Grain-size analysis of sediment samples collected in July 2016 by the U.S. Geological Survey off Town Neck Beach, Sandwich in Massachusetts, during field activity 2016-037-FA (CSV file and simplified shapefile)

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Grain-size analysis of sediment samples collected in July 2016 by the U.S. Geological Survey off Town Neck Beach, Sandwich in Massachusetts, during field activity 2016-037-FA (CSV file and simplified shapefile)
Abstract:
Geophysical and geological survey data were collected off Town Neck Beach in Sandwich, Massachusetts, in May and July 2016. Approximately 130 linear kilometers of subbottom (seismic-reflection) and 234-kilohertz interferometric sonar (bathymetric and backscatter) data were collected along with sediment samples, sea floor photographs, and (or) video at 26 sites within the geophysical survey area. Sediment grab samples were collected at 19 of the 26 sampling sites and video and (or) photographic imagery of the sea floor were taken at all 26 sites. These survey data are used to characterize the sea floor by identifying sediment-texture, seabed morphology, and underlying geologic structure and stratigraphy. Data collected during these 2016 surveys are included in this data release: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9HZHXXV.
More information can be found on the websites for the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center field activities at https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2016-017-FA and https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2016-037-FA.
Supplemental_Information:
Bottom photographs and video were also taken at each station (see shapefiles 2016-037-FA_photos.shp and 2016-037-FA_videos.shp available from the larger work citation). For more information about this field activity, see https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2016-037-FA. The sampling data were collected to ground truth (verify) acoustic data collected during USGS field activity 2016-017-FA.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2019, Grain-size analysis of sediment samples collected in July 2016 by the U.S. Geological Survey off Town Neck Beach, Sandwich in Massachusetts, during field activity 2016-037-FA (CSV file and simplified shapefile): data release DOI:10.5066/P9HZHXXV, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Ackerman, Seth D., Foster, David S., Danforth, William W., and Huntley, Emily C., 2019, High-resolution geophysical and sampling data collected off Town Neck Beach in Sandwich, Massachusetts, 2016: data release DOI:10.5066/P9HZHXXV, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Suggested citation: Ackerman S.D., Foster D.S., Danforth W.W., and Huntley, E.C., 2019, High-resolution geophysical and sampling data collected off Town Neck Beach in Sandwich, Massachusetts, 2016: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9HZHXXV.
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.490227
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.459713
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.783812
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.764347
  3. What does it look like?
    https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5c926dcde4b0938824573d64/?name=2016-037-FA_samples_browse.jpg (JPEG)
    Image of sediment sample locations off Town Neck Beac in Sandwich, Massachusetts.
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Calendar_Date: 15-Jul-2016
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • Entity point (19)
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.0197406596. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.0263429169. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal seconds. The horizontal datum used is 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?
    2016-037-FA_samples
    Grain-size analysis for sediment samples collected during USGS survey 2016-037-FA off Town Neck Beach, Sandwich, Massachusetts, in 2016. These are the attributes for the CSV file (the shapefile is a simplified version of the CSV with fewer attribute fields). (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    ANALYSIS_ID
    Database identifier assigned by sediment laboratory. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string.
    FIELD_NO
    Sample name or number as assigned in the field by the Chief Scientist. (Source: USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string.
    PROJECT
    Survey area of the research project. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary.) Character sting.
    FA_ID
    Name or number of cruise on which sample collected. Historically cruise identifiers were a combination of ship name, year of cruise, and cruise leg. In more recent years, cruise identifier is a sequential serial number assigned to field activities within a specific year (in the format YYYY-XXX-FA where YYYY is the survey year, XXX is the cruise number within that year, and FA is Field Activity). (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string.
    CONTACT
    Name of Principal Investigator or Chief Scientist responsible for data collection (usually first initial and last name). (Source: USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string.
    AREA
    Regional research focus for USGS survey 2016-037-FA. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string.
    LATITUDE
    Latitude coordinate, in decimal degrees (WGS 84), of sample location. South latitude is recorded as negative values. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:41.7643467
    Maximum:41.7838117
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.0000001
    LONGITUDE
    Longitude coordinate, in decimal degrees (WGS 84), of sample location. West longitude is recorded as negative values. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-70.4902267
    Maximum:-70.4597133
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.0000001
    DEPTH_M
    Approximate depth in meters extracted from the preliminary bathymetry data from USGS field activity 2016-017-FA. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:4.9
    Maximum:13.9
    Units:meters
    Resolution:0.1
    T_DEPTH
    Top depth of the sub-sample collected from the whole grab sample below the sediment-water interface in centimeters. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:0
    Units:centimeters
    B_DEPTH
    Bottom depth of the sub-sample collected from the whole grab sample below the sediment-water interface in centimeters. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:2
    Maximum:2
    Units:centimeters
    DEVICE
    Device used to collect the sample. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string.
    DATE_COLLECTED
    UTC date that the sample was collected in the format MM/DD/YYYY. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character string.
    ANALYSIS_COMPLETION_DATE
    Date that the sample was analyzed in the format MM/DD/YYYY. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character string.
    WEIGHT
    Weight of dry sample in grams. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:49.3895
    Maximum:235.1826
    Units:grams
    Resolution:0.0001
    GRAVEL_PCT
    Gravel content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters greater than 2 mm; -1 phi and larger). (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.04
    Maximum:83.25
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    SAND_PCT
    Sand content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 2 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.0625 mm; 0 phi through 4 phi, inclusive). (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:15.67
