Unvegetated to vegetated ratio at Thompsons Beach and Stone Harbor, New Jersey from 2014 to 2018

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Unvegetated to vegetated ratio at Thompsons Beach and Stone Harbor, New Jersey from 2014 to 2018
Abstract:
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy struck the Northeastern US causing devastation among coastal ecosystems. Post-hurricane marsh restoration efforts have included sediment deposition, planting of vegetation, and restoring tidal hydrology. The work presented here is part of a larger project funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to monitor the post-restoration ecological resilience of coastal ecosystems in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center made in-situ observations during 2018-2019 and 2022-2023 at two sites: Thompsons Beach, NJ and Stone Harbor, NJ. Marsh creek hydrodynamics and water quality including currents, waves, water levels, water temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, organic matter, chlorophyll-a, and suspended-sediment concentration and organic content were measured at both sites. Additionally, marsh accretion and erosion were evaluated and used to interpret sediment budgets. These ecological data will be coupled with topographic lidar and imagery to explain the processes responsible for coastline evolution, and to evaluate restoration techniques and assess whether storm vulnerability has decreased relative to unaltered environments.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    De, Olivia A. Meo, Bales, Robert D., Suttles, Steven E., Ganju, Neil K., and Marsjanik, Eric D., 20240116, Unvegetated to vegetated ratio at Thompsons Beach and Stone Harbor, New Jersey from 2014 to 2018: data release DOI:10.5066/P9CS5U6N, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    De, Olivia A. Meo, Bales, Robert D., Suttles, Steve E., Marsjanik, Eric D., and Ganju, Neil K., 2024, Supplementary data in support of oceanographic and water quality times-series measurements made at Thompsons Beach and Stone Harbor, NJ from September 2018 to February 2023: data release DOI:10.5066/P9CS5U6N, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Suggested citation: De Meo, O.A., Bales, R.D., Suttles, S.E., Marsjanik, E.D., and Ganju, N.K., 2024, Supplementary data in support of oceanographic and water quality times-series measurements made at Thompsons Beach and Stone Harbor, NJ from September 2018 to February 2023: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9CS5U6N.
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -74.994961
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -74.770424
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 39.206360
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 39.028643
  3. What does it look like?
    https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/64920e2bd34ef77fcb004e38?name=TB_Bands.png (PNG)
    Vegetated, unvegetated, and water bands used to calculate UVVR at Thompsons Beach, NJ.
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 2014
    Ending_Date: 2018
    Currentness_Reference:
    The range of years of UVVR data that were downloaded for the analysis.
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • G-polygon (2)
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      The map projection used is WGS 1984 Web Mercator Auxiliary Sphere.
      Projection parameters:
      False_Easting: 0.0
      False_Northing: 0.0
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: 0.0
      Standard_Parallel: 0.0
      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.6096
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.6096
      Planar coordinates are specified in meters
      The horizontal datum used is D_WGS_1984.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS 84.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.0.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257223563.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    NFWF_UVVR.shp attribute table
    Table containing attribute information associated with the dataset. (Source: USGS)
    FID
    Internal feature number (Source: Esri) Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
    Shape
    Feature geometry (Source: Esri)
    ValueDefinition
    PolygonA closed shape defined by a connected sequence of x,y coordinate pairs.
    Site
    Location name (Source: USGS) Character string.
    UVVRhi2014
    Ratio of unvegetated surface area to vegetated surface area with null values set to unvegetated for 2014 (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.359
    Maximum:0.566
    Units:none
    UVVRlo2014
    Ratio of unvegetated surface area to vegetated surface area with null values excluded for 2014 (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.327
    Maximum:0.543
    Units:none
    UVVRhi2015
    Ratio of unvegetated surface area to vegetated surface area with null values set to unvegetated for 2015 (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.318
    Maximum:0.641
    Units:none
    UVVRlo2015
    Ratio of unvegetated surface area to vegetated surface area with null values excluded for 2015 (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.309
    Maximum:0.622
    Units:none
    UVVRhi2016
    Ratio of unvegetated surface area to vegetated surface area with null values set to unvegetated for 2016 (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.266
    Maximum:0.610
    Units:none
    UVVRlo2016
    Ratio of unvegetated surface area to vegetated surface area with null values excluded for 2016 (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.252
    Maximum:0.579
    Units:none
    UVVRhi2017
    Ratio of unvegetated surface area to vegetated surface area with null values set to unvegetated for 2017 (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.155
    Maximum:0.448
    Units:none
    UVVRlo2017
    Ratio of unvegetated surface area to vegetated surface area with null values excluded for 2017 (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.141
    Maximum:0.428
    Units:none
    UVVRhi2018
    Ratio of unvegetated surface area to vegetated surface area with null values set to unvegetated for 2018 (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.226
    Maximum:0.514
    Units:none
    UVVRlo2018
    Ratio of unvegetated surface area to vegetated surface area with null values excluded for 2018 (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.214
    Maximum:0.493
    Units:none
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    Low-end and high-end UVVR estimates for Thompsons Beach and Stone Harbor, NJ from 2014-2018
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: USGS

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Olivia A. De Meo
    • Robert D. Bales
    • Steven E. Suttles
    • Neil K. Ganju
    • Eric D. Marsjanik
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Olivia A. De Meo
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Technical Information Specialist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    US

    508-548-8700 x2356 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    odemeo@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

