U.S. Geological Survey
2018
Holocene fluvial and estuarine (Qfe) and nearshore marine (Qmn) sediment thickness offshore of western and southern Martha's Vineyard and north of Nantucket, Massachusetts
raster digital data
data release
DOI:10.5066/P9E9EFNE
Reston, VA
U.S. Geological Survey
https://doi.org/10.5066/P9E9EFNE
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5bfd605be4b0815414ca39dd
Elizabeth A. Pendleton
Wayne E. Baldwin
David S. Foster
Seth D. Ackerman
Brian D. Andrews
Laura L. Brothers
William C. Schwab
2018
Geospatial Data Layers of Shallow Geology, Sea-Floor Texture, and Physiographic Zones from the Inner Continental Shelf of Martha’s Vineyard from Aquinnah to Wasque Point, and Nantucket from Eel Point to Great Point
data release
DOI:10.5066/P9E9EFNE
Reston, VA
U.S. Geological Survey
Suggested citation: Pendleton, E.A., Baldwin, W.E., Foster, D.F., Ackerman, S.D., Andrews, B.D, Brothers, L.L., and Schwab, W.C., 2018, Geospatial data layers of shallow geology, sea-floor texture, and physiographic zones from the inner continental shelf of Martha's Vineyard from Aquinnah to Wasque Point, and Nantucket from Eel Point to Great Point: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9E9EFNE.
https://doi.org/10.5066/P9E9EFNE
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5afee3bfe4b0da30c1bfbd28
Geologic, sediment texture, and physiographic zone maps characterize the sea floor south and west of Martha's Vineyard and north of Nantucket, Massachusetts. These maps were derived from interpretations of seismic-reflection profiles, high-resolution bathymetry, acoustic-backscatter intensity, bottom photographs, and surficial sediment samples. The interpretation of the seismic stratigraphy and mapping of glacial and Holocene marine units provided a foundation on which the surficial maps were created. This mapping is a result of a collaborative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management to characterize the surface and subsurface geologic framework offshore of Massachusetts.
This data set contains a grid representing Holocene fluvial, estuarine (Qfe) and nearshore marine (Qmn) sediment thickness (in meters) offshore of western and southern Martha's Vineyard and north of Nantucket. These data are useful for assessing relations between geologic framework, sea-bed morphology, and sediment textural trends. Qfe is the lowermost Holocene sedimentary deposit that partially fills the fluvial valleys incised into the surface of Pleistocene glacial drift. Qmn are surficial sediments that also fill valleys and partially blanket the sea floor.
This data release is a companion publication to USGS OFR 2018-1181: Pendleton, E.A., Baldwin, W.E., Ackerman, S.D, Foster, D.S., Andrews, B.D., Schwab, W.C., and Brothers, L.L. 2018, Sea-floor texture and physiographic zones of the inner continental shelf from Aquinnah to Wasque Point, Martha’s Vineyard, and Eel Point to Great Point, Nantucket Island, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2018–1181, https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181181.
The data in the source contributions used for this compilation are from field activities 2007-011-FA (https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2007-011-FA), 2011-004-FA (https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2011-004-FA), and 2013-003-FA (https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2013-003-FA).
20070809
20130611
ground condition of the source data from which this interpretation was created
None planned
-70.8554
-70.0314
41.3893
41.1946
USGS Metadata Identifier
USGS:5bfd605be4b0815414ca39dd
ISO 19115 Topic Category
oceans
geoscientificInformation
imageryBaseMapsEarthCover
None
U.S. Geological Survey
USGS
Coastal and Marine Geology Program
CMGP
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
WHCMSC
Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
CZM
Sea floor
Marine Geology
Interpretation
Seismic Interpretation
Geologic Framework
Holocene
32-bit GeoTIFF
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1288
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012-1006
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016-1168
EdgeTech
512i
Seismic-reflection Profiles
Sediment thickness
USGS Thesaurus
marine geology
unconsolidated deposits
sea-floor characteristics
Pleistocene
Holocene
sedimentation
geologic contacts
geologic structure
geospatial datasets
scientific interpretation
None
Vineyard Sound
Nantucket Sound
Atlantic Ocean
Martha's Vineyard
Nantucket
Cape Cod
Aquinnah
Chilmark
Squibnocket Point
Squibnocket Beach
Gay Head
South Beach
Katama Beach
Wasque point
Chappaquiddick Island
Long Point Wildlife Refuge
Tisbury
Nomans Land
Lucy Vincent Beach
Tisbury Great Pond Beach
Muskeget Island
Tuckernuck Island
Eel Point
Dionis Beach
Children's Beach
Coatue
Great Point
Nantucket Harbor
Wasque Shoal
Muskeget Channel
Tuckernuck Bank
Tuckernuck Shoal
Shovelful Shoal
Massachusetts
None
Sea floor
None
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.