    Maximum:99.41
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    SILT_PCT
    Silt content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 0.0625 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.004 mm; 5 phi through 8 phi, inclusive). (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.17
    Maximum:1.72
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    CLAY_PCT
    Clay content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 0.004 mm; 9 phi and smaller). (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.02
    Maximum:0.33
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    CLASSIFICATION
    Sediment classification based on a rigorous definition (Shepard [1954] as modified by Schlee [1973] and Poppe and others [2014]). In the definitions below, gravel is defined as particles with nominal diameters greater than 2 mm; sand consists of particles with nominal diameters less than 2 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.0625 mm; silt consists of particles with nominal diameters less than 0.0625 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.004 mm; and clay consists of particles with nominal diameters less than 0.004 mm. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    ValueDefinition
    gravelGravel equal to or greater than 50 percent.
    gravelly sedimentGravel equal to or greater than 10 percent, but less than 50 percent.
    sandSand equal to or greater than 75 percent.
    MEDIAN
    Middle point in the grain-size distribution in phi units. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-3.29
    Maximum:2.86
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.01
    MEAN
    Average value in the grain-size distribution in phi units. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-1.92
    Maximum:2.84
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.01
    STDEV
    Standard deviation (root mean square of the deviations) of the grain-size distribution in phi units (sorting). (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.57
    Maximum:2.38
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.01
    SKEWNESS
    Skewness (deviation from symmetrical form) of the grain-size distribution where positive values show an excess of fine-grained sediments and negative values show an excess of coarse-grained sediments. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-2.04
    Maximum:4.15
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.01
    KURTOSIS
    Kurtosis (degree of curvature near the mode) of the grain-size distribution. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:3.67
    Maximum:40.97
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_11
    Weight percent of the sample in the 11-phi fraction and smaller (nominal diameter of particles less than 0.001 mm); fine clay. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:0.05
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_10
    Weight percent of the sample in the 10-phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.001 mm, but less than 0.002 mm); medium clay. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.01
    Maximum:0.11
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_9
    Weight percent of the sample in the 9-phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.002 mm, but less than 0.004 mm); coarse clay. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.02
    Maximum:0.27
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_8
    Weight percent of the sample in the 8-phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.004 mm, but less than 0.008 mm); very fine silt. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.04
    Maximum:0.48
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_7
    Weight percent of the sample in the 7-phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.008 mm, but less than 0.016 mm); fine silt. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.05
    Maximum:0.47
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_6
    Weight percent of the sample in the 6-phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.016 mm, but less than 0.031 mm); medium silt. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.05
    Maximum:0.70
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_5
    Weight percent of the sample in the 5-phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.031 mm, but less than 0.0625 mm); coarse silt. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.03
    Maximum:0.63
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_4
    Weight percent of the sample in the 4-phi fraction (nominal diameters of particles greater than or equal to 0.0625 mm, but less than 0.125 mm); very fine sand. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.19
    Maximum:31.08
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_3
    Weight percent of the sample in the 3-phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.125 mm, but less than 0.25 mm); fine sand. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.80
    Maximum:81.29
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_2
    Weight percent of the sample in the 2-phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.25 mm, but less than 0.5 mm); medium sand. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.01
    Maximum:59.15
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_1
    Weight percent of the sample in the 1-phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.5 mm, but less than 1 mm); coarse sand. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.32
    Maximum:42.16
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_0
    Weight percent of the sample in the 0-phi fraction (nominal diameters of particles greater than or equal to 1 mm, but less than 2 mm); very coarse sand. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.04
    Maximum:26.00
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_-1
    Weight percent of the sample in the -1-phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 2 mm, but less than 4 mm); very fine pebbles (granules). (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:23.03
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_-2
    Weight percent of the sample in the -2-phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 4 mm, but less than 8 mm); fine pebbles. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:19.37
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_-3
    Weight percent of the sample in the -3-phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 8 mm, but less than 16 mm); medium pebbles. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:29.80
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_-4
    Weight percent of the sample in the -4-phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 16 mm, but less than 32 mm); coarse pebbles. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:22.67
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_-5
    Weight percent of the sample in the -5-phi fraction and larger (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 32 mm); very coarse pebbles, cobbles, and boulders. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:0
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    ANALYST
    Name (first, middle, and last initial for these data) of person who analyzed the sediment samples in the sediment lab. (Source: Modified from USGS East-Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string.
    NOTES
    Any further information about sediment analysis for all or specific parameters in this table. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey) Character string.

