Suspended-sediment concentration data from water samples collected in 2016-17 in Grand Bay, Alabama and Mississippi

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Suspended-sediment concentration data from water samples collected in 2016-17 in Grand Bay, Alabama and Mississippi
Abstract:
Suspended-sediment transport is a critical element governing the geomorphology of tidal marshes and estuaries. Marsh elevation, relative to sea level, is maintained by both organic material and the deposition of inorganic sediment. Additionally, horizontal marsh extent is altered by lateral erosion and accretion. In wetlands within and near Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, parts of the salt marsh are eroding relatively rapidly. To understand the connection between sediment fluxes and these processes, the U.S. Geological Survey made oceanographic and water-quality measurements from August 2, 2016, to January 28, 2017, to quantify suspended-sediment concentration and sediment transport in tidal channels and open embayments in and near Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Supplemental_Information:
These data were collected as part of a six-month-long study of flow velocity, sediment transport, waves, and water quality within Grand Bay. The larger study included long-term time-series deployments of oceanographic instrumentation, with the goal of measuring water-column sediment fluxes and relating them to observed shoreline erosion. More information about the field activity during which these data were collected is available at https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2016-034-FA . More information about the Estuarine Processes, Hazards, and Ecosystems project, which conducted the long-term study, is available at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/whcmsc/science/estuarine-processes-hazards-and-ecosystems .
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Suttles, Steven E., Nowacki, Daniel J., Ganju, Neil K., Borden, Jonathan, and Nichols, Alexander R., 20191220, Suspended-sediment concentration data from water samples collected in 2016-17 in Grand Bay, Alabama and Mississippi: data release DOI:10.5066/P91L4A75, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Suggested citation: Suttles, S.E., Nowacki, D.J., Ganju, N.K., Borden, J., and Nichols, A.R., 2019, Suspended-sediment concentration data from water samples collected in 2016-17 in Grand Bay, Alabama and Mississippi: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P91L4A75.
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -88.4207
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -88.3336
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.4180
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.3622
  3. What does it look like?
    https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5dbb3772e4b06957974ec455?name=GrandBay_WaterSamp_browse.JPG (JPEG)
    Photograph of Van Dorn water sampler being deployed in Bayou Heron.
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 02-Aug-2016
    Ending_Date: 28-Jan-2017
    Currentness_Reference:
    Ground condition. Water samples were collected on the following dates: August 2-7, 2016, October 19, 2016, October 23-24, 2016, January 23-28, 2017.
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.000001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is D_WGS_1984.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS_1984.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257224.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    Grand_Bay_Water_Samples
    Suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) of collected water samples. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Laboratory ID
    internal laboratory ID (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character set (text).
    Sample ID
    sequential bottle ID number. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character set (text).
    Station ID
    station identification (or site name). GB: Grand Bay, BH: Bayou Heron, BM: Bayou Middle. Third character represents specific, unique station within each bayou or bay. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character set (text).
    Sample Date
    calendar date (mm/dd/yyyy) when water sample was collected. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character set (text).
    Sample Time (UTC)
    Time in universal coordinated time (UTC) time zone and 24hour format HH:MM, when water sample was collected. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character set (text).
    Latitude (degrees)
    Latitude coordinate, in decimal-degrees, of sample location. South latitude recorded as negative values. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:30.362178
    Maximum:30.418020
    Units:decimal degrees
    Longitude (degrees)
    Longitude coordinate, in decimal degrees, of sample location. West longitude is recorded as negative values. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-88.420678
    Maximum:-88.333558
    Units:decimal degrees
    Total Depth (m)
    Total water depth at time of sample. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.6
    Maximum:3.4
    Units:meters
    Sample Depth (m)
    Depth of water sample collection. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.1
    Maximum:2.9
    Units:meters
    Filter number
    manufacturer's filter ID number. Some samples required more than one filter and a "+" is used to separate the filter IDs used. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character set (text).
    Filter Weight (g)
    Weight of filter only, i.e. prior to filtering sample. Weights are combined for samples requiring more than 1 filter. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.1053
    Maximum:0.2422
    Units:grams
    Sample Volume (ml)
    Volume of water sample passed through the filter. Volumes are combined for samples requiring more than 1 filter. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:295
    Maximum:555
    Units:milliliters
    Dried at 105C Weight 1 (g)
    Mass from first dry weighing of filter plus residue retained on filter from sample after filtering and drying. Weights are combined for samples requiring more than 1 filter. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.1117
    Maximum:0.2956
    Units:grams
    Dried at 105C Weight 2 (g)
    Mass from second dry weighing of filter plus residue retained on filter from sample after filtering and drying. Weights are combined for samples requiring more than 1 filter. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.1114
    Maximum:0.2956
    Units:grams
    Total Dried Sediment Mass (g))
    Mass of dried residue on filter = Dried weight (average of both weights) - Filter weight. Weights are combined for samples requiring more than 1 filter. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.0019
    Maximum:0.0534
    Units:grams
    SSC (g l-1)
    Suspended sediment concentration (SSC) for a sample = (Total Dried Sediment Mass) / (Sample Volume). (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.0038
    Maximum:0.1112
    Units:grams per liter
    Filtration Date
    calendar date (mm/dd/yyyy) when water sample was filtered. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character set (text).
    Comments
    Comments and/or notes for the sample. Not every sample will have comments. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character set (text).
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    These data are available in a CSV format. The first line of the CSV file is a header line and those labels are the same as defined in the attribute section.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
    USGS Field Activities 2016-034-FA, 2016-046-FA, and 2017-006-FA.

