Sea floor maps showing topography, sun-illuminated topographic imagery, and backscatter intensity of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Region off Boston, Massachusetts

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Metadata:

Identification_Information
Data_Quality_Information
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
Spatial_Reference_Information
Entity_and_Attribute_Information
Distribution_Information
Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: Tammie J. Middleton
Originator: Sarah J. Fuller
Publication_Date: 2001
Title:

Sea floor maps showing topography, sun-illuminated topographic imagery, and backscatter intensity of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Region off Boston, Massachusetts

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
Series_Information:

Series_Name: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report
Issue_Identification: 2000-410

Publication_Information:

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

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr00410
Online_Linkage: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-410/

Description:

Abstract:

This data set contains the sea floor topographic contours, sun-illuminated topographic imagery, and backscatter intensity generated from a multibeam sonar survey of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region off Boston, Massachusetts, an area of approximately 1100 square nautical miles. The Stellwagen Bank NMS Mapping Project is designed to provide detailed maps of the Stellwagen Bank region's environments and habitats and the first complete multibeam topographic and sea floor characterization maps of a significant region of the shallow EEZ. Data were collected on four cruises over a two year period from the fall of 1994 to the fall of 1996. The surveys were conducted aboard the Candian Hydrographic Service vessel Frederick G. Creed, a SWATH (Small Waterplane Twin Hull) ship that surveys at speeds of 16 knots. The multibeam data were collected utilizing a Simrad Subsea EM 1000 Multibeam Echo Sounder (95 kHz) that is permanently installed in the hull of the Creed.

Purpose:

Development of a GIS database of sea floor imagery that is accessible to scientists, policymakers, managers, and the general public.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 19940815
Ending_Date: 19980922

Currentness_Reference:

Multibeam data were collected from the years of 1994 to 1996. Contours and imagery were generated and edited through 1998.

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.600
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.033
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.800
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.083

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Metadata Identifier
Theme_Keyword: USGS:3238db9b-493b-4475-b258-e0ec0a494dd6

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: marine geology
Theme_Keyword: geospatial datasets
Theme_Keyword: bathymetry
Theme_Keyword: sea-floor characteristics
Theme_Keyword: multibeam sonar

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: none
Theme_Keyword: Geographic Information Systems
Theme_Keyword: GIS
Theme_Keyword: Woods Hole Field Center
Theme_Keyword: WHFC
Theme_Keyword: United States Geological Survey
Theme_Keyword: USGS
Theme_Keyword: SIMRAD SUBSEA EM 1000
Theme_Keyword: Frederick G. CREED
Theme_Keyword: Swath Bathymetry
Theme_Keyword: Multibeam Echo Sounder
Theme_Keyword: Topographic data
Theme_Keyword: Sea floor topography
Theme_Keyword: Bathymetry
Theme_Keyword: Sun-illuminated imagery
Theme_Keyword: Shaded relief imagery

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: geoscientificInformation

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: none
Place_Keyword: Massachusetts
Place_Keyword: MA
Place_Keyword: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary
Place_Keyword: SBNMS
Place_Keyword: Shallow EEZ
Place_Keyword: EEZ
Place_Keyword: Gulf of Maine
Place_Keyword: Atlantic Ocean
Place_Keyword: Ocean

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: Augmented FIPS 10-4 and FIPS 6-4
Place_Keyword: OC13 = North Atlantic
Place_Keyword: f25001 = Barnstable
Place_Keyword: f25009 = Essex
Place_Keyword: f25021 = Norfolk
Place_Keyword: f25023 = Plymouth

Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints: None.
Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

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

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address
Address: 384 Woods Hole Road
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-457-2239
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: pvalentine@usgs.gov

Browse_Graphic:

Browse_Graphic_File_Name: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-410/images/pseudo2.gif
Browse_Graphic_File_Description:

Reduced-size copy of the backscatter image with topography (color indicates backscatter, shading indicates topography) 351x599 pixels, 32-bit RGB true color, 120 kbytes.