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • U.S. Geological Survey
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Seth Ackerman
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2315 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    sackerman@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

This dataset includes the grain-size analysis of surficial sediments collected with a modified Van Veen grab on the Mini SEABed Observation and Sampling System (MiniSEABOSS) aboard the Research Vessel (R/V) Rafael by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center during USGS field activity 2016-037-FA (July 15, 2016).

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    Sediment grain-size analysis and raw navigation files (source 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey, Unpublished Material, Sediment grain-size analysis and navigation data.

    Type_of_Source_Media: disc
    Source_Contribution:
    Sediment samples were acquired using the MiniSEABOSS. The sediment data and the observations from video and still cameras are used to explore the nature of the sea floor and, in conjunction with high-resolution geophysical data, to make interpretive maps of sedimentary environments and validate acoustic remote sensing data. This setup of the MiniSEABOSS incorporates a modified Van Veen sediment sampler, two GoPro HERO4 Black digital cameras, a downward-looking SeaViewer 6000 HD Sea-Drop video camera with topside feed, and a dive light. A compass and depth sensor were attached to the sampler as well and are sometimes visible in the top-mounted GoPro to be used for troubleshooting as necessary. The elements of this particular MiniSEABOSS system are held within a stainless-steel frame that measures ~1 x 1 meters. The frame has a stabilizer fin that orients the system as it drifts over the seabed. The R/V Rafael occupied one of the target stations and the MiniSEABOSS was deployed off the vessel's starboard side. The winch operator lowered the sampler until the sea floor was observed in the top-side live video feed. The vessel and sampler drifted with wind and current for up to a few minutes to ensure a decent image with a clear view of the sea floor and then at most stations the winch operator lowered the Van Veen sampler until it rested on the sea floor. When the system was raised, the Van Veen sampler closed and collected a sample as it was lifted off the sea floor. The sampler was recovered to the deck of the survey vessel where a subsample was taken for analysis at the sediment laboratory at the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center. Sediment samples were only attempted in areas where collecting a sample would not damage the MiniSEABOSS; therefore, no samples were collected in areas with a cobble, boulder, or rocky seabed, as identified in real time using the top-side live video feed. DGPS navigation from a Hemisphere DGPS receiver was logged through HYPACK navigation software and a DataBridge data logger. The DGPS was set to receive fixes at a one-second interval in geographic coordinates (WGS 84). A log file for the survey was saved in ASCII text format.
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 15-Jul-2016 (process 1 of 7)
    Twenty-six stations were occupied aboard the R/V Rafael during USGS survey 2016-037-FA with the MiniSEABOSS (Blackwood and Parolski, 2001). The MiniSEABOSS was equipped with a Van Veen grab sampler, two GoPro HERO4 Black digital cameras, and a downward-looking video camera. Physical sediment samples were collected at 19 of the 26 stations. Sediment samples were only attempted in areas where collecting a sample would not damage the MiniSEABOSS; therefore, no samples were collected in areas with a cobble, boulder, or rocky seabed, as identified in real time using the top-side live video feed. At three sites (stations 2016-037-001, 2016-037-002, and 2016-037-026), a sample was attempted but was not successfully collected. The sediment sample locations and times were recorded within the ship's HYPACK navigation system when the sampler was lifted from the seabed (the Van Veen sampler closed and collected a sample as it was lifted off the sea floor). Once the sampler was recovered, a subsample was taken for grain-size analysis at the sediment laboratory at the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center. Person who carried out this activity:
    Seth Ackerman
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2315 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    sackerman@usgs.gov
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • Physical sediment samples
    • HYPACK navigation file
    Date: 19-Jul-2016 (process 2 of 7)