Elizabeth A. Pendleton
U.S. Geological Survey
Geologist
mailing and physical address
384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
508-548-8700 x2226
508-457-2310
ependleton@usgs.gov
Browse image of GeoTIFF grid representing Holocene fluvial, estuarine (Qfe) and nearshore marine (Qmn) sediment thickness in meters. The browse graphic is derived from the companion OFR (Pendleton and others, 2018).
PNG
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5bfd605be4b0815414ca39dd/?name=MV_ACK_postGisopach_browse.png
Charles J. O'Hara
Robert N. Oldale
1980
Maps showing geology and shallow structure of eastern Rhode Island Sound and Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts
U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map
MF-1186
Reston, VA
U.S. Geological Survey
5 sheets
https://pubs.usgs.gov/mf/1980/mf-1186/
Charles J. O'Hara
Robert N. Oldale
1987
Maps showing geology, shallow structure, and bedforms of Nantucket Sound, Massachusetts
U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map
MF-1911
Reston, VA
U.S. Geological Survey
4 sheets
https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/mf1911
U.S. Geological Survey
2013
Geologic Mapping of the Massachusetts Seafloor
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA
U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program
Geologic mapping of the Massachusetts inner continental shelf is a cooperative effort that was initiated in 2003 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA-NOS) is also an important partner and contributes hydrographic data that are integrated into the maps. The overall goal of this cooperative is to determine the geologic framework of the sea floor inside the 3-mile limit of State waters, using high-resolution geophysical techniques, sediment sampling, and sea-floor photography. Any source data used to generate interpretative maps and data products are cited in detail in the source citation section of this metadata file.
https://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/project-pages/coastal_mass/
Wayne E. Baldwin
David S. Foster
Elizabeth A. Pendleton
Walter A. Barnhardt
William C. Schwab
Brian D. Andrews
Seth Ackerman
2016
Shallow geology, sea-floor texture, and physiographic zones of Vineyard and western Nantucket Sounds, Massachusetts
Open-File Report
2016-1119
Reston, VA
US Geological Survey
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161119
David S. Foster
Wayne E. Baldwin
Walter A. Barnhardt
William C. Schwab
Seth D. Ackerman
Brian D. Andrews
Elizabeth A. Pendleton
2015
Shallow geology, sea-floor texture, and physiographic zones of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
Open-File Report
2014-1220
Reston, VA
U.S. Geological Survey
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141220
Elizabeth E. Pendleton
Walter A. Barnhardt
Wayne E. Baldwin
David S. Foster
William C. Schwab
Brian D. Andrews
Seth D Ackerman
2015
Sea-floor texture and physiographic zones of the inner continental shelf from Salisbury to Nahant, Massachusetts, including the Merrimack Embayment and Western Massachusetts Bay
Open-File Report
2015-1153
Reston, VA
U.S. Geological Survey
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151153
Elizabeth A. Pendleton
Wayne E. Baldwin
Walter A. Barnhardt
Seth D. Ackerman
David S. Foster
Brian D. Andrews
William C. Schwab
2013
Shallow Geology, Seafloor Texture, and Physiographic Zones of the Inner Continental Shelf from Nahant to Northern Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts
Open-File Report
2012-1157
Reston, VA
U.S. Geological Survey
https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1157/
Chirp seismic-reflection data collected during USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center field activities 2007-011-FA, 2011-004-FA, and 2013-003-FA were used to interpret the geologic framework offshore of western and southern Martha's Vineyard and north of Nantucket. All seismic reflection data used in this report were interpreted by the same person that conducted the processing steps. All interpretations were conducted in Kingdom Suite software, and horizon gridding was conducted in ArcGIS. Any differences in collection vessel and system are noted in the source contributions.
All chirp seismic-reflection data collected within the study area during USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center field activities 2007-011-FA, 2011-004-FA, and 2013-003-FA were used to interpret the subsurface geologic units. The grid contains no data zones where it was not possible to make continuous interpretations regarding the thicknesses of subsurface units.
Navigational accuracy of the seismic-reflection data used for this interpretation was assumed to be ± 10 to 20 meters. Refer to seismic trackline metadata in Denny and others (2009), Ackerman and others (2016), and Andrews and others (2014) in the source information for specific seismic data acquisition parameters and accuracy reports. Additional navigational uncertainty in this interpretation arises from subjective digitizing of the seismic reflectors, sampling of the interpreted horizons along track, and interpolation of horizon data using geospatial software.Total positional uncertainty is assumed to be within 50 meters.
The nominal vertical resolution of the chirp seismic-reflection systems is 0.5 meter. Additional uncertainty was introduced by converting the thicknesses measured in two-way travel time to meters using a constant speed of sound of 1500 m/s.
Denny, J.F.
Danforth, W.W.
