Interpretation of the seabed geologic substrates in quadrangle 3 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts based on data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey from 1993-2021

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Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Publication_Date: 20260402
Title:

Interpretation of the seabed geologic substrates in quadrangle 3 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts based on data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey from 1993-2021

Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Vector Digital Dataset (Polygon)
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P13PVHRI

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA
Publisher:

U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P13PVHRI
Online_Linkage:

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/65d7c931d34ec3e1801d8149

Larger_Work_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2026
Title:

Geospatial datasets of seabed topography, sediment mobility, and the distribution of geologic substrates in quadrangle 3 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts

Edition: 1.0
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P13PVHRI

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

Suggested citation: Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2026, Geospatial datasets of seabed topography, sediment mobility, and the distribution of geologic substrates in quadrangle 3 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P13PVHRI.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P13PVHRI

Description:

Abstract:

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the National Marine Sanctuary Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has conducted seabed mapping and related research in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) region since 1993. The interpretive datasets and source information presented here are for quadrangle 3, which is one of 18 similarly-sized quadrangles that comprise the 3,700 square kilometer (km2) SBNMS region. The seabed of SBNMS is a glaciated terrain that is topographically and texturally diverse. Mapping of quadrangle 3 shows the distribution of substrates on the southeastern part of Stellwagen Bank, on adjacent banks and basins in deeper water to the east, in the eastern part of Race Point Channel to the south of the bank, and on the northern slope of Outer Cape Cod. Water depths range from ~25 m on the bank crest to ~135 m east of South Ninety Bank which lies off the eastern margin of Stellwagen Bank. The data presented here for quadrangle 3 are the foundation for Scientific Investigations Map 3544 (Valentine and Cross, 2026), which presents maps of seabed topography, ruggedness, backscatter intensity, distribution of geologic substrates, sediment mobility, distribution of fine- and coarse-grained sand, and substrate mud content. For the quadrangle 3 interpretation, data from 309 ground validation stations were analyzed, including 279 sediment samples. The geologic substrate maps of quadrangle 3 show the distribution of 21 substrates that represent a wide range of textures, such as rippled sand, immobile sand, immobile muddy sand, sand that partially veneers gravel, and boulder ridges. Not all of these substrates can be mapped as individual polygons as some scattered deposits are not coherent units mappable at the given scale. Substrate types are defined or inferred by sediment grain-size composition, surface morphology, sediment layering, the mobility or immobility of substrate surfaces, and water depth range. Scientific Investigations Map 3544 portrays the major geological elements (substrates, topographic features, processes) of environments within quadrangle 3. It is intended to be a basis for the study of sediment transport processes that affect a shallow, offshore bank and adjacent basins, for the study of the ecological requirements of invertebrate and vertebrate species that use these substrates, and to support seabed management in the region.

Purpose:

This dataset provides comprehensive seabed interpretations of the seafloor within quadrangle 3 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region. These interpretations include the geologic substrates, sediment mobility, substrate coarseness, and substrate mud content. The geologic substrates are the primary interpretation from which the other three interpretations are derived.

Supplemental_Information:

This interpretation is based on multibeam sonar bathymetry, multibeam backscatter imagery, video, photos, and grain-size analyses of samples collected from the seabed in the time period 1993-2021. Over 50 scientific cruises have been conducted in an effort to map Stellwagen Bank. For this interpretation of Quadrangle 3 on Stellwagen Bank, ground-truth stations on the following 23 USGS WHCMSC field activities have played a vital role: 1993-030-FA, 1995-012-FA, 1995-015-FA, 1996-025-FA, 2013-044-FA, 2014-015-FA, 2014-055-FA, 2014-066-FA, 2015-017-FA, 2015-062-FA, 2016-004-FA, 2016-012-FA, 2016-038-FA, 2016-039-FA, 2017-030-FA, 2017-044-FA, 2018-027-FA, 2018-028-FA, 2018-029-FA, 2019-007-FA, 2019-008-FA, 2020-012-FA, and 2021-016-FA. More information on each of these activities can be found by replacing the XXXX in the following URL with the cruise ID: https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=XXXX. For example: https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1993-030-FA. These data have a companion report that provides the additional details and information related to the interpretation and methods. Additionally, the report contains PDF maps of the seabed interpretation. That companion report is Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2026, Seabed maps showing topography, ruggedness, backscatter intensity, sediment mobility, and the distribution of geologic substrates in quadrangle 3 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3544, 8 sheets, scale 1:25,000, 30-p. pamphlet, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 1993
Ending_Date: 2021

Currentness_Reference:

ground condition of original data upon which the interpretation is based

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.222221
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.033333
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.202778
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.083328

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: none
Theme_Keyword: U.S. Geological Survey
Theme_Keyword: USGS
Theme_Keyword: Coastal and Marine Geology Program
Theme_Keyword: CMGP
Theme_Keyword: Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Theme_Keyword: WHCMSC
Theme_Keyword: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Theme_Keyword: NOAA
Theme_Keyword: Esri shapefile
Theme_Keyword: interpretation
Theme_Keyword: seabed geology
Theme_Keyword: substrate distribution
Theme_Keyword: polygon
Theme_Keyword: quadrangle 3
Theme_Keyword: geologic substrates
Theme_Keyword: sediment mobility
Theme_Keyword: substrate
Theme_Keyword: substrate mobility
Theme_Keyword: substrate grain size
Theme_Keyword: substrate mud content

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: oceans
Theme_Keyword: geoscientificInformation
Theme_Keyword: environment

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: marine geology
Theme_Keyword: sea-floor characteristics
Theme_Keyword: geospatial datasets
Theme_Keyword: scientific interpretation
Theme_Keyword: geology

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Metadata Identifier
Theme_Keyword: USGS:65d7c931d34ec3e1801d8149

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: none
Place_Keyword: Massachusetts
Place_Keyword: Boston, Massachusetts
Place_Keyword: Massachusetts Bay
Place_Keyword: Stellwagen Bank
Place_Keyword: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
Place_Keyword: Stellwagen Basin
Place_Keyword: U.S. east coast
Place_Keyword: United States
Place_Keyword: North America
Place_Keyword: Atlantic Ocean

Access_Constraints:

No access constraints. Please see 'Distribution Information' for details.

Use_Constraints:

The interpretation was completed at a map scale of 1:25,000 and may not be appropriate for use at other scales. These data are marked with a Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal License. These data are in the public domain and do not have any use constraints. Users are advised to read the dataset's metadata thoroughly to understand appropriate use and data limitations.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
Contact_Person: Page C. Valentine

Contact_Position: Research Geologist
Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical
Address: 384 Woods Hole Road
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2239
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: whsc_data_contact@usgs.gov
Contact_Instructions:

The metadata contact email address is a generic address in the event the person is no longer with the USGS.

Browse_Graphic:

Browse_Graphic_File_Name:

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/65d7c931d34ec3e1801d8149?name=q3_substrate_interp_browse.png&allowOpen=true

Browse_Graphic_File_Description:

Thumbnail image showing the interpreted bottom substrates within quadrangle 3 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The image indicates the four different representations of the seabed interpretation including the geologic substrates, the sediment mobility, substrate coarseness, and substrate mud content.

Browse_Graphic_File_Type: PNG

Data_Set_Credit:

Public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey as the source of this information.