The ratio of unvegetated area to vegetated area (UVVR) was calculated from a regional dataset of UVVR mapped in 30-m cells. A shapefile was created for two sites, Thompsons Beach and Stone Harbor, NJ, to calculate UVVR in each marsh. The UVVR is an important metric for determining the vulnerability and resiliency of salt marshes. The UVVR was calculated for each year from 2014 to 2018 to evaluate marsh restoration efforts.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    ATL UVVR (source 1 of 1)
    Couvillion, Brady R., Ganju, Neil K., and Defne, Zafer, 2021, An Unvegetated to Vegetated Ratio (UVVR) for coastal wetlands of the Conterminous United States (2014-2018): data release DOI:10.5066/P97DQXZP, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Downloaded Atlantic Coast UVVR geoTIFF files for 2014-2018. Download date was 04/21/2023.
    Type_of_Source_Media: Shapefile
    Source_Contribution: UVVR values for the two areas of interest.
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: Apr-2023 (process 1 of 2)
    Created separate polygons for the two areas of interest: Thompsons Beach and Stone Harbor, NJ. The Thompsons Beach polygon was defined with 2022 ArcGIS Pro imagery basemap using the channels to delineate the boundary. The Stone Harbor polygon was defined using 2015 aerial imagery since the area is dynamically changing. Both polygons were further defined by including only areas where UVVR data was present for all years (2014-2018); pixels that only occurred in some years were excluded. Person who carried out this activity:
    Kate Ackerman
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    US

    508-548-8700 x2331 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    kackerman@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • ATL UVVR
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • Stone_Harbor.shp
    • Thompsons_Beach.shp
    Date: Apr-2023 (process 2 of 2)
    Calculate low (lo) and high (hi) estimates of the unvegetated to vegetated ratio (UVVR) for Thompsons Beach and Stone Harbor, NJ. Low estimates exclude null values and high estimates convert null values to unvegetated.
    a) EXTRACT BY MASK from the ATL UVVR geoTIFF file using Stone_Harbor.shp and Thompsons_Beach.shp as masks and append "_lo.tif" to the file name. Null values are ignored in these files.
    b) RASTER CALCULATOR on the ATL UVVR geoTIFF file with the expression: Con(IsNull(ATL UVVR),0,ATL UVVR) to convert null values to unvegetated using Stone_Harbor.shp and Thompsons_Beach.shp as masks in the environment settings. "_hi.tif" was appended to the file name.
    c) The vegetated fraction of the marsh was calculated as the mean of band 2, which is the vegetated band, for lo and hi geoTIFF files for each year from 2014-2018.
    d) UVVR was calculated as (1-vegetated)/vegetated for lo and hi geoTIFF files for each year from 2014-2018, and the values were added to the attribute table.
    e) MERGE Stone_Harbor.shp and Thompsons_Beach.shp into one shapefile: NFWF_UVVR.shp.
    f) Added "Site" as a field in the attribute table.
    g) PROJECT the shapefile to WGS 1984 Web Mercator Auxiliary Sphere. This data set uses a different horizontal coordinate system (rather than NAD83) for better performance of web services with online basemaps. Person who carried out this activity:
    Olivia A. De Meo
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Technical Information Specialist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    US

    508-548-8700 x2356 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    odemeo@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • ATL UVVR
    • Thompsons_Beach.shp
    • Stone_Harbor.shp
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • NFWF_UVVR.shp
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Bales, Robert D., Suttles, Steven E., De, Olivia A. Meo, Ganju, Neil K., and Marsjanik, Eric D., 2024, Time-series measurements of oceanographic and water quality data collected at Thompsons Beach and Stone Harbor, New Jersey, USA, September 2018 to September 2019 and March 2022 to May 2023: data release DOI:10.5066/P9Z0Z8DM, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    The vegetated, unvegetated, and water values used in the UVVR calculation inherit their accuracy from the source data, the UVVR for coastal wetlands Atlantic Coast (Couvillion and others, 2021), which uses 30-meter Landsat 8 imagery. The root mean squared error (RMSE) of the percent unvegetated estimates was 12.95% with a bias of +0.81%. The RMSE of the percent vegetated estimates was 17.75% with a bias of +1.5%. The RMSE of the percent water estimates was 16.76% with a bias of -0.87%.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    The horizontal accuracy is inherited from the source data, the UVVR for coastal wetlands Atlantic Coast (Couvillion and others, 2021), which uses 30-meter Landsat 8 imagery.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Polygons were drawn around Thompsons Beach and Stone Harbor, NJ with boundaries where pixels existed in all years (2014-2018). Pixels that only occurred in some years were excluded.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    Low-end (lo) and high-end (hi) UVVR estimates were calculated to provide an unbiased range of values. Lo UVVR was calculated excluding null values (pixels with no data). Hi UVVR was calculated by classifying null values as unvegetated.

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 The unvegetated to vegetated ratio for each marsh is defined for scientific research purposes and should not be used as a sole source of reference for any regulations and policy making. 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? NFWF_UVVR.zip contains the shapefile and additional shapefile components.
  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: 16-Jan-2024
Metadata author:
Olivia A. De Meo
U.S. Geological Survey
Technical Information Specialist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA
US

508-548-8700 x2356 (voice)
508-457-2310 (FAX)
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 USGS.
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_P9CS5U6N/NFWF_UVVR_Metadata.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.51 on Wed Jan 31 11:26:00 2024