Foster, D.S.
Sherwood, C.R.
2009
Geophysical data collected off the south shore of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
Open-File Report
2008-1288
Reston, VA
U.S. Geological Survey
The SEG-Y data that was used to interpret geologic units with The KINGDOM Software 2d/3dPAK (ver. 8.8 - 64-bit) can be obtain by contacting the author of the Open-File Report.
https://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/project-pages/coastal_mass/
https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1288/
online
20070809
20070813
ground condition
Denny and others, 2009
This report provided source geophysical data (sidescan, bathymetry, and seismic-reflection profiles) for the area south of Martha's Vineyard surrounding the Martha's Vineyard Coastal Observatory. The 2007 mapping was conducted on the Megan T. Miller. High-resolution chirp seismic-reflection profiles were collected during U.S. Geological Survey field activity 2007-011-FA using an EdgeTech Geo-Star full spectrum sub-bottom (FSSB) system and SB-0512i towfish. Thorough descriptions of acquisition and processing parameters for the survey are provided by Denny and others (2009) in the report and seismic-reflection metadata. Shallow geologic framework and surficial geology were interpreted from post-processed chirp seismic-reflection profiles.
Andrews, B.D.
Ackerman, S.D.
Baldwin, W.E.
Foster, D.S.
Schwab, W.C.
2014
High-Resolution Geophysical Data from the Inner Continental Shelf: Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts
2.0
Open-File Report
2012-1006
Reston, VA
U.S. Geological Survey
The SEG-Y data that was used to interpret geologic units with The KINGDOM Software 2d/3dPAK (ver. 8.8 - 64-bit) can be obtain by contacting the author of the Open-File Report.
https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1006/
online
20110507
20110517
ground condition
Andrews and others, 2014
This report provided source geophysical data (sidescan, bathymetry, and seismic-reflection profiles) for the study area on the western side of Martha's Vineyard. The 2011 mapping was conducted on the Scarlett Isabella during U.S. Geological Survey field activity 2011-004-FA. Chirp seismic-reflection data were collected using an EdgeTech Geo-Star FSSB subbottom profiling system and an SB-0512i towfish. Thorough descriptions of acquisition and processing parameters for each survey are provided by Andrews and others (2014) in the methods section and seismic-reflection metadata. Shallow geologic framework was interpreted from post-processed chirp seismic-reflection profiles. Only the data collected along the western shore of Matha’s Vineyard was used for this dataset.
Ackerman, S.D.
Brothers L.L.
Foster, D.S.
Andrews B.D.
Baldwin W.E.
Schwab W.C.
2016
High-Resolution Geophysical Data From the Inner Continental Shelf: South of Martha's Vineyard and North of Nantucket, Massachusetts
Open-File Report
2016-1168
Reston, VA
U.S. Geological Survey
The SEG-Y data that was used to interpret geologic units with The KINGDOM Software 2d/3dPAK (ver. 8.8 - 64-bit) can be obtain by contacting the author of the Open-File Report.
https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2016/1168/
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161168
online
20130522
20130611
ground condition
Ackerman and others, 2016
This report provided source geophysical data (sidescan, bathymetry, and seismic-reflection profiles) for the majority of this study including offshore of southern Martha's Vineyard and north of Nantucket. These areas were surveyed with the Scarlett Isabella 2013 during U.S. Geological Survey field activity 2013-003-FA. Seismic-reflection data were collected using an EdgeTech Geo-Star FSSB subbottom profiling system and an SB-0512i towfish. Thorough descriptions of acquisition and processing parameters for each survey are provided by Ackerman and others (2016) in the methods section and seismic-reflection metadata. Shallow geologic framework and surficial geology were interpreted from post-processed chirp seismic-reflection profiles.
Brian Andrews
Wayne Baldwin
Daniel Sampson
William Schwab
2018
Continuous Bathymetry and Elevation Models of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf
1.0
data release
DOI:10.5066/F72806T7
Reston, VA
U.S. Geological Survey
https://doi.org/10.5066/f72806t7
online
20110507
20130611
ground condition
Andrews and others, 2018
This report provided composite bathymetry for the study area including offshore of southern Martha's Vineyard and north of Nantucket. Thorough descriptions of the merging and processing parameters are provided by Andrews and others (2017) in the metadata.
Chirp seismic reflection SEG-Y data were interpreted using The KINGDOM Software 2d/3dPAK (ver. 8.8 - 64-bit) seismic interpretation software. Interpretation consisted of identifying and digitizing erosional unconformities defining the boundaries between Holocene and Pleistocene seismic units, and digitizing the extent over which each of the defined sub-surface seismic units crops out on the sea floor. The horizons representing the boundary between glacial and post glacial sedimentary units, and a horizon representing the sea floor were exported from the KINGDOM as ASCII text with columns of X,Y,line,amplitude, and two-way travel time.