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Environment as of Metadata Creation: Microsoft Windows 10; ArcMap 10.8.1

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: Leslie B. Gallea
Publication_Date: 2015
Title:

Seabed maps showing topography, ruggedness, backscatter intensity, sediment mobility, and the distribution of geologic substrates in quadrangle 6 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: raster digital data, vector digital data
Series_Information:

Series_Name: Scientific Investigations Map
Issue_Identification: 3341

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

This publication contains the equivalent information as this data release, but for quadrangle 6. This publication also provides the additional details and information related to the interpretation and methods as well as PDF maps of the seabed interpretation.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3341

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Publication_Date: 2019
Title:

Sediment classification and the characterization, identification, and mapping of geologic substrates for the glaciated Gulf of Maine seabed and other terrains, providing a physical framework for ecological research and seabed management

Series_Information:

Series_Name: Scientific Investigations Report
Issue_Identification: 2019-5073

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

This document describes the methodology developed to map the glaciated terrain characterized by geologic substrates that typify a wide range of erosional and depositional sediment environments. This methodology is what was used in this dataset.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20195073

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2024
Title:

Geospatial datasets of seabed topography, sediment mobility, and the distribution of geologic substrates in quadrangle 5 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: raster digital data, vector digital data
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P9W9BN3S

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

This data release contains the equivalent geospatial datasets as this data release, but for quadrangle 5.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9W9BN3S

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2024
Title:

Seabed maps showing topography, ruggedness, backscatter intensity, sediment mobility, and the distribution of geologic substrates in quadrangle 5 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts

Series_Information:

Series_Name: Scientific Investigations Map
Issue_Identification: 3515

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

This report is the companion publication of the data release for quadrangle 5 that provides the additional details and information related to the interpretation and methods. Additionally, the report contains PDF maps of the seabed interpretation. The report also provides additional references related to the work in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3515

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2024
Title:

Geospatial datasets of seabed topography, sediment mobility, and the distribution of geologic substrates in quadrangle 2 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts

Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P9UL3LWN

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

This data release contains the equivalent information as this data release, but for quadrangle 2.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9UL3LWN

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2024
Title:

Seabed maps showing topography, ruggedness, backscatter intensity, sediment mobility, and the distribution of geologic substrates in quadrangle 2 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts

Series_Information:

Series_Name: Scientific Investigations Map
Issue_Identification: 3530

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

This report is the companion publication of the data release that provides the additional details and information related to the interpretation and methods for quadrangle 2. Additionally, the report contains PDF maps of the seabed interpretation. The report also provides additional references related to the work in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3530

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2026
Title:

Seabed maps showing topography, ruggedness, backscatter intensity, sediment mobility, and the distribution of geologic substrates in quadrangle 3 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts

Series_Information:

Series_Name: Scientific Investigations Map
Issue_Identification: 3544

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

This report is the companion publication of the data release for quadrangle 3 that provides the additional details and information related to the interpretation and methods. Additionally, the report contains PDF maps of the seabed interpretation. The report also provides additional references related to the work in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544

Data_Quality_Information:

Logical_Consistency_Report:

The interpretation was carried out by a single person and is consistent throughout the study area presented in this data release which is quadrangle 3 of the SBNMS region. There should not be slivers between interpreted polygons, nor should the polygons have overlap. The units are represented by alpha characters. A missing alpha character in the sequence indicates that a unit interpreted elsewhere is not present in this quadrangle. In comparison of other quadrangles that have been interpreted, the primary description of a unit is consistent, but the details of the unit might vary due to specifics in an individual quadrangle. For example, substrate A1 will be a rippled, coarse-grained sand in 2 different quads, but the percentages of mud, sand, or other components can differ slightly in each quad due to some variation in the samples’ mean grain-size distribution.

Completeness_Report:

This interpretation reflects a near complete coverage of the study area, quadrangle 3 of the SBNMS region. An area in the southern portion of the quadrangle was not covered by the bathymetry and backscatter data acquisition, so is excluded from the interpretation. The data used in compiling maps and the interpretation were collected on scientific cruises conducted by the USGS and sometimes collaborators from NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary from 1993 to 2021. Many of the project sites were sampled repetitively over this time period and not all data collected were used to compile the maps. The last cruise that provided sediment texture and video data was conducted in July, 2021 (2021-016-FA).

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

Navigation for all data upon which the interpretation was based used either differential GPS or GPS. These systems are assumed to have an accuracy better than 10 meters. Some of the data (bottom photos, video, and sediment samples) used in the interpretation relied on a system deployed by the ship while the ship drifted. Drift of this system relative to the ship navigation antenna was not accounted for. Additional inaccuracies are associated with how the interpretation was drawn in a freehand method. Based on this information, the interpretation is assumed to be accurate to within approximately 40 meters.

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: Leslie B. Gallea
Originator: Dann S. Blackwood
Originator: Erin R. Twomey
Publication_Date: 2010
Title:

Seabed photographs, sediment texture analyses, and sun-illuminated sea floor topography in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region off Boston, Massachusetts

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: raster digital data, vector digital data
Series_Information:

Series_Name: Data Series
Issue_Identification: 469

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.3133/ds469

Type_of_Source_Media: Digital online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 1993
Ending_Date: 2004

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition of the originally collected data

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: DS469
Source_Contribution:

Original photographic imagery and sediment grain size analyses were used to interpret the seabed geology of the study area.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine, editor
Publication_Date: 2005
Title:

Sea floor image maps showing topography, sun-illuminated topography, backscatter intensity, ruggedness, slope, and the distribution of boulder ridges and bedrock outcrops in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region off Boston, Massachusetts

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: raster digital data
Series_Information:

Series_Name: Scientific Investigations Map
Issue_Identification: 2840

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.3133/sim2840

Type_of_Source_Media: DVD-ROM and online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 1994
Ending_Date: 1996

Source_Currentness_Reference: Ground condition of originally collected data.

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: SIM2840
Source_Contribution:

This publication contains the video tracklines, sun-illuminated topography raster data, seabed ruggedness raster data, and the combined backscatter intensity/sun-illuminated topography raster data that were used to aid the interpretation of the seabed geology of the study area.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: U.S. Geological Survey
Publication_Date: Unpublished Material
Title: Bottom Video

Type_of_Source_Media: Hi-8 video tape and digital video (for years 1993 to 2021)
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 1993
Ending_Date: 2021

Source_Currentness_Reference: Ground condition of the originally collected data.

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: video
Source_Contribution:

Original video imagery of the seabed was used to interpret the seabed geology of the study area. Although the video has not been released due to size constraints, the tracklines of video acquisition are available from numerous releases. Those used in Quadrangle 3 are listed as additional source contributions.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2019
Title:

Sea-floor Sediment Samples, Seabed Imagery, and CTD Instrument Data Collected on Stellwagen Bank in November, 2013, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2013-044-FA

Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data (polylines)
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P9N8YJL1

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

Suggested citation: Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2019, Sea-floor sediment samples, seabed imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank in November, 2013, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2013-044-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9N8YJL1.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9N8YJL1

Type_of_Source_Media: digital file (polyline shapefile)
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20131105
Ending_Date: 20131121

Source_Currentness_Reference:

ground condition when data were collected. There were three days of data collection. November 5, 15, and 21, 2013.

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 2013-044-FA video lines
Source_Contribution:

This dataset is the location of the video transects from field activity 2013-044-FA (those that fall within quadrangle 3) that were used in the interpretation.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2020
Title:

Sea-Floor Sediment Samples, Seabed Imagery, and CTD Instrument Data Collected on Stellwagen Bank in May, 2014, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2014-015-FA

Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data (polylines)
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P93OZR8C

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

Suggested citation: Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2020, Sea-floor sediment samples, seabed imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank in May, 2014, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2014-015-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P93OZR8C.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P93OZR8C

Type_of_Source_Media: digital file (polyline shapefile)
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20140522
Ending_Date: 20140530

Source_Currentness_Reference:

ground condition when data were collected. The days of data collection were May 22-23 and 29-30, 2014.

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 2014-015-FA video lines
Source_Contribution:

This dataset is the location of the video transects from field activity 2014-015-FA (those that fall within quadrangle 3) that were used in the interpretation.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2020
Title:

Sea-floor sediment samples, seabed imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank in September, 2014, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2014-055-FA

Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data (polylines)
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P9NK9AJP

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

Suggested citation: Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2020, Sea-floor sediment samples, seabed imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank in September, 2014, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2014-055-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9NK9AJP.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9NK9AJP

Type_of_Source_Media: digital file (polyline shapefile)
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20140923
Ending_Date: 20140924

Source_Currentness_Reference:

ground condition when data were collected. There were two days of data collection based on EDT. September 23 and 24, 2014.