Browse_Graphic_File_Type: GIF

Data_Set_Credit:

U.S. Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Canadian Hydrographic Service, University of New Brunswick

Native_Data_Set_Environment: OSF1 UNIX, ARC/INFO version 7.0.4
Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: Tanya S. Unger
Originator: Jessica L. Baker
Publication_Date: 1999
Title:

Backscatter Intensity and Sun-illuminated Sea Floor Topography of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off Boston, Massachusetts

Edition: 1
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
Series_Information:

Series_Name: U.S. Geologial Survey Geologic Investigations Series Map
Issue_Identification: I-2676C

Other_Citation_Details: scale 1:60,000, 1 sheet

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: Tanya S. Unger
Originator: Jessica L. Baker
Publication_Date: 1999
Title:

Sea Floor Topography of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off Boston, Massachusetts

Edition: 1
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
Series_Information:

Series_Name: U.S. Geologial Survey Geologic Investigations Series Map
Issue_Identification: I-2676A

Other_Citation_Details: scale 1:60,000, 1 sheet

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Page C. Valentine
Originator: Tanya S. Unger
Originator: Jessica L. Baker
Publication_Date: 1999
Title:

Sun-illuminated Sea Floor Topography of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off Boston, Massachusetts

Edition: 1
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
Series_Information:

Series_Name: U.S. Geologial Survey Geologic Investigations Series Map
Issue_Identification: I-2676B

Other_Citation_Details: scale 1:60,000, 1 sheet

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

The ship's position was determined with an accuracy of 10 m or better using a Magnavox 4200 geographic positioning system (GPS) receiver in conjunction with differential GPS corrections transmitted by U.S. Coast Guard radio beacons. At the start of each day, casts were made to record the sound velocity profile of the water column in the area to be surveyed. This information is used by the data acquisition system to correct for the refraction of the transmitted multibeam sound signal as it travels through the water to and from the sea floor. Sound velocity information was updated during the day whenever the survey moved from one area to another. Tidal corrections based on NOAA's Boston tide gauge were used to reference depth data to mean lower low water. Sounding rates depend on water depth but vary from 2 to 4 per second in water depths less than 100 meters. Horizontal spatial resolution at these sounding rates is on the order of 10% of the water depth at 16 knots; however, vertical resolution is approximtely 1% or better in the same depth range.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Multibeam echo sounder data was collected aboard the Canadian Hydrographic Service vessel Frederick G. Creed, an aluminum SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) ship that surveys at speeds up to 16 knots. The ship has two submerged torpedo-shaped hulls that support the main deck via two thin struts. This design reduces wave motion on the ship and resistance to the ship's forward motion through the water, thus making it a very stable platform at high survey speeds. Stability of the ship is also enhanced by the computer-controlled action of four stabilizer fins located fore and aft on the inboard side of the hulls. The stabilizers control the pitch and roll of the vessel and allow adjustment of the heel and trim of the ship while under way. An Applied Analytics POS/MV motion sensor located in the hull near the EM 1000 transducer detects changes in pitch, roll, and heave of the vessel. The motion information is recorded concurrently with the acquired multibeam signal and both are logged in a single file on the Sun workstation and made available to other workstations for further processing.

Completeness_Report:

Both the bathymetric and the sidescan-sonar backscatter data are displayed in real time on the Sun workstation using software designed and written by the Ocean Mapping Group, University of New Brunswick. This display allows data gaps to be identified during the survey and also gives a measure of the data quality.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

Sounding rates depend on water depth but vary from 2 to 4 per second in water depths less than 100 meters. Horizontal spatial resolution at these sounding rates is on the order of 10% of the water depth at 16 knots; however, vertical resolution is approximtely 1% or better in the same depth range.

