Gulf of Maine Contaminated Sediments Database (GOMCSDB shapefile)

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Gulf of Maine Contaminated Sediments Database (GOMCSDB shapefile)
Abstract:
The Contaminated Sediments Database for the Gulf of Maine provides a compilation and synthesis of existing data to help establish the environmental status of our coastal sediments and the transport paths and fate of contaminants in this region. This information, in turn, forms one of the essential bases for developing successful remediation and resource management policies. The Contaminated Sediments Database for the Gulf of Maine provides a compilation and synthesis of existing data to help establish the environmental status of our coastal sediments and the transport paths and fate of contaminants in this region. This information, in turn, forms one of the essential bases for developing successful remediation and resource management policies This product is the result of a collaborative effort of principal investigators from the U.S. Geological Survey Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the University of New Hampshire, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, the University of Massachusetts, and active participation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other federal and state agencies. Funding was provided by participating institutions and the Gulf of Maine Regional Marine Research Program.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Poppe, Lawrence J., 2003, Gulf of Maine Contaminated Sediments Database (GOMCSDB shapefile): Open-File Report 03-001, U. S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Poppe, L.J., Paskevich, V.F., Williams, S.J., Hastings, M.E., Kelley, J.T., Belknap, D.F., Ward, L.G., Fitzgerald, D.M., and Larsen, P.F., 2003, Surficial Sediment Data from the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and vicinity: a GIS Compilation: Open-File Report 03-001, U. S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 CD-ROM
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -71.100000
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -67.335000
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 44.678000
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.400000
  3. What does it look like?
    http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/of03-001/data/seddata/gomcsdb/gomcsdb-thumb.gif (GIF)
    Thumbnail image showing extent and distribution of data layer coverage.
    http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/of03-001/data/seddata/gomcsdb/gomcsdb.gif (GIF)
    Image map showing extent and distribution of data layer coverage.
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Calendar_Date: 2002
    Currentness_Reference:
    publication date
  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):
      • Entity point (852)
    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 0.00001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.00001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1927.
      The ellipsoid used is Clarke 1866.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378206.400000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/294.978698.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    gomcsdb.dbf
    Shapefile Attribute Table (Source: ESRI)
    FID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI) Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI) Coordinates defining the features.
    USGSDB_ID
    Characters and numerics assigned to identify individual samples (Source: Database Compilers) Sample identifiers
    FIELD_ID
    Names assigned in the field to identify samples (Source: Scientist) Sample identifiers
    LATITUDE
    Latitude coordinate of sample location (Source: Scientist)
    Range of values
    Minimum:40.40000
    Maximum:44.67800
    Units:Decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.00001
    LONGITUDE
    Longitude coordinate of sample location (Source: Scientist)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-71.10000
    Maximum:-67.33500
    Units:Decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.00001
    SOURCE
    Source citation (Source: Database compiler) Authors, year published, and ancillary information
    YEAR
    Year samples were collected (Source: Scientist)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1970
    Maximum:1993
    Units:years
    Resolution:1
    DEVICE
    Equipment used to collect samples (Source: Scientist) Equipment used to collect samples
    DPTH_CODE
    Description of the depth interval of sample below the sediment - water interface (Source: Database compiler) Descriptions of the sampling interval
    LITHOLOGY
    Description of the bottom sediments (Source: Scientists) Verbal description of the bottom sediments
    GRAVEL
    Percentage of gravel in sample (Source: Scientist)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:86.44
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    SAND
    Percentage of sand in sample (Source: Scientist)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:100
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    SILT
    Percentage of silt in sample (Source: Information unavailable from original metadata.)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:72
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    CLAY
    Percentage of clay in sample (Source: Scientist)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:69.3
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    FINES
    Percentage of fines in sample (Source: Scientist)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:99
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    CLASS
    Textural classification based on a scheme devised by Shepard (1954) (Source: Compiler) Verbal description of the sediment texture

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Lawrence J. Poppe
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    Please review the cross reference information for the original data set credit to Buchholtz ten Brink and others (2002), and Larry Poppe for creating this ArcView shapefile.
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Lawrence J. Poppe
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

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

Why was the data set created?