    DGPS navigation from a Hemisphere DGPS receiver was logged through HYPACK navigation software and a DataBridge data logger. The DGPS was set to receive fixes at a one-second interval in geographic coordinates (WGS 84). Dates and times were recorded in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). A log file for the survey was saved in ASCII text format. An AWK script (awkhypack.gpgga_v0_9.awk) was run on the log file to parse for the GPGGA navigation string and create an ASCII Comma Separated Value (CSV) text file. The output file was then reformatted using an AWK script (nav_time_reformat.awk), creating a final processed navigation file for the entire sampling survey. Person who carried out this activity:
    Seth Ackerman
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2315 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    sackerman@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • Raw navigation file
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • Processed navigation file
    Date: 08-Aug-2016 (process 3 of 7)
    The sediment sample times (as recorded in the HYPACK target file and the written survey log) were used to parse GPS positions for each sediment sample from the logged DGPS data. Approximate depths for each sample were derived from the preliminary bathymetry data collected off Town Neck Beach during USGS field activity 2016-017-FA. This information was then provided to the sediment laboratory at the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center with the sample analysis request form. Person who carried out this activity:
    Seth Ackerman
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2315 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    sackerman@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • HYPACK navigation file
    • Processed navigation file
    • Preliminary bathymetry data
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • Sediment sample locations CSV file
    Date: 09-Jan-2017 (process 4 of 7)
    Samples were analyzed in the sediment laboratory at the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center. The coarse fraction was determined by sieve; the fine fraction was determined using a Coulter Counter. See Poppe and others (2014) for analytical specifics for grain-size measurement processes. Sediment statistics and sample locations were recorded in Microsoft Excel. Person who carried out this activity:
    Allison Paquette
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Sediment Lab Technician
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    Data sources used in this process:
    • Physical sediment samples
    • Sediment sample locations CSV file
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • Sediment grain-size analysis spreadsheet
    Date: Mar-2019 (process 5 of 7)
    The following edits were made to the sediment grain-size analysis spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel 2016 for Mac: the month, day, and year collected and month, day, and year analyzed fields were combined into date fields (i.e., DATE_COLLECTED and ANALYSIS_COMPLETION_DATE, respectively); some fields were deleted (MODE1CLASS, MODE1FREQ, MODE2CLASS, MODE2FREQ, MODE3CLASS, MODE3FREQ, and NMODES, which were all empty, and QUALITY_GRADE); phi classes were summed to calculate the weight percent of the sample in each phi fraction as needed (e.g., PHI_4, PHI_3.75, PHI_3.5, and PHI_3.25 were summed to calculate PHI_4); and numerical results from the grain-size analysis were rounded to two decimal places (except for WEIGHT, which was rounded to four decimal places). Finally, the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet was saved as a CSV file. Person who carried out this activity:
    Emily Huntley
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geographer/Database Specialist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    ehuntley@contractor.usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • Sediment grain-size analysis spreadsheet
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • Sediment grain-size analysis CSV file
    Date: Jun-2019 (process 6 of 7)
    Using QGIS (version 3.6.2), imported the CSV file (as delimited text) then exported as Esri Shapefile feature (used select fields to export and unselected several fields including all the individual phi measurements, skewness, kurtosis, and standard deviation). This metadata file represents the CSV file; users should access the CSV file for the full sediment laboratory analyses. Person who carried out this activity:
    Seth Ackerman
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2315 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    sackerman@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • Sediment grain-size analysis CSV file
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • Simplified sediment grain-size analysis shapefile
    Date: 07-Aug-2020 (process 7 of 7)
    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?
    Blackwood, D., and Parolski, K., 2001, Seabed observation and sampling system: Sea Technology v. 42, no. 2, p. 39-43, Compass Publications, Inc., Arlington, VA.