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 2014-055-FA video lines
Source_Contribution:

This dataset is the location of the video transects from field activity 2014-055-FA (those that fall within quadrangle 3) that were used in the interpretation.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2020
Title:

Sea-Floor Sediment Samples, Seabed Imagery, and CTD Instrument Data Collected on Stellwagen Bank in November, 2014, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2014-066-FA

Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data (polylines)
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P9EQM8MK

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

Suggested citation: Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2020, Sea-floor sediment samples, seabed imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank in November, 2014, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2014-066-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9EQM8MK.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9EQM8MK

Type_of_Source_Media: digital file (polyline shapefile)
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 20141110

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition of when data were collected.

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 2014-066-FA video lines
Source_Contribution:

This dataset is the location of the video transects from field activity 2014-066-FA (those that fall within quadrangle 3) that were used in the interpretation.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2020
Title:

Sea-floor sediment samples, seabed imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank in May and June, 2015, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2015-017-FA

Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data (polylines)
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P9BG490P

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

Suggested citation: Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2020, Sea-floor sediment samples, seabed imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank in May and June, 2015, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2015-017-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9BG490P.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9BG490P

Type_of_Source_Media: digital file (polyline shapefile)
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20150518
Ending_Date: 20150603

Source_Currentness_Reference:

ground condition when data were collected. The UTC dates of data collection were May 18-19, 29, and June 3, 2015.

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 2015-017-FA video lines
Source_Contribution:

This dataset is the location of the video transects from field activity 2015-017-FA (those that fall within quadrangle 3) that were used in the interpretation.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2017
Title:

Sea floor sediment samples, seabed imagery, and CTD data collected in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, MA in 2015, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2015-062-FA

Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data (polylines and points)
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/F7N015FS

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

Suggested citation: Valentine, P.C. and Cross, V.A., 2017, Sea floor sediment samples, seabed imagery, and CTD data collected in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, MA in 2015, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2015-062-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7N015FS .

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/F7N015FS

Type_of_Source_Media: digital file (point shapefile and polyline shapefile)
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20151021
Ending_Date: 20151104

Source_Currentness_Reference:

ground condition of when data were collected. There were four days of data collection. October 21-22 and November 3-4, 2015.

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 2015-062-FA data
Source_Contribution:

This dataset contains the location of the video transects and sediment sample data from field activity 2015-062-FA (those that fall within quadrangle 3) that were used in the interpretation.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2016
Title:

Station information, seabed imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank in January 2016, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2016-004-FA

Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data (polylines and points)
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P934L7PN

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2021, Station information, seabed imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank in January 2016, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2016-004-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P934L7PN.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P934L7PN

Type_of_Source_Media: digital file (point shapefile and polyline shapefile)
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 20160128

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition of when data were collected.

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 2016-004-FA data
Source_Contribution:

This dataset contains the location of the video transects from field activity 2016-004-FA (those that fall within quadrangle 3) that were used in the interpretation.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2020
Title:

Station Information, Seabed and Sample Imagery, and CTD Instrument Data Collected on Stellwagen Bank in September, 2016, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2016-038-FA

Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data (polylines)
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P91MNNSN

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

Suggested citation: Valentine, P.C. and Cross, V.A., 2020, Station information, seabed and sample imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank in September, 2016, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2016-038-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P91MNNSN .

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P91MNNSN

Type_of_Source_Media: digital file (point shapefile, polyline shapefile)
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20160916
Ending_Date: 20160919

Source_Currentness_Reference:

ground condition of when data were collected. There were two days of data collection. September 16 and 19, 2016.

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 2016-038-FA video lines
Source_Contribution:

This dataset contains the location of the video transects from field activity 2016-038-FA (those that fall within quadrangle 3) that were used in the interpretation.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2019
Title:

Sea-floor sediment samples, seabed imagery, and CTD data collected on Stellwagen Bank, in May 2017, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2017-030-FA

Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data (polylines and points)
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P94GOZ7C

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2019, Sea-floor sediment samples, seabed imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank in May 2017, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2017-030-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P94GOZ7C .

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P94GOZ7C

Type_of_Source_Media: digital file (point shapefile, polyline shapefile)
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20170518
Ending_Date: 20170523

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition when data were collected.

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 2017-030-FA data
Source_Contribution:

This dataset contains the location of the video transects and sediment sample information from field activity 2017-030-FA (those that fall within quadrangle 3) that were used in the interpretation.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2019
Title:

Sea-floor sediment samples, seabed imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank in September 2017, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2017-044-FA

Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data (polylines and points)
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P9IL0LLO

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2019, Sea-floor sediment samples, seabed imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank in September 2017, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2017-044-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9IL0LLO .

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9IL0LLO

Type_of_Source_Media: digital file (point shapefile, polyline shapefile)
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20170912
Ending_Date: 20170914

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition when data were collected.

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 2017-044-FA data
Source_Contribution:

This dataset contains the location of the video transects and sediment sample information from field activity 2017-044-FA (those that fall within quadrangle 3) that were used in the interpretation.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2020
Title:

Sea-floor sediment samples, seabed imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank in July and August, 2019, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2019-008-FA

Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data (polylines and points)
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P93ATKSC

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

Suggested citation: Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2020, Sea-floor sediment samples, seabed imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank in July and August, 2019, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2019-008-FA: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P93ATKSC .

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P93ATKSC

Type_of_Source_Media: digital file (point shapefile, vector data)
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20190730
Ending_Date: 20190801

Source_Currentness_Reference:

ground condition of when data were collected. There were three days of data collection, July 30, 31, and August 1, 2019.

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 2019-008-FA data
Source_Contribution:

This dataset contains the location of the video transects and sediment sample information from field activity 2019-008-FA (those that fall within quadrangle 3) that were used in the interpretation, as well as the sediment samples.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2019
Title:

Location and analyses of sediment samples collected on Stellwagen Bank off Boston, Massachusetts from November 5, 2013 to April 30, 2019 during U.S. Geological Survey field activities

Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data (polylines and points)
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P9FWFLPD

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

Suggested citation: Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2019, Location and analyses of sediment samples collected on Stellwagen Bank off Boston, Massachusetts from November 5, 2013 to April 30, 2019 on U.S. Geological Survey field activities: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9FWFLPD.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9FWFLPD

Type_of_Source_Media: digital file (polyline shapefile)
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20131105
Ending_Date: 20190430

Source_Currentness_Reference:

ground condition of when data were collected. Sediment data were collected on 20 cruises from November 5, 2013 to April 30, 2019.

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 2013-2019 sediment samples
Source_Contribution:

This dataset contains the location and analyses of sediment samples collected on field activities from 2013 to 2019. The samples that fall within quadrangle 3 were used in the interpretation.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2022
Title:

Station Information, Seabed and Sample Imagery, and CTD Instrument Data Collected on Stellwagen Bank from May 2016 to April 2019

Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data (polylines and points)
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P9ERNGJ2

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2022, Station information, seabed and sample imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank from May 2016 to April 2019: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9ERNGJ2 .

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9ERNGJ2

Type_of_Source_Media: digital file (polyline shapefile)
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20160518
Ending_Date: 20190430

Source_Currentness_Reference:

Ground condition of when data were collected. These data were collected during six separate surveys, with the following ranges of dates for each survey: field activity 2016-012-FA: 20160518 to 20160520; field activity 2016-039-FA: 20161027; field activity 2018-027-FA: 20180521 to 20180523; field activity 2018-028-FA: 20180718 to 20180720; field activity 2018-029-FA: 20181109 and 20181130; and field activity 2019-007-FA: 20190425 to 20190430.

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 2016-2019 station data
Source_Contribution:

This dataset contains the location of the video transects from several field activities from 2016 to 2019 (those that fall within quadrangle 3) that were used in the interpretation, as well as the sediment samples.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: VeeAnn A. Cross
Publication_Date: 2023
Title:

Sea-floor sediment samples, seabed and sample imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank from September 2020 to August 2021

Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data (polylines and points)
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P9G7QARQ

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Other_Citation_Details:

Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2023, Sea-floor sediment samples, seabed and sample imagery, and CTD instrument data collected on Stellwagen Bank from September 2020 to August 2021: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9G7QARQ.

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9G7QARQ

Type_of_Source_Media: digital file (point and polyline shapefile)
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20200924
Ending_Date: 20210804

Source_Currentness_Reference:

Ground condition of when data were collected. These data were collected during three separate surveys, with the following ranges of dates for each survey: field activity 2020-012-FA: 20200924 to 20200925; field activity 2021-016-FA: 20210721 to 20210723; and field activity 2021-017-FA: 20210802 to 20210804.