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Steven E. Suttles
    • Daniel J. Nowacki
    • Neil K. Ganju
    • Jonathan Borden
    • Alexander R. Nichols
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Steven E. Suttles
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Mechanical Engineer
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    US

    508-548-8700 x2228 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    ssuttles@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

These suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) data from water samples collected in Grand Bay, Alabama and Mississippi, from August 2, 2016, to January 28, 2017, supplement oceanographic and water-quality time-series measurements. Specifically, the SSC data are used to estimate the relation between suspended mass and optical turbidity measurements.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: Aug-2016 (process 1 of 11)
    Deployment sample collection: Collect 99 water samples using van Dorn water sampler at deployed instrument sites (17 samples) and other locations (72 samples) in Grand Bay from 20160802 - 20160807.
    Date: Aug-2016 (process 2 of 11)
    Filter water samples (80 of 99 collected) at the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve using 47mm, 1.5 micron pore size, pre-weighed, pre-volatilized 934-AH glass fiber filters. Entire sample volume was filtered. If necessary samples were split between 2 or more filters if solids load was too much for a single filter. Water samples were resuspended in bottle prior to pouring into filter funnel. A final rinse was made using deionized water to wash out dissolved salts from each filter.
    Date: Aug-2016 (process 3 of 11)
    Determine suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) in grams per liter using "Solids, residue at 105 C, suspended, gravimetric" method from Fishman and Friedman (1989). Laboratory analyses conducted at USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Sediment Laboratory using Ohaus AX224 micro-balance.
    Date: Oct-2016 (process 4 of 11)
    First servicing sample collection: Collect 42 water samples using van Dorn water sampler at deployed instrument sites (13 samples) and other locations (29 samples) in Grand Bay from 20161019 - 20161024. This was during the first turnaround where deployed instruments were recovered, downloaded, cleaned, and batteries and anti-fouling controls refreshed as necessary. Nineteen of the samples were collected at the end of the first deployment (A) period and the remaining 23 after the instruments were serviced and re-deployed for the beginning of the second deployment (B).
    Date: Oct-2016 (process 5 of 11)
    Filter water samples at the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve using 47mm, 1.5 micron pore size, pre-weighed, pre-volatilized 934-AH glass fiber filters. Entire sample volume was filtered. If necessary samples were split between 2 or more filters if solids load was too much for a single filter. Water samples were resuspended in bottle prior to pouring into filter funnel. A final rinse was made using deionized water to wash out dissolved salts from each filter.
    Date: Nov-2016 (process 6 of 11)
    Determine suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) in grams per liter using "Solids, residue at 105 C, suspended, gravimetric" method from Fishman and Friedman (1989). Laboratory analyses conducted at USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Sediment Laboratory using Ohaus AX224 micro-balance.
    Date: Jan-2017 (process 7 of 11)
    Recovery sample collection: Collect 46 water samples using van Dorn water sampler at deployed instrument sites (31 samples) prior to final instrument recovery, and at other locations within Grand Bay (15 samples) from 20170123 - 20170128.
    Date: Jan-2017 (process 8 of 11)
    Filter water samples at the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve using 47mm, 1.5 micron pore size, pre-weighed, pre-volatilized 934-AH glass fiber filters. Entire sample volume was filtered. If necessary samples were split between 2 or more filters if solids load was too much for a single filter. Water samples were resuspended in bottle prior to pouring into filter funnel. A final rinse was made using deionized water to wash out dissolved salts from each filter.
    Date: Mar-2017 (process 9 of 11)
    Determine suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) in grams per liter using "Solids, residue at 105 C, suspended, gravimetric" method from Fishman and Friedman (1989). Laboratory analyses conducted at USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Sediment Laboratory using Ohaus AX224 micro-balance.
    Date: Oct-2019 (process 10 of 11)
    Use Microsoft Excel to compile all laboratory analysis of suspended-sediment concentration (SSC) from collected water samples. Add sample locations (latitude/longitude) to the compiled tabular results spreadsheet. Export results spreadsheet to comma-separated values (csv) file format.