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Valentine, P.C.
Originator: Baker, J.L.
Originator: Unger, T.S.
Originator: Evans, J.
Originator: Polloni, C.
Publication_Date: 1999
Title:

Sea floor topographic, backscatter, and interpretive maps and bottom photos of the Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site region off Boston, Massachusetts

Series_Information:

Series_Name: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report
Issue_Identification: 98-344

Other_Citation_Details: 1 CD-ROM

Type_of_Source_Media: paper
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 1999

Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Valentine and others (1999)
Source_Contribution: Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site Maps and Features on CD-ROM

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Valentine, P.C.
Originator: Baker, J.L.
Originator: Unger, T.S.
Originator: Polloni, C.
Publication_Date: 1998
Title:

Sea floor topographic map and perspective view imagery of Quadrangles 1-18, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off Boston, Massachusetts

Series_Information:

Series_Name: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File-Report
Issue_Identification: 98-138

Type_of_Source_Media: paper
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 1998

Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Valentine and others (1998)
Source_Contribution:

Sea Floor Topography of Quadrangles 1-18 in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary on CD-ROM

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Valentine, P.C.
Originator: Unger, T.S.
Originator: Baker, J.L.
Originator: Polloni, C.
Publication_Date: 2000
Title:

Sun-illuminated sea floor topographic map and perspective view imagery of Quadrangles 1-18, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off Boston, Massachusetts

Series_Information:

Series_Name: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report
Issue_Identification: 99-363

Type_of_Source_Media: paper
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 2000

Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Valentine and others (2000)
Source_Contribution:

Sun-Illuminated Sea Floor Topography of Quadrangles 1-18 in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary on CD-ROM

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Multibeam data were processed using SwathEd, a suite of multibeam software editing and display tools developed by Dr. John Hughes Clarke of the Ocean Mapping Group, University of New Brunswick (UNB). The navigation and topographic data were both edited using this software. Tidal corrections were obtained from NOAA's Boston Tide Gauge (Station 8443970) and merged into the data set using UNB's tidal routines. The topographic information was converted into an ascii textfile containing lat, long, and depth fields, using a script created by Bill Danforth at the U.S. Geological Survey. The ascii file was brought into Arc/Info, and a grid was generated and processed using ESRIs Arc/Info version 7.0.4 software. A point coverage containing depth values was created using the routine point-generate. The grid was created based on the depth values for each of the points using the command pointgrid. The grid was filtered with a 9 by 9 focalmedian filter. Contours were generated using latticecontour. All editing and edgematching was done by hand using arcedit. The shaded relief images shown here were created using a light source that is 45 degrees above the horizon from an azimuth of 350 degrees. The vertical exaggeration in the images is four times. In effect, topographic relief is enhanced by illuminating the sea floor from a position 10 degrees west of north so that shadows are cast on the southern flanks of seabed features. Some features in the images are artifacts of data collection. They are especially noticeable where the seabed is smooth and include small highs and lows and unnatural-looking features and patterns that are oriented parallel or perpendicular to survey tracklines.

Process_Date: 1998
Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: William W Danforth
Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey, ER

Contact_Position: Geologist
Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address
Address: 384 Woods Hole Road
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-457-2274
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: bdanforth@usgs.gov

Process_Step:

Process_Description: Creation of original metadata record
Process_Date: 20020110
Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

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

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address
Address: 384 Woods Hole Road
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-457-2239
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: pvalentine@usgs.gov

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Edits to the metadata were made to fix any errors that MP v 2.9.50 flagged. This is necessary to enable the metadata to be successfully harvested for various data catalogs. In some cases, this meant adding text "Information unavailable" or "Information unavailable from original metadata" for those required fields that were left blank. The DOI link was added to the citation information. The metadata date (but not the metadata creator) was edited to reflect the date of these changes. The metadata available from a harvester may supersede metadata bundled within a download file. Compare the metadata dates to determine which metadata file is most recent. Additional edits were probably made to the original metadata by someone else who did not document what they changed (20210406). Tweaked a thesaurus name (20211117).