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 2020-2021 station data
Source_Contribution:

This dataset contains the location of the video transects from several field activities from 2020 to 2021 (those that fall within quadrangle 3) that were used in the interpretation, as well as the sediment samples.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Methodology description of the interpretation with more details available from Valentine, 2019 (available from the cross-references).
A geologic substrate is a surface or volume of sediment or rock where physical, chemical, and biological processes occur, such as the movement and deposition of sediment, the formation of bedforms, and the attachment, burrowing, feeding, reproduction, and sheltering of organisms. Data sources used to characterize substrates are multibeam sonar bathymetric and backscatter imagery to document seabed topography and patterns of sediment and rock distribution, grain-size analyses of sediment samples to determine substrate composition, and video and photographic imagery of the seabed to aid in the interpretation of multibeam sonar imagery and to provide information on substrate layering and mobility, seabed structures, and sediments and non-sediment materials that cannot be physically sampled. Substrates are characterized and identified by sediment grain-size composition; the distribution, in millimeters, of grain diameters in the sediment; the presence of non-sediments (for example, rock outcrops); substrate mobility based on the presence of sediment ripples; substrate layering (for example, a partial veneer of sand on gravel); and seabed structures. This methodology was applied to the interpretation of the seabed in this data release. The interpretation itself was an iterative process that took place 2022-2024.

Process_Date: 2024
Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
Contact_Person: Page C. Valentine

Contact_Position: Research Geologist
Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 384 Woods Hole Rd.
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (508) 548-8700 x2239
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (508) 457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: pvalentine@usgs.gov

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Manual process: The locations of stations were digitally plotted on a multibeam sonar image of sun-illuminated seabed topography in ArcMap 10.8.1 and then exported to PDF at a scale of 1:25000. The boundaries of geologic substrates were digitally drawn by hand on the PDF map in Adobe Acrobat Pro based on interpretation of the data described here. The transfer of this information to the GIS is described in the next process step.
The following information was used as guidelines to derive individual substrate units.
Individual sediment samples were aggregated into substrate types by comparing their textural composition, with special emphasis placed on:
(1) mud, sand, and gravel weight percents;
(2) sand fraction subdivided into a fine-grained sand composite, fgS (3 and 4 phi), and a coarse-grained sand composite, cgS (0, 1, and 2 phi), in weight percents;
(3) fine-grained sand fraction subdivided into 3 phi sand and 4 phi sand, in weight percents;
(4) weight percent of phi grain sizes;
(5) significant phi grain sizes (greater than or equal to 10 weight percent of the sample);
(6) gravel fraction (granules and pebbles only) subdivided into G1 (–1, and –2 phi), and G2 (–3, –4, and –5 phi), in weight percents;
Gravel pebbles larger than -5 phi (6.4 cm) were not collected in this study, although larger pebbles, cobbles, and boulders were observed in seabed imagery.
Mobility of sediments was determined by the presence or absence of sand ripples, as viewed in video and photographic imagery.
Substrate layering was determined by the presence of a layer of finer sediment overlying (but not completely covering) coarser sediment, as viewed in video and photographic imagery.
This process was an iterative process that took place from 2022-2024, primarily 2023.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: DS469
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: SIM2840
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: video
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 2013-044-FA video lines
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 2014-015-FA video lines
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 2014-055-FA video lines
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 2014-066-FA video lines
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 2015-017-FA video lines
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 2015-062-FA data
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 2016-004-FA data
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 2016-038-FA video lines
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 2017-030-FA data
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 2017-044-FA data
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 2019-008-FA data
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 2013-2019 sediment samples
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 2016-2019 station data
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 2020-2021 station data
Process_Date: 2023
Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
Contact_Person: Page C. Valentine

Contact_Position: Research Geologist
Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 384 Woods Hole Rd.
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (508) 548-8700 x2239
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (508) 457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: pvalentine@usgs.gov

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

A file geodatabase was created using ArcCatalog 10.8.1. Within this file geodatabase, a feature dataset was created to contain the datasets associated with the interpretation. The feature dataset was defined with a custom Mercator projection using the following parameters: central longitude -70 degrees 19 minutes; latitude of true scale 41 degrees 39 minutes; false easting and false northing, both 0; datum, NAD 83; linear unit meter. The interpretation of the seabed in the quadrangle extended beyond the quadrangle bounds to help alleviate "boundary faults" when the interpretation is completed in adjacent quadrangles. Once the interpretation was drawn on the PDF, the file was opened in Acrobat Professional and the image was exported at 600 DPI as a TIFF image. This image was then brought into ArcMap and georeferenced based on the graticules and boundaries in the image. The geologic interpretation boundaries were then traced and added to the geodatabase. This is an iterative process taking place from 2023-2024 in conjunction with the work done on the PDF maps by Page C. Valentine. The process date represents the initial start of the work and geodatabase creation. This process step and the subsequent steps using were performed by the same person - VeeAnn A. Cross.

Process_Date: 2023
Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
Contact_Person: VeeAnn A. Cross

Contact_Position: Marine Geologist
Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical
Address: 384 Woods Hole Rd.
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2251
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: vatnipp@usgs.gov

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The final modifications to the polygons and clean-up of the polygons and attribute table were performed using ArcMap 10.8.2. This included adding the attribute Area_km2 and using the "Calculate geometry" function in the attribute table to calculate the area of each polygon in square kilometers. The spatial reference for the calculation was based on the custom Mercator projection of the file geodatabase.

Process_Date: 2024

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The polygon feature class interpretation was exported from the file geodatabase (ArcGIS 10.8.2) to a shapefile using the data frame projection of Geographic, NAD83. Layer files to represent symbology were also created to represent the four representations of the seabed to correspond with the maps in the related report (Valentine and Cross, 2024). These layer files are for the geologic substrate (q3_geologic_interp.lyr), sediment mobility (q3_geologic_sediment_mobility.lyr), substrate coarseness (q3_geologic_substrate_coarseness.lyr), and substrate mud content (q3_geologic_mud_content.lyr).

Process_Date: 2024

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: G-polygon
Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 20

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: 0.000001
Longitude_Resolution: 0.000001
Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: D_North_American_1983
Ellipsoid_Name: GRS_1980
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222101

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: q3_geol_interp
Entity_Type_Definition:

Interpreted substrate polygons of quadrangle 3 located in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: FID
Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.
Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
Range_Domain_Maximum: 19

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Shape
Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.
Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Sub_Unit_S
Attribute_Definition:

Substrate Unit Symbol abbreviation corresponding to the geologic substrate ("geo_substr") name.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: A1
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for A1 r_cgS where r = rippled, cgS = coarse-grained sand

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: A2
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for A2 i_cgS where i = immobile, cgS = coarse-grained sand

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: C
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for C i_cbG where i = immobile, c = cobble, b = boulder, G = gravel

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: E
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for E i_cgS where i = immobile, cgS = coarse-grained sand

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: F
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for F i_cgS / pcbG where i = immobile, cgS = coarse-grained sand, / = overlying, or partial veneer over, p = pebble, c = cobble, b = boulder, G = gravel

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: G1
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for G1 i_mfgS where i = immobile, m = muddy, fgS = fine-grained sand

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Y
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for Y r_cgS where r = rippled, cgS = coarse-grained sand

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Z
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for Z r_cgS where r = rippled, cgS = coarse-grained sand

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AB
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for AC r_fgS r = rippled, fgS = fine-grained sand

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AC
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for AC r_cgS r = rippled, cgS = coarse-grained sand

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AG
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for AG r_cgS where r = rippled, cgS = coarse-grained sand

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AI
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for AI r_cgS where r = rippled, cgS = coarse-grained sand

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AJ
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for AJ i_cgS where i = immobile, cgS = coarse-grained sand

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AK
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for AK i_cgS / pcbG where i = immobile, cgS = coarse-grained sand, / = overlying, or partial veneer over, p = pebble, c = cobble, b = boulder, G = gravel

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AL
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for AL r_gcgS / i_pcG where r = rippled, g = gravelly, cgS = coarse-grained sand, / = overlying, or partial veneer over, i = immobile, p = pebble, c = cobble, G = gravel

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AM
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for AM r_cgS where r = rippled, cgS = coarse-grained sand

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AN
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for AN r_cgS where r = rippled, cgS = coarse-grained sand

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AO
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for AO r_cgS where r = rippled, cgS = coarse-grained sand

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AP
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for AP r_cgS / i_pcbG where r = rippled, cgS = coarse-grained sand, / = overlying, or partial veneer over, i = immobile, p = pebble, c = cobble, b = boulder, G = gravel

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AQ
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Abbreviated symbol for AQ r_fgS where r = rippled, fgS = fine-grained sand

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: geo_substr
Attribute_Definition:

Geologic substrate unit name that designates a unique substrate area on the seabed of quadrangle 3. These definitions include all substrates present in quadrangle 3, including the ones that are not mappable as separate polygons in the shapefile, but are referenced in other unit definitions so included here.