    Date: 06-Aug-2020 (process 11 of 11)
    Added keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: VeeAnn A. Cross
    Marine Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-548-8700 x2251 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    vatnipp@usgs.gov
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Nowacki, Daniel J., Suttles, Steven E., Ganju, Neil K., Montgomery, Ellyn T., and Martini, Marinna A., 2018, Oceanographic and Water Quality Measurements Collected in Grand Bay, Alabama/Mississippi, August 2016 – January 2017: data release DOI:10.5066/P9UG9JYQ, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Nowacki, Daniel J., Ganju, Neil K., Suttles, Steven E., Borden, Jonathan, and Nichols, Alexander, 2018, Discharge measurements made in Bayou Heron and Bayou Middle, Grand Bay, Mississippi in January 2017: data release DOI:10.5066/P98NHB82, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Fishman, Marvin J., and Friedman, Linda C., 1989, Methods for determination of inorganic substances in water and fluvial sediments: Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations (TWRI) Book 5, Chapter A1, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    Laboratory analyses conducted at USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Sediment Laboratory using Ohaus AX224 micro-balance with listed readability of 0.0001 grams, and repeatablity of +or- 0.0001 grams. Difference between first and second weighing were checked for stability and were within +or- 1%.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Horizontal position was determined using a Garmin GPSMAP 78sc handheld GPS. The expected absolute, horizontal accuracy is stated to be 3 to 5 m at the 95% confidence level using the WAAS setting. Additional sources of error in the position for the water sample locations are caused by the offset from the GPS and the exact location of the van Dorn water sampler at the time the sample was taken, which could be as large as 2 m; therefore overall expected accuracy of the reported horizontal position for these water sample locations is on the order of 7 m or better. One exception is sample 160 where no GPS way point was stored and the horizontal position coordinates were estimated from the samples taken before and after at the GB4 site location; for this sample the position accuracy could be greater than 7 m.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    Total water column depth values at each sample site were determined from using a handheld depth sounder. Sample depths were determined by markings on the lowering line for the van Dorn sampler, and the samples were typically between 0.25 and 0.75 m above the seabed. Depths given were taken from the water surface at time of sample, and were not referenced to a fixed datum. Expected accuracy of depth measurements is 0.3 m or better.
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Dataset is considered complete for the information presented.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    Water samples were collected using a van Dorn sampler, and processed for suspended-sediment concentration(SSC) following USGS methods (Fishman and Friedman, 1989). Water samples were stored in a refrigerated and dark location, and were filtered within one month of collection. The entire volume of each water sample was filtered to avoid sub-sampling errors. Deionized water was put through each filter as the last step of the filtration process to rinse dissolved salts from the filter. Standard laboratory protocols (Fishman and Friedman, 1989) were followed to ensure thorough drying and accurate weighing of samples.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints: None. Please see 'Distribution Info' for details.
Use_Constraints:
Public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as the source of this information.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase
    Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302
    Denver, CO
    United States

    1-888-275-8747 (voice)
    sciencebase@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? This dataset contains laboratory analyses for suspended sediment concentration (SSC) of collected water samples in Grand Bay, Alabama and Mississippi in 2016-17 (Grand_Bay_Water_Samples.csv).
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    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 on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.
  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 06-Aug-2020
Metadata author:
Steven E Suttles
U.S. Geological Survey
Mechanical Engineer
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA
US

508-548-8700 x2228 (voice)
508-457-2310 (FAX)
ssuttles@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/whcmsc/SB_data_release/DR_P91L4A75/GrandBay_WaterSamp_metadata.faq.html>
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