Process_Date: 20211117
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 Road
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

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Raster
Raster_Object_Information:

Raster_Object_Type: pixel
Row_Count: 3150
Column_Count: 1884

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: .00003
Longitude_Resolution: .00003
Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal Degrees

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
Ellipsoid_Name: GRS1980
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257

Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Depth_System_Definition:

Depth_Datum_Name: Local surface
Depth_Resolution: 1
Depth_Distance_Units: meters
Depth_Encoding_Method: Attribute values

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: Bathymetric contour line
Entity_Type_Definition: polyline within coverage bathymer
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Information unavailable

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: CONTOUR
Attribute_Definition:

Depth of the bathymetric contour. Values are in meters above sea level, so all values given are negative. Double of width 13, but values are integer. Another attribute "INTERVAL" contains the same data stored as an integer.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Information unavailable
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: -270
Range_Domain_Maximum: -5
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meters
Attribute_Measurement_Resolution: 5

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

Sun-illuminated topographic imagery: This map combines contoured topography and sun-illuminated topographic imagery. The image shown here uses a sun elevation angle of 45 degrees above the horizon from an azimuth of 350 degrees and a vertical exaggeration of four times. In effect, topographic relief is enhanced by having the sun illuminate the sea floor from a position 10 degrees west of north so that shadows are cast on the southern flanks of seabed features. Unnatural-looking stripes and patterns oriented parallel or perpendicular to survey track lines are artifacts of data collection. Blank areas represent places where no data exists. The topographic imagery is identical to that shown on Sheet 3 of this report.
Backscatter Imagery: This map combines the sun-illuminated topography with the backscatter intensity (shown here in color) of the sea floor. Backscatter intensity is a measure of the hardness and roughness of the sea floor as determined from the strength of sound waves reflected from the seabed during the survey. High-backscatter materials (red and orange) are coarse sand, gravel (including piles and ridges of boulders), and rock outcrops. Moderate backscatter (green) represents sand or muddy sand. Low backscatter (blue) represents sandy mud and mud. These interpretations apply best in regions of low regional topography, because steep slopes can divert the paths of some of the reflected sound waves away from the survey vessel. Thus, seabed that slopes steeply away from the survey track can produce a lower backscatter intensity than if it were level. Unnatural-looking stripes and patterns oriented parallel or perpendicular to survey track lines are artifacts of data collection. Blank areas represent places where no data exists.

Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-410/methods.htm

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

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

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address
Address: 384 Woods Hole Road
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-457-2239
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: pvalentine@usgs.gov

Resource_Description: USGS Open-File Report 00-410
Distribution_Liability:

This publication was prepared by members of the US Geological Survey. Neither USGS or the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, make any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed in this report, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. Any views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: ARCE
Format_Version_Number: 8.0
Format_Information_Content:

Bathymetric contours, quadrangle boundaries, coastline, and boundary of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

Transfer_Size: 6

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-410/arcexprt/bathymer.e00
Network_Resource_Name: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-410/arcexprt/coastmer.e00
Network_Resource_Name: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-410/arcexprt/quadbnd.e00
Network_Resource_Name: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-410/arcexprt/sbnmsbnd.e00

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: TIFF
Format_Version_Number: 6.0
Format_Information_Content: Backscatter Imagery and Sun-Illuminated Sea Floor Topography
Transfer_Size: 114

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-410/tif/sunillum.tif
Network_Resource_Name: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-410/tif/pseudo.tif

Fees: none

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20240318
Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Peter N Schweitzer
Contact_Organization: USGS Midwest Area

Contact_Position:

Collection manager, USGS Geoscience Data Clearinghouse, http://geo-nsdi.er.usgs.gov/

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address
Address:

Mail Stop 954
12201 Sunrise Valley Dr

City: Reston
State_or_Province: VA
Postal_Code: 20192-0002
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 703-648-6533
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 703-648-6252
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 USGS. (updated on 20240318)

Metadata_Standard_Name: Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
Metadata_Access_Constraints: None
Metadata_Use_Constraints: None

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