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: A1 r_cgS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Rippled, coarse-grained sand. Substrate A1 is a mobile, coarse-grained sand deposit that covers the southeastern part of Stellwagen Bank and its flank and the eastern approaches to Race Point Channel. It occupies 74.7 km2 or 40.4 percent of the mapped area of quadrangle 3. Water depth range of the stations is 32 to 59 m and of the mapped substrate 30 to 60 m. Mean weight percents of aggregates and composite grades: mud, <1; sand, 94 (fgS, 2; cgS, 92); gravel, 6 (G1, 6; G2, <1). The substrate extends westward onto the southwestern part of the bank in quadrangle 2 (fig. 1; Valentine and Cross, 2024), and northward onto the eastern flank of the bank in quadrangle 6 (fig. 1; Valentine and Gallea, 2015). Substrate A1 is dominantly coarse-grained sand and is very low in mud and fine-grained sand content. Its surface is smooth as observed in multibeam topographic imagery, but video imagery reveals the substrate’s surface is covered with sand ripples with wavelengths of 0.5 to 1.0 m; the orientation of ripple crests varies from N-S to NW-SE. The ripples are symmetrical and well-shaped (sometimes with narrow, sharply-defined crests and sometimes with broad crests hosting secondary ripples) when first formed by storm-wave generated currents, but they subsequently are rounded by faunal disturbance and flattened by bottom-tending fishing gear such as dredges and trawls. Those stations that occur in the A1 polygon that are not documented with video imagery or that do not display sand ripples because they have been disturbed by fishing gear are nevertheless characterized as “rippled” by analogy to the many nearby stations in A1 that exhibit ripples in video imagery. Substrate A1 is texturally similar to substrate Z that is recognized as a separate substrate because it lies in deeper water in Race Point Channel south of Stellwagen Bank and contains slightly more fine-grained sand. Substrate A1 is similar in its mud and overall sand content to substrate A3. However, substrate A3 contains more fine-grained sand (13 wt pct). Each sample from A3 generally contains 10 wt pct or more of fine-grained sand, mostly as 3 phi sand, and its surface is covered with smaller ripples. Substrate A3 deposits occur within the areas occupied by substrates A1, Z, and AN and are not mappable as a coherent unit at the present scale.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: A2 i_cgS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Immobile, coarse-grained sand. Substrate A2 is an immobile, coarse-grained sand deposit that lies along the southeastern flank of Stellwagen Bank and in the deeper eastern approaches to Race Point Channel. It occupies 10.7 km2 or 5.8 percent of the mapped area of quadrangle 3. Water depth range of the stations is 59 to 73 m and of the mapped substrate 55 to 80 m. Mean weight percents of aggregates and composite grades: mud, 1; sand, 98 (fgS, 10; cgS, 88); gravel, 2 (G1, 2; G2, 0). Substrate A2 is dominantly coarse-grained sand and is very low in mud and fine-grained sand content. Its surface is unrippled in contrast to adjacent mobile substrate A1 which lies in shallower depths (30-60 m) to the west and contains less fine-grained sand (2 wt pct). Substrate A2 is bounded in deeper water to the east by substrate E, also an immobile, coarse-grained sand and by substrate G1, a muddy, fine-grained sand. Substrates A2, E, and G1 all extend northward into adjacent quadrangle 6 (fig. 1; Valentine and Gallea, 2015).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: A3 r_cgS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