2017
Elizabeth Pendleton
U.S. Geological Survey
Geologist
mailing and physical address
384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
508-548-8700 x2259
508-457-2310
ependleton@usgs.gov
The ASCII text files were imported into ArcMap (10.5) as point features using the 'Add XY data' function, then saved as a point shapefile (UTM, Zone 19N, WGS84). Depth fields were created by converting two-way travel time to a depth using a constant speed of sound estimate of 1500 meters per second.
2017
Elizabeth A Pendleton
U.S. Geological Survey
Geologist
mailing and physical address
384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
508-548-8700 x2259
508-457-2310
ependleton@usgs.gov
The new point shapefiles were used as input for the ArcMap (10.5) Spatial Analyst > Interpolation > Natural Neighbor tool to create interpolated elevation grids for the seafloor and the Ur/Ut unconformity with 40 meter cell sizes.
The grids were also clipped ('Clip' - data management) to the surficial geology extent and filtered ('Filter') with a low pass filter to remove linear artifacts resulting from gridding the horizon data. Sediment thickness was created using 'Raster Calculator' to take the absolute value of the depth to the glacial - post glacial surface minus the depth to the seafloor.
2017
Elizabeth A Pendleton
U.S. Geological Survey
Geologist
mailing and physical address
384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
508-548-8700 x2259
508-457-2310
ependleton@usgs.gov
Added keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword.
20200807
U.S. Geological Survey
VeeAnn A. Cross
Marine Geologist
Mailing and Physical
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole
MA
02543-1598
508-548-8700 x2251
508-457-2310
vatnipp@usgs.gov
Raster
Grid Cell
512
1717
1
Universal Transverse Mercator
19
0.9996
-69.0
0.0
500000.0
0.0
row and column
40.0
40.0
meters
WGS_1984
WGS 84
6378137.0
298.257223563
There are no attributes associated with this floating point 32-bit GeoTIFF. Pixel values represent thicknesses of post-glacial sediment in meters, and range from 0 to 14.7 m.
U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Geological Survey
GS ScienceBase
mailing address
Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302
Denver
CO
80225
United States
1-888-275-8747
sciencebase@usgs.gov
MV_ACK_postGisopach.tif is a GeoTIFF isopach of Holocene fluvial and estuarine (Qfe) and nearshore marine (Qmn) sediment thickness offshore of western and southern Martha's Vineyard and north of Nantucket, MA. The dataset also contains a browse graphic and the associated CSDGM metadata in XML format.
Neither the U.S. Government, the Department of the Interior, nor the USGS, nor any of their employees, contractors, or subcontractors, make any warranty, express or implied, nor assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, nor represent that its use would not infringe on privately owned rights. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the U.S. Geological Survey in the use of these data or related materials. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government
GeoTIFF
ArcGIS v. 10.5.1 GeoTIFF
32-bit GeoTIFF
32-bit thickness GeoTIFF image format at 40-meter resolution, with world file and the associated metadata.
0.5
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5bfd605be4b0815414ca39dd
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5bfd605be4b0815414ca39dd
https://doi.org/10.5066/P9E9EFNE
To download the data, it is recommended that you go to the page containing the data and take advantage of the large file handler. The first link is to the page containing the data. The second is a direct link to download all data available from the page as a zip file. And the final link is to the publication landing page.
WCS
32-bit GeoTIFF of Holocene sediment thickness provided through a WCS (web coverage service).
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalogMaps/mapping/ows/5aff06b8e4b0da30c1bfce01?service=wcs&request=getcapabilities&version=1.0.0
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5aff06b8e4b0da30c1bfce01
https://doi.org/10.5066/P9E9EFNE
The first link in the network resources accesses the data through a coverage service, the second is to the page containing the data, and the third link is to the publication landing page.
WMS
32-bit GeoTIFF of Holocene sediment thickness provided through a WMS (web mapping service).
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalogMaps/mapping/ows/5aff06b8e4b0da30c1bfce01?service=wms&request=getcapabilities&version=1.3.0
https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5aff06b8e4b0da30c1bfce01
https://doi.org/10.5066/P9E9EFNE
The first link in the network resources accesses the data through a mapping service, the second is to the page containing the data, and the third link is to the publication landing page.
None
This file is a 32-bit GeoTIFF image compressed using the LZW compression format with a world file. To utilize these data an image processing or GIS software package capable of importing a 32-bit TIFF image with LZW compression is needed. Standard image viewing software cannot translate a 32-bit image.
20200807
2017
Elizabeth A Pendleton
U.S. Geological Survey
Geologist
mailing and physical address
384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole
MA
02543
USA
508-548-8700 x2259
508-457-2310
ependleton@usgs.gov
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
FGDC-STD-001-1998
local time
None
None