    Poppe, L.J., McMullen, K.Y., Williams, S.J., and Paskevich, V.F., 2014, USGS east-coast sediment analysis: Procedures, database, and GIS data: Open-File Report 2005-1001, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Shepard, F.P., 1954, Nomenclature based on sand-silt-clay ratios: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology v. 24, no. 3., p. 151-158, Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Tulsa, OK.

    Online Links:

    Schlee, J.S., 1973, Atlantic continental shelf and slope of the United States - sediment texture of the northeastern part: Professional Paper 529-L, 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?
    All attributes were evaluated during data processing as standard quality control to ensure attributes contain accurate and relevant information and values. Due to rounding, the sum of the aggregate class percentages (e.g., GRAVEL_PCT, SAND_PCT, etc.) and the sum of the phi fraction percentages (e.g., PHI_11, PHI_10, etc.) may not always add up to exactly 100.00%.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Navigation for survey 2016-037-FA used Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). The DGPS was set to receive fixes at a one-second interval in geographic coordinates (World Geodetic System of 1984 [WGS 84]). The recorded position of each sediment sample is the position of the DGPS antenna on the survey vessel, located on the aft of the R/V Rafael's cabin just port of the centerline, not the location of the MiniSEABOSS sampler. The MiniSEABOSS was deployed approximately 2 meters to the starboard side of the DGPS antenna. No layback or offset was applied to the recorded position. In addition to the +/- 2-meter offset, the sampler may drift away from the survey vessel when deployed to the sea floor. Based on the various sources of horizontal offsets, a conservative estimate of the horizontal accuracy of the sediment sample locations is 2-4 meters.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    The depths recorded for each sample are approximate and were derived from the preliminary bathymetry data collected off Town Neck Beach during the geophysical survey in May 2016 (see 2016-017-FA_Bathymetry2m_NAVD88 available from the larger work citation for the final bathymetry data).
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Sediment samples were collected at 19 of the 26 stations. Sediment samples were only attempted in areas where collecting a sample would not damage the MiniSEABOSS; therefore, no samples were collected in areas with a cobble, boulder, or rocky seabed, as identified in real time using the top-side live video feed (stations 2016-037-003, 2016-037-004, 2016-037-021, and 2016-037-025). At three sites (stations 2016-037-001, 2016-037-002, and 2016-037-026), a sample was attempted but was not successfully collected.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    The sediment samples were all collected with the same modified Van Veen grab sampler mounted on the MiniSEABOSS.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
Public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey as the originator of the dataset.
  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
    USA

    1-888-275-8747 (voice)
    sciencebase@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? USGS data release 2016-037-FA contains sediment sample grain-size analysis collected off Town Neck Beach in Sandwich, Massachusetts. This dataset contains the following files: a CSV file of the sediment sample grain-size analysis (2016-037-FA_samples.csv) and Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) metadata files in three standard formats.
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    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 USGS 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.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    This dataset contains data available as a CSV file. The CSV file can be read with a text editor.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 07-Aug-2020
Metadata author:
Emily Huntley
U.S. Geological Survey
Geographer/Database Specialist
384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole, MA
USA

508-548-8700 (voice)
508-457-2310 (FAX)
ehuntley@contractor.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_P9HZHXXV/2016-037-FA_samples_meta.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.50 on Tue Sep 21 18:19:02 2021