This is not mappable as a separate polygon but included because of references to the unit elsewhere in the document. Rippled, coarse-grained sand. Substrate A3 is a collection of mobile, coarse-grained sand deposits that lie within the areas occupied by substrates A1, Z, and AN. Water depth range of stations is 42 to 55 m. Mean weight percents of aggregates and composite grades: mud, <1; sand, 98 (fgS, 13; cgS, 85); gravel, 2 (G1, 2; G2 0). It is also present as scattered deposits on the crest and western flank of the bank in adjacent quadrangle 5 to the northwest (fig. 1; Valentine and Cross, 2024). Substrate A3 is similar texturally to substrate A1 in having a very low mud content. It differs from A1 in having more fine-grained sand (each sample generally contains 10 wt pct or more of fine-grained sand, mostly as 3 phi sand), and its surface ripples are much smaller, with wavelengths of 10 to 20 cm. Substrate A3 is also similar to substrate A2. They both contain more fine-grained sand than substrate A1, but A2 has less fine-grained sand than A3, is immobile, and lies at deeper water depths (55-80 m). The scattered deposits identified as substrate A3 occur within areas mapped as substrates A1, Z, and AN and are not mappable as a coherent unit at the present scale.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: C i_cbG
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Immobile, cobble, boulder gravel. Substrate C is represented by five boulder ridges (piled cobbles and boulders) that occur in four locations in quadrangle 3. They occupy 0.7 km2 or 0.4 percent of the mapped area of the quadrangle and occur in water depths of >25 to 87 m. The shape and relief of the boulder ridges are based on interpretation of multibeam topographic imagery and on the substrate’s high reflectivity in backscatter imagery, typical of boulder ridges mapped in quadrangles 5 (Valentine and Cross, 2024) and 6 (Valentine and Gallea, 2015). A sinuous boulder ridge with an east-west orientation is present in the southern part of Race Point Channel. It is approximately 1.5 km long and 0.1 km wide, lies in water depths of >55 to 58 m, and is surrounded by gravelly substrate AK. A single station lies within the bounds of this boulder ridge. Two adjacent boulder ridges are present on the southern margin of Race Point Channel near the southern limit of the quadrangle 3 mapped area. The westernmost ridge is 0.5 km long and 0.1 km wide and is oriented approximately east-west. The easternmost ridge extends southward past the map boundary and is at least 0.7 km long and 0.2 km wide and is oriented northwest-southeast. They lie in water depths of >25 to <35 m and are surrounded by substrate AO. A single boulder ridge is present on the southern flank of Race Point Channel in water depths of <30 to 36 m. The feature is approximately 500 m long, 200 m wide, and is oriented NE-SW, normal to the trend of the sediment ridges of substrate AP which surrounds it. Another boulder ridge forms a low feature that trends NW-SE along the southwest margin of South Ninety Bank in water depths of 85 to 87 m; it is surrounded by substrate F which occupies the summit of South Ninety Bank.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: E i_cgS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Immobile, coarse-grained sand. Substrate E is an immobile, coarse-grained sand deposit that lies in a shallow valley between the southeastern flank of Stellwagen Bank and the western flank of South Ninety Bank. It occupies 0.3 km2 or 0.2 percent of the mapped area of quadrangle 3. Water depth range of the substrate is 75 to 80 m. It separates substrate A2 to the west from substrate G1 that lies on the western flank of South Ninety Bank in deeper water to the east. Substrate E is not represented by any samples in quadrangle 3, and it is interpreted to be a short extension (1.5 km) of substrate E mapped in adjacent quadrangle 6 to the north and to be similar texturally (fig. 1; Valentine and Gallea, 2015).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: F i_cgS / pcbG
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Immobile, coarse-grained sand; partial veneer on pebble, cobble, boulder gravel. Substrate F is a layered substrate of immobile, coarse-grained sand that partially veneers pebble, cobble, boulder gravel. It lies on the southern part of the top of South Ninety Bank. It occupies 3.1 km2 or 1.7 percent of the mapped area of quadrangle 3. Water depth range of the stations is 87 to 97 m and of the mapped substrate 85 to 115 m. Mean weight percents of aggregates and composite grades of the two samples from the sediment partial veneer overlying the gravel: mud, 5; sand, 56 (fgS, 40; cgS, 16); gravel, 39 (G1, 15; G2, 24). The high gravel content is interpreted to represent gravel particles inadvertently collected from the gravel substrate located below the partial veneer of sand.
The seabed on the northern part of the top of South Ninety Bank lies in adjacent quadrangle 6 and was mapped as substrate F (Valentine and Gallea, 2015). The seabed on the southern part of the bank top lies in quadrangle 3 and is also mapped here as substrate F. The assignment of this area to substrate F requires explanation. On the northern part of the bank, the grain size of sand is variable; coarse-grained sand is dominant on the bank top (3 stations) and fine-grained sand content (2 stations) increases with water depth on the bank’s flank (Valentine and Gallea, 2015). By contrast, on the southern part of the bank top in quadrangle 3, in the two samples collected, the content of fine-grained sand is greater than coarse-grained sand. Nevertheless, this area is identified as substrate F because sediment texture data here are variable and sparse; and it is unlikely that the northern and southern parts of this relatively smooth and flat bank top are occupied by different substrates, as the multibeam sonar bathymetric and backscatter imagery (Valentine, 2005) show the seabed on the bank top to be of similar character in both quadrangles. More sediment sampling is required to verify this interpretation.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: G1 i_mfgS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Immobile, muddy, fine-grained sand. Substrate G1 is an immobile, muddy, fine-grained sand deposit that lies on the southern flank of South Ninety Bank and in the deeper waters of the basins to the east and south of it. It occupies 17.8 km2 or 9.6 percent of the mapped area of quadrangle 3. This substrate has been mapped in a similar topographic setting on the northern flank of South Ninety Bank and in its adjacent basins in quadrangle 6 to the north (fig. 1; Valentine and Gallea, 2015). Water depth range of the stations is 78 to 126 m and of the mapped substrate 70 to 130 m. Mean weight percents of aggregates and composite grades: mud, 6; sand, 88 (fgS, 69; cgS, 20); gravel, 6 (G1, 3; G2, 3). Substrate G1 in quadrangle 3 contains only 6 mean weight percent mud, which is less than the 10 weight percent required for it to be characterized as a “muddy” sediment (Valentine, 2019). However, because the weight percent mud composition of the 9 samples (range 1-16, mean 6) collected from quadrangle 3 is very similar to the weight percent mud composition of the 39 samples (range 2-18, mean 10) collected from substrate G1 in quadrangle 6 (Valentine and Gallea, 2015), and because of its similar topographic setting, the substrate mapped as G1 in quadrangle 3 is identified as a muddy, fine-grained sand for consistency with its occurrence in adjacent quadrangle 6 to the north.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Y r_cgS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Rippled, coarse-grained sand. Substrate Y is a mobile, coarse-grained sand deposit lying in the eastern part of Little Stellwagen Basin. It occupies 2.0 km2 or 1.1 percent of the mapped area of quadrangle 3. Water depth range of the stations is 62 to 63 m and of the mapped substrate 60 to 63 m. Mean weight percents of aggregates and composite grades: mud, 3; sand, 96; (fgS, 36; cgS, 60); gravel, 1 (G1, 1; G2, 0). Substrate Y lies in the southwestern part of quadrangle 3 and extends westward into quadrangle 2 (fig. 1; Valentine and Cross, 2024). It lies to the west of substrate AC, in somewhat deeper water, and contains more fine-grained sand (36 wt pct) than substrate AC (12 wt pct). Substrate Y is bounded to the south by the northern margin of Cape Cod occupied by substrates AG and AQ.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Z r_cgS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Rippled, coarse-grained sand. Substrate Z is a mobile, coarse-grained sand deposit. It lies in Race Point Channel at the base of Stellwagen Bank. It occupies 13.5 km2 or 7.3 percent of quadrangle 3. Water depth range of the stations and of the mapped substrate is 43 to 62 m. Mean weight percents of aggregates and composite grades: mud, 1; sand, 97; (fgS, 5; cgS, 91); gravel, 3 (G1, 2; G2, 1). It is bounded to the north by substrate A1 on Stellwagen Bank and is differentiated from it because it lies in somewhat deeper water in Race Point Channel and because it contains more fine-grained sand (5 wt pct) than substrate A1 (2 wt pct). As observed in multibeam topographic imagery, substrate Z has a relatively smooth surface. In Race Point Channel, it is bounded by a range of sand substrates including substrates AI and AN to the east, and AC and AM to the south. Also, to the south it abuts AK, a layered substrate of sand that partially veneers gravel. Substrate Z extends westward from quadrangle 3 into quadrangle 2 (fig. 1; Valentine and Cross, 2024).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AB r_fgS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Rippled, fine-grained sand. Substrate AB is a mobile, fine-grained sand deposit that lies in the northern part of Race Point Channel on the southern flank of Stellwagen Bank in 45 to 55 m water depth. The largest portion of AB lies in adjacent quadrangle 2 to the west (Valentine and Cross, 2024). AB extends eastward into quadrangle 3 where it occupies a very small area. No sediment samples were collected from the portion of AB that lies in quadrangle 3. It is bounded to the north in shallower water on Stellwagen Bank by substrate A1 and to the east and south by substrate Z, both of which contain less fine-grained sand.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AC r_cgS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Rippled, coarse-grained sand. Substrate AC is a mobile, coarse-grained sand deposit that lies in the southern part of Race Point Channel. It occupies 1.4 km2 or 0.8 percent of quadrangle 3. Water depth of the one station is 59 m and of the mapped substrate 59 to 60 m. Weight percents of aggregates and composite grades of the one sample: mud, 2; sand, 98 (fgS, 12; cgS, 86; gravel, <1 (G1, <1; G2, 0). The substrate’s surface displays bedforms (50-100 m wavelength) observable in multibeam topographic imagery that trend NW-SE, approximately normal to the trend of Race Point Channel. They resemble bedforms present in the northern part of substrate AM to the east. Substrate AC is bounded to the east by substrate AK. It is bounded to the west by substrates Y and Z whose surfaces are smooth as observed in multibeam topographic imagery. Based on the presence of its distinctive bedforms, substrate AC extends westward for a short distance into quadrangle 2 (Valentine and Cross, 2024).