel workbook and comma-separate values sheet defining the location of each sediment sample site collected is July 2014 from offshore of Assateague Island. (Source: USGS)
    14CTB Sample Site ID
    Sample Sample identification number which corresponds to the naming scheme of related Chincoteague Bay projects (Source: USGS) Character string. Sample IDs listed within the table used the naming convention 14CTB-^^X. Where 14CTB indicates that it was collected in 2014 in association with the Chincoteague Bay samples, ^^ is the site location number, and G indicates that the the sample was a PONAR or VanVeen sediment grab sample.
    Original Sample ID
    Sample identification number which corresponds to the original naming scheme assigned by the Woods Hole group that collected the samples. (Source: USGS) Character string.
    Water Content (gwater/gwet)
    The amount of water in the sediment sample in grams. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.09
    Maximum:0.21
    Units:grams
    Resolution:0.01
    dry bulk density (g/cm3)
    the relative density of the dried sediment sample in grams per cubic centimeter (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.31
    Maximum:1.68
    Units:grams per cubic centimeter
    Resolution:0.01
    Porosity (cm3voids/cm3wet)
    Porosity in each sample interval measured in cubic centimeter of void space per cubic centimeter of wet sediment. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.20
    Maximum:0.40
    Units:cubic centimeters
    Resolution:0.01
    Loss on Ignition (gOM/gdry)
    The ratio of the mass of organic matter combusted at 450 Celsius to the pre-combusted mass of dry sediment measured in grams of organic matter to grams of dry sediment. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:0.02
    Units:grams
    Resolution:0.01

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Alisha M. Ellis
    • Cathryn J. Wheaton
    • 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: Alisha M. Ellis
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

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

Why was the data set created?

The file 14CTB-OffshoreG_SedimentPhysicalProperties.zip includes water content, dry bulk density, porosity, and loss on ignition values for each surface sample collected during the July 2014 sampling trip.

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)
    The 19 stations were sampled aboard the M/V Scarlett Isabella (USGS survey 2015-001-FA) with the mid-sized SEABOSS that was equipped with a Van Veen grab sampler, and 2 digital GoPro cameras. Physical sediment samples were collected at the 19 stations. Locations for sediment samples were manually recorded from the Hemisphere GPS during the retrieval of the SEABOSS instrument, at the start of instrument recovery when it was lifted from the seabed (the Van Veen sampler closed and collected a sample as it was lifted from the sea floor). Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Seth Ackerman
    Physical Scientist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2315 (voice)
    sackerman@usgs.gov
    Date: 2014 (process 2 of 4)
    In the laboratory, samples were homogenized. The sediment parameters subsample from each sample location was processed for basic sediment characteristics: dry bulk density and porosity. Water content, porosity, and dry bulk density were calculated by determining water mass lost during drying. Known volumes of each wet subsample, usually 20 Ð 30 mL, were packed into a graduated syringe with 0.5 cm-3 resolution. The wet sediment was then extracted into a pre-weighed aluminum tray and the wet sediment's weight was recorded. The wet sediment and tray were placed in a drying oven for 48 hours at 60 ¡C. Water content was determined as the mass of water (lost when dried) relative to the initial wet sediment mass. Porosity was estimated from the report equation in the document (http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2015/1219/ofr2015-1219_methods.html). Salt-mass contributions were removed based on the salinity measured at the time of sample collection. Salinity was estimated to be 33. Dry bulk density was calculated from the report equation in the document (http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2015/1219/ofr2015-1219_methods.html). Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Alisha M. Ellis
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    Saint Petersburg, FL
    USA