The purpose of this data layer is to release a subset of the Gulf of Maine Contaminated Sediments Database that can be used to interpret surficial sediment distribution off the northeastern U.S.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    Information unavailable from original metadata. (source 1 of 1)
    M.R. Buchholtz ten Brink, Manheim, F.T., Mecray, E.L., Hastings, M.E., Currence, J.M., Farrington, J., Jones, S., Tripp, B., Wallace, G., Ward, L., Freddette, T., Liebman, M., and Leo, W. Smith, 2002, Contaminated Sediments Database for the Gulf of Maine: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-403, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Type_of_Source_Media: CD-ROM
    Source_Contribution: Information unavailable from original metadata.
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 04-Dec-2002 (process 1 of 5)
    Textural and lithologic data from the Gulf of Maine were clipped from the whole Gulf of Maine Contaminated Sediments Database in Excel and exported to an ASCII file. Stations and sediment data were imported from the ASCII text file to an ArcView table. The table was later converted to an event theme and saved as the final shapefile. Person who carried out this activity:
    Lawrence J. Poppe
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    (508) 548-8700 x2314 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    lpoppe@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • gomcsdb.txt
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • gomcsdb.shp
    • gomcsdb.shx
    • gomcsdb.shp
    Date: 01-Dec-2015 (process 2 of 5)
    Edits to the metadata were made to fix any errors that MP v 2.9.32 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. Other minor edits were probably performed (title, publisher, publication place, etc.). The source information was incomplete and had to be modified to meet the standard. The attribute measurement resolution was changed from 0.00 (an invalid value) to 0.01 in the following attributes: GRAVEL, SAND, SILT, CLAY, and FINES. 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. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: VeeAnn A. Cross
    Marine Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-548-8700 x2251 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    vatnipp@usgs.gov
    Date: 20-Jul-2018 (process 3 of 5)
    USGS Thesaurus keywords added to the keyword section. 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
    Date: 18-Nov-2019 (process 4 of 5)
    Crossref DOI link was added as the first link in the metadata. 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
    Date: 08-Sep-2020 (process 5 of 5)
    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?
    M.R. Buchholtz ten Brink, Manheim, F.T., Mecray, E.L., Hastings, M.E., Currence, J.M., Farrington, J.W., Jones, S.H., Larsen, P.F., Tripp, B.W., Wallace, G.T., Ward, L.G., Freddette, T.J., Liebman, M.L., and Leo, W. Smith, 2002, Contaminated Sediments Database for the Gulf of Maine: U.S. Geolgical Survey Open-File Report 02-403, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    All attributes were checked by compilers in a consistent manner.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Navigation was by several methods; navigational accuracy unknown.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Sample locations, grain-size data, textural classifications, and sample identifiers are provided for 852 stations.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    No additional checks for topological consistency were performed on this data.

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 (USGS) as the source of this information.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    Lawrence J. Poppe
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    (508) 548-8700 x2314 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    lpoppe@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Downloadable Data
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    Although these data have been used by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), no warranty expressed or implied is made by the U.S. Geological Survey as to the accuracy of the data. 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?
    • Availability in digital form:
      Data format: Five files (gomcsdb.shp, gomcsdb.dbf, gomcsdb.shx, gomcsdb.sbx, gomcsdb.sbn) comprising the ArcView point shapefile components, 'prj' and 'avl' files, metadata text file and browse graphic. in format SHP (version 3.2) ESRI point shapefile Size: 0.023
      Network links: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/of03-001/data/seddata/gomcsdb/gomcsdb.zip
      Media you can order: CD-ROM (Density 650 Mbytes) (format ISO 9600)
      Note: The user must have a computer system with a CD-ROM available. To browse the information contained on this CD-ROM, the user must have a current WWW browser available. The user must also have software installed on their computer to unzip the archived file.
    • Cost to order the data: None

  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    These data are available in Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) shapefile format. The user must have ArcGIS or ArcView 3.0 or greater software to read and process the data file. In lieu of ArcView or ArcGIS, the user may utilize another GIS application package capable of importing the data. A free data viewer, ArcExplorer, capable of displaying the data is available from ESRI at www.esri.com.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 16-Nov-2021
Metadata author:
Lawrence J. Poppe
U.S. Geological Survey
Geologist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA
USA

(508) 548-8700 x2314 (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 metadata contact is no longer with the USGS or the email is otherwise invalid.
Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/whcmsc/open_file_report/ofr2003-001/gomcsdb.shp.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.50 on Tue Nov 16 10:06:29 2021