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AG r_cgS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Rippled, coarse-grained sand. Substrate AG is a mobile, coarse-grained sand deposit that lies on the south flank of Little Stellwagen Basin north of Cape Cod and extends westward into quadrangle 2 (Valentine and Cross, 2024). It occupies 0.3 km2 or 0.2 percent of the mapped area of quadrangle 3. It is not represented by any samples in quadrangle 3, and it is interpreted to be a short extension of substrate AG from adjacent quadrangle 2 to the west (Valentine and Cross, 2024) and to have a similar sediment texture with a mean mud content of <1 weight percent. Its occurrence in quadrangle 3 is based on interpretation of multibeam topographic and backscatter imagery. Water depth range of the mapped substrate is 50 to 60 m. The surface of substrate AG is covered with storm-generated sand ripples. To the east, along the northern slope of Cape Cod, it abuts substrate AQ, a rippled, fine-grained sand.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AI r_cgS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Rippled, coarse-grained sand. Substrate AI is a mobile, coarse-grained sand deposit. It lies in the central part of Race Point Channel between Stellwagen Bank to the north and Cape Cod to the south. It occupies 4.4 km2 or 2.4 percent of the mapped area of quadrangle 3. Water depth range of the stations is 43 to 49 m and of the mapped substrate 43 to 55 m. Mean weight percents of aggregates and composite grades: mud, <1; sand, 90; (fgS, 4; cgS, 85); gravel, 10 (G1, 6; G2, 5). Substrate AI is characterized by areas of smooth seabed separated by areas of subparallel ridges aligned dominantly NW-SE as observed in multibeam topographic imagery. Two samples collected from the ridges are gravelly, coarse-grained sand, suggesting that just below the surface substrate the ridges are gravelly and possibly represent partially buried iceberg keel marks (see substrate AP below). Substrate AI is bounded to the north by substrates AL and AN, to the east by substrate A1, to the south by substrate AP, and to the west by substrate Z.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AJ i_cgS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Immobile, coarse-grained sand. Substrate AJ is an immobile, coarse-grained sand deposit that lies on the top of a small, unnamed bank located southeast of South Ninety Bank. It occupies 0.2 km2 or 0.1percent of the mapped area of quadrangle 3. Water depth of the single sample is 111 m and of the mapped substrate 110 to 111 m. Weight percents of aggregates and composite grades of the single sample: mud, 9; sand, 88; (fgS, 29; cgS, 59); gravel, 3 (G1, 3; G2, 0). It is surrounded in deeper water by substrate G1.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AK i_cgS / pcbG
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Immobile, coarse-grained sand; partial veneer on pebble, cobble, boulder gravel. Substrate AK is a layered substrate of immobile coarse-grained sand that partially veneers pebble, cobble, boulder gravel. It lies in the southcentral part of Race Point Channel where it occupies 2.7 km2 or 1.4 percent of the mapped area of quadrangle 3. Water depth range of the stations is 57 to 61 m and of the mapped substrate 55 to 61 m. Mean weight percents of aggregates and composite grades of the very thin sediment partial veneer overlying gravel: mud, 4; sand, 82; (fgS, 11; cgS, 71); gravel, 14 (G1, 4; G2, 9). The substrate is interpreted to be immobile because only two of 10 stations with video imagery show ripples, and they are very poorly developed in the thin, patchy sand that veneers the gravel at some stations. The gravel element of the substrate is documented by video imagery. The substrate’s hummocky surface as observed in multibeam topographic imagery exhibits high reflectivity in backscatter imagery, typical of a hard substrate. Multibeam topographic imagery is the basis for the mapped geographic extent of the substrate. Substrate AK surrounds an east-west trending boulder ridge (substrate C). Substrate AK is bounded on all sides by substrates of rippled sand, which include, substrate Z to the north, substrate AM to the east and southeast, substrate AQ to the south, and substrate AC to the west.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AL r_gcgS / i_pcG
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Rippled, gravelly, coarse-grained sand; partial veneer on pebble, cobble, boulder gravel. Substrate AL is a layered substrate of mobile, gravelly, coarse-grained sand that partially veneers immobile pebble, cobble gravel. It lies in two separate areas on topographic highs in the northeastern part of Race Point Channel south of Stellwagen Bank. It occupies 2.9 km2 or 1.6 percent of the mapped area of quadrangle 3. Water depth range of the stations is 46 to 53 m and of the mapped substrate 45 to 53 m. Mean weight percents of aggregates and composite grades of the sediment partial veneer overlying gravel: mud, <1; sand, 56 (fgS, 17; cgS, 39); gravel, 44 (G1, 5; G2, 39). Pebbles and cobbles are identified based on video imagery. At some stations substrate AL is a gravel pavement with little or no sand veneer. The substrate’s surface exhibits high reflectivity in multibeam backscatter imagery, typical of a hard substrate; and the mapped geographic extent of the substrate is based on backscatter imagery. The western area of substrate AL is surrounded by substrate AN. The eastern area of substrate AL is bounded to the north and west by substrate AN, to the east by substrate A1, and to the south by substrate AI.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AM r_cgS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Rippled, coarse-grained sand. Substrate AM is a mobile, coarse-grained sand deposit. It lies in the southern part of Race Point Channel north of Cape Cod. It occupies 8.0 km2 or 4.3 percent of the mapped area of quadrangle 3. Water depth range of the stations is 45 to 64 m and of the mapped substrate 40 to 64 m. Mean weight percents of aggregates and composite grades: mud, 1; sand, 98; (fgS, 4; cgS, 94); gravel, 1 (G1, 1; G2, <1). Multibeam topographic imagery shows the substrate surface displays large bedforms (100-200 m wavelength) in the south and small bedforms (50-100 m wavelength) in the north. The bedforms trend NW-SE, approximately normal to the trend of Race Point Channel. The small bedforms in the northern part are similar in wavelength and orientation to those present in substrate AC to the west. Substrate AM is bounded to the north by substrates Z and AP, to the east by substrate AP, to the south by substrate AO, and to the west by substrate AK.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AN r_cgS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Rippled, coarse-grained sand. Substrate AN is a mobile, coarse-grained sand deposit. It lies along the northern margin of Race Point Channel and the southern margin of Stellwagen Bank. It occupies 7.3 km2 or 3.9 percent of the mapped area of quadrangle 3. Water depth range of the stations is 48 to 50 m and of the mapped substrate 45 to 50 m. Mean weight percents of aggregates and composite grades: mud, <1; sand, 99 (fgS, 32; cgS, 67); gravel, 1 (G1, 1; G2, 0). Substrate AN is similar in mobility and sand content to adjacent substrate A1 to the north and east and to substrate Z to the west, but substrate AN has a much higher fine-grained sand content (32 wt pct) compared to that of A1 (2 wt pct) and Z (5 wt pct). It is likely that the fine-grained sand in substrate AN has been winnowed and transported by storm-wave generated currents from substrate A1 on Stellwagen Bank which abuts AN to the north. Also, the surface of substrate AN displays ridge-like features in multibeam topographic imagery that are interpreted to be partly-buried iceberg keel marks (see substrates AP and AI), whereas the surfaces of substrates A1 and Z are smooth in topographic imagery. To the south, substrate AN abuts the eastern deposit of substrate AL and surrounds the western deposit of substrate AL.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AO r_cgS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Rippled, coarse-grained sand. Substrate AO is a mobile, coarse-grained sand deposit lying along the southern margin of Race Point Channel and the northern margin of Cape Cod. It likely represents a sand apron that extends northward from Cape Cod into Race Point Channel. It occupies 5.9 km2 or 3.2 percent of the mapped area of quadrangle 3. Water depth range of the stations is 28 to 49 m and of the mapped substrate 28 to 55 m. Mean weight percents of aggregates and composite grades: mud, 1; sand, 97; (fgS, 3; cgS, 94); gravel, 2 (G1, 2; G2, 1). The surface of substrate AO is smooth as observed in multibeam topographic imagery. By contrast, it is bounded to the north by substrate AM, to the east by substrate AP, and to the west by substrate AQ, all of which are mobile sand substrates that collectively display surfaces of bedforms, ridges, troughs, and hummocks in multibeam topographic imagery. Substrate AO is similar in grain-size composition to other rippled, coarse-grained sand substates (A1, Y, Z) that display a smooth surface in multibeam topographic imagery in quadrangle 3. Two boulder ridges (substrate C) are present within the southern part of substrate AO.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AP r_cgS / i_pcbG
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Rippled, coarse-grained sand; partial veneer on immobile pebble, cobble, boulder gravel. Substrate AP is a layered substrate of mobile, coarse-grained sand that partially veneers immobile pebble, cobble, boulder gravel in the southeastern part of Race Point Channel. It occupies 27.2 km2 or 14.7 percent of the mapped area of quadrangle 3. Water depth range of the stations is 34 to 51 m and of the mapped substrate 30 to 51 m. Mean weight percents of aggregates and composite grades of the sediment partial veneer overlying gravel: mud, <1; sand, 92 (fgS, 3; cgS, 89); gravel, 8 (G1, 5; G2, 3). Substrate AP exhibits relatively high reflectivity in multibeam backscatter imagery, typical of coarse sediment. Cobbles and boulders are identified based on video imagery. The substrate’s surface topography as observed in multibeam topographic imagery is a series of subparallel, arcuate troughs and ridges that trend northwestward. Both substrate layers are visible on the ridges, but only the upper layer (the rippled, coarse-grained sand) is visible in the troughs. The troughs are <5 m deep and are interpreted to be iceberg keel marks that were formed during the last deglaciation (Valentine, 2019) by the grounding of ice bergs as they drifted westward into the channel from deeper water to the east. The keel marks are present beginning at 45 to 50 m water depth in the east and extend westward in the channel until the water depth deepens to >50 m. Substrate AP surrounds a boulder ridge (substrate C). Substrate AP is bounded to the north and west in Race Point Channel by substrates AO, AM, AI, and A1, all of which are rippled, coarse-grained sand. Substrate AP is bounded to the east, in the open Atlantic Ocean, by substrate A1.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: AQ r_fgS
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Rippled, fine-grained sand. Substrate AQ in quadrangle 3 is a mobile fine-grained sand deposit. It lies along the southern margin of Little Stellwagen Basin on the slope that separates the basin from Cape Cod to the south. It occupies 1.2 km2 or 0.6 percent of the mapped area of quadrangle 3. Water depth range of the stations is 54 to 61 m and of the mapped substrate 50 to 61 m. Mean weight percents of aggregates and composite grades: mud, 3; sand, 96; (fgS, 62; cgS, 34); gravel, 1 (G1, <1; G2, <1). The surface of substrate AQ is covered with storm-generated sand ripples. It is bounded to the north by substrates Y, AC, and AK, to the east by substrates AM and AO, and to the west by substrate AG. Substrate AQ likely extends southward into an unmapped area of shallowing water depths on the northern margin of Cape Cod.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544)