    (727) 502-8056 (voice)
    aellis@usgs.gov
    Date: 2014 (process 3 of 4)
    Organic matter (OM) content was determined with a mass loss technique, referred to as loss on ignition (LOI). The dry sediment from the previous process was homogenized with a porcelain mortar and pestle. Approximately 5 grams of the dry sediment was placed into a pre-weighed porcelain crucible. The mass of the dried sediment was recorded with a precision of 0.01 g on an analytical balance. The sample was then placed inside a laboratory muffle furnace with stabilizing temperature control. The furnace was heated to 110 ¡C for a minimum of 6 hours to remove hygroscopic water absorbed onto the sediment particles. The furnace temperature was then lowered to 60 ¡C, at which point the sediments could be reweighed. The dried sediment was returned to the muffle furnace. The furnace was heated to 550 ¡C over 30 minutes and kept at 550 ¡C for 6 hours. The furnace temperature was then lowered to 60 ¡C, at which point the sediments could be reweighed. The mass lost during the 6 hour baking period relative to the 110 ¡C-dried mass is used as a metric of organic matter content. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: Alisha M. Ellis
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    Saint Petersburg, FL
    USA

    (727) 502-8056 (voice)
    aellis@usgs.gov
    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?
    Ellis, A.M., Marot, M.E., Wheaton, C.J., Bernier, J.C., and Smith, C.G., 2015, A seasonal comparison of surface sediment characteristics in Chincoteague Bay, Maryland and Virginia, USA: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2015-1219.

    Online Links:

    Smith, C.G., Marot, M.E., Ellis, A.M., Wheaton, C.J., Bernier, J.C., and Adams, C.S., 2015, Sedimentological and radiochemical characteristics of marsh deposits from Assateague Island and the adjacent vicinity, Maryland and Virginia, following Hurricane Sandy: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2015-1169.

    Online Links:

    Bernier, J.C., Zaremba, N.J., Wheaton, C.J., Ellis, A.M., Marot, M.E., and Smith, C.G., 2016, Sedimentologic characteristics of recent washover deposits from Assateague Island, Maryland: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series ds999.

    Online Links:

    Pendleton, E.A., Ackerman, S.D., Baldwin, W.E., Danforth, W.W., Foster, D.S., Thieler, E.R., and Brothers, L.L., 2016, High-resolution geophysical data collected along the Delmarva Peninsula 2014, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2014-002-FA: U.S. Geological Survey Data Release F7MW2F60.

    Online Links:

    Blackwood, D., Parolski, K., and Valentine, P., 2000, Seabed observation and sampling system: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-142-00.

    Online Links:

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    The physical properties reported in the tables were analyzed at the USGS SPCMSC sedimentology lab. These lithologic data have not been independently verified for accuracy. Replicate analyses of loss on ignition are reported for quality assurance.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) and Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) enable GPS navigation data were acquired during sediment sampling with a Hemisphere receiver and recorded with HYPACK software versions 13.0.9.21 and 15.0.9.71 (www.hypack.com). The SEABOSS (Blackwood et al., 2000) was deployed approximately 5 meters astern of the GPS antenna's recording position off the ship's A-fame on the stern of the ship. No layback or offset was applied to the recorded position. In addition to the plus or minus 5 m offset the SEABOSS may additionally drift away from the survey vessel when deployed to the seafloor. Based on the various sources of horizontal error, a conservative estimate of the horizontal accuracy of the location is 20-30 meters.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    This is a complete, processed physical properties data file for the samples collected offshore of Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia in July 2014.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    The data includes sample ID, water content, dry bulk density, porosity, and loss on ignition.

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 Public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. 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: Alisha M. Ellis
    Geologist
    600 4th Street South
    St. Petersburg, FL
    USA

    (727) 502-8000 (voice)
    aellis@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? 14CTB-OffshoreG_SedimentPhysicalProperties.zip
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    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. Any use of trade, firm, or product name is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    This workbook was created using Microsoft Excel 2016 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: 30-Aug-2023
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
Attn: Alisha M. Ellis
Geologist
600 4th Street South
St. Petersburg, FL
USA

(727) 502-8000 (voice)
aellis@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/spcmsc/Sediment_PhysicalProperties-met.faq.html>
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