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: geo_descr
Attribute_Definition:

Brief text description corresponding to the geologic substrate attribute "geo_substr".

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Character set (text) not to exceed the 255 character limit of a shapefile attribute.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: substr_mob
Attribute_Definition:

Substrate mobility interpreted unit based on the presence of sand ripples observed in video and photographic imagery. Not all units referred to in the definitions are mappable as separate polygons, but are identified in the area mapped.

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: boulder ridges >=1 meter in height
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Boulder ridges greater than or equal to 1 meter in height equivalent to substrate C.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: immobile sediment
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Immobile, coarse-grained sand (substrates E, AJ, and AZ); immobile, muddy, fine-grained sand (substrate G); immobile, coarse-grained sand partial veneer on pebble, cobble gravel (substrate AK); immobile, coarse-grained sand partial veneer on pebble, cobble, boulder gravel (substrate F).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: mobile and immobile sediment
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Rippled, coarse-grained sand partial veneer on immobile, cobble, boulder gravel (substrate AP); rippled, gravelly, coarse-grained sand partial veneer on immobile, pebble, cobble gravel (substrate AL).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: mobile sediment
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Rippled coarse-grained sand (substrates A1, Y, Z, AC, AG, AI, AM, AN, and AO); rippled fine-grained sand (substrates AB and AQ).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: mob_descr
Attribute_Definition:

Text description corresponding to the substrate mobility attribute "substr_mob".

Attribute_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Character set (text).

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: sub_grain
Attribute_Definition:

Substrate grain size interpreted unit based on the mean weight percent of the sand fraction. Not all units referred to in the definitions are mappable as separate polygons, but are identified in the area mapped.

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: boulder ridges >=1 meter in height
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Boulder ridges greater than or equal to 1 meter in height equivalent to substrate C.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: dominated by coarse-grained sand in the sand fraction
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Coarse-grained sand in which coarse-grained sand (0, 1, and 2 phi combined) constitutes the largest portion of the sand fraction; equivalent to substrates A1, E, F, Y, Z, AC, AG, AI, AJ, AK, AL, AM, AN, AO, AP, and AZ.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: dominated by fine-grained sand in the sand fraction
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Fine-grained sand and muddy, fine-grained sand in which fine-grained sand (3 and 4 phi combined) constitutes the largest portion of the sand fraction; equivalent to substrates AB, AQ and G

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: grain_desc
Attribute_Definition:

Text description corresponding to the substrate grain size "sub_grain".

Attribute_Definition_Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Character set (text).

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: substr_mud
Attribute_Definition:

Substrate mud content interpreted unit based on the mean weight percent of mud content.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: < 1
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Mud content less than 1 mean weight percent; substrates A1, AG, AI, AL, AN, and AP.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 1 to <5
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Mud content 1 to less than 5 mean weight percent; equivalent to substrates A2, E, Z, Y, AB, AC, AK, AM, AO, and AQ.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 5 to <10
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Mud content 5 to less than 10 mean weight percent, substrates F, G1, and AJ.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: boulder ridges >=1 meter in height
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Boulder ridges were never sampled due to the nature of the ridges, so are not represented by a measured mud weight percent; equivalent to substrate C.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: mud_descr
Attribute_Definition:

Text description corresponding to the substrate mud content "substr_mud".

Attribute_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Character set (text).

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Area_km2
Attribute_Definition:

The area of the polygon, in square kilometers, calculated using the custom Mercator projection specified in the process step.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.163012
Range_Domain_Maximum: 74.6615
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: square kilometers

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

The geo_substr attribute definitions come from the related report (Valentine and Cross, 2026). In the geo_substr attribute, weight percents described in the domain value definitions may not add to 100 due to rounding of values. Also in the geo_substr attributes, the mean weight percents for the units, sand is divided into two composite grades: fine-grained sand (fgS; 0.062 to <0.25 mm) and coarse-grained sand (cgS; 0.25 to <2mm). Gravel is also divided into two composite grades: Gravel1 (G1; 2 to <8 mm) and Gravel2(G2; 8 to <64 mm). This G1 and G2 are not to be confused with the geologic substrate units G1 i_mfgS and G2 i_mfgS in quadrangle 6. These G1 and G2 are presented in the related report (Valentine and Cross, 2023) as subscripts 1 and 2.
The definitions of the substrate components are fully defined in the related report (Valentine and Cross, 2026, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3544) but are also defined here:
i = immobile
cgS = coarse-grained sand
fgS = fine-grained sand
fgcgS = fine- and coarse-grained sand dominated by coarse-grained
cgfgS = coarse-and fine-grained sand dominated by fine-grained
If the S is capitalized, it indicates Sand as a major component. A lower-case s indicates sandy, and not a major component.
m = muddy
r = rippled
p = pebble
c = cobble (when not immediately followed by g, which indicates coarse-grained)
b = boulder
G = gravel (as a major component)
g = gravelly
/ = overlying or partial veneer over

Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: Page Valentine, U.S. Geological Survey

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical
Address: Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302
City: Denver
State_or_Province: CO
Postal_Code: 80225

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1-888-275-8747
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: sciencebase@usgs.gov

Resource_Description:

The dataset contains q3_geologic_interp.shp and the shapefile components, the browse graphic (q3_substrate_interp_browse.png), and FGDC CSDGM metadata in XML format. Additionally, the following ArcGIS 10.8.1 layer files are included: q3_geologic_interp.lyr, q3_geologic_sediment_mobility.lyr, q3_geologic_substrate_coarseness.lyr, and q3_geologic_mud_content.lyr. For the LYR files to work correctly, they need to be in the same folder as the shapefile. Downloading the contents of the ScienceBase landing page does not necessarily keep the LYR files in the same folder with the shapefile.

Distribution_Liability:

Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes, nor on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: Shapefile
Format_Version_Number: ArcGIS 10.8.1
Format_Information_Content:

This zip file contains the shapefile, browse graphic, and associated FGDC CSDGM metadata. Additionally, ArcGIS 10.8.1 layer files are included for each variation of the mapping units.

Transfer_Size: 0.5

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/65d7c931d34ec3e1801d8149

Network_Resource_Name:

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/65d7c931d34ec3e1801d8149

Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.5066/P13PVHRI

Access_Instructions:

The first link downloads all data available from the page as a zip file, the second link is to the page containing the data, and the third link is to the data release main landing page.

Fees: None.

Technical_Prerequisites:

This dataset includes Esri LYR files for representing symbology for the various substrate interpretations. For the LYR files to work correctly, they need to be in the same folder as the shapefile. Downloading the contents of the ScienceBase landing page does not necessarily keep the LYR files in the same folder with the shapefile.

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20260402
Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
Contact_Person: VeeAnn A. Cross

Contact_Position: Marine Geologist
Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical
Address: 384 Woods Hole Road
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2251
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: whsc_data_contact@usgs.gov
Contact_Instructions:

The metadata contact email address is a generic address in the event the person is no longer with the USGS.

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/whcmsc/SB_data_release/DR_P13PVHRI/q3_geologic_interp_meta.html>