Continental Margin Mapping Program (CONMAP) sediments grainsize distribution for the United States East Coast Continental Margin (CONMAPSG)

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Continental Margin Mapping Program (CONMAP) sediments grainsize distribution for the United States East Coast Continental Margin (CONMAPSG)
Abstract:
Sediments off the eastern United States vary markedly in texture - the size, shape, and arrangement of their grains. However, for descriptive purposes, it is typically most useful to classify these sediments according to their grain-size distributions. Starting in 1962, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) began a joint program to study the marine geology of the continental margin off the Atlantic coast of the United States. As part of this program and numerous subsequent projects, thousands of sediment samples were collected and analyzed for particle size. The sediment map of the Continental Margin Mapping Program (CONMAP) series is a compilation of grain-size data produced in the sedimentation laboratory of the Woods Hole Science Center (WHSC) of the Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and from both published and unpublished studies. Sediment was classified using the Wentworth (1929) grain-size scale and the Shepard (1954) scheme of sediment classification. Certain grain-size categories are combined because of the paucity of some sediment textures; blank parts of the maps indicate areas where data are insufficient to infer sediment type. Bathymetry is used as a guide in placing some of the contacts between different sediment types. However, because the true boundaries between sediment types are probably highly irregular or gradational, because the extreme textural variability that characterizes some areas does not appear at this scale, and because the accuracy of the navigational systems used during the earlier studies is limited, all contacts should be considered to be inferred. The sediment classification for any given polygon (i.e. area) reflects the dominant surficial sediment type for that polygon. It does not mean that other sediment types are not present within the polygon, only that the dominant sediment type is the one that is most common.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    U.S. Geological Survey, 200506, Continental Margin Mapping Program (CONMAP) sediments grainsize distribution for the United States East Coast Continental Margin (CONMAPSG): Open-File Report 2005-1001, 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., Williams, S.J., and Paskevich, V.F., 2005, U.S. Geological Survey East-Coast Sediment Analysis: Procedures, Database, and GIS Data: Open-File Report 2005-1001, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 DVD-ROM
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -82.042793
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -63.999992
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 45.216763
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.011797
  3. What does it look like?
    https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1001/data/conmapsg/conmapsg-thumb.gif (GIF)
    Thumbnail image showing distribution and extent of data layer along the U.S. East Coast
    https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1001/data/conmapsg/conmapsg.gif (GIF)
    Thumbnail image showing distribution and extent of data layer along the U.S. East Coast
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 1982
    Ending_Date: 1999
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • G-polygon (19662)
    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 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    conmapsg
    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.
    AREA
    Area of polygon in native units (Source: Software Computed) Information unavailable from original metadata.
    PERIMETER
    Length of polygon perimeter in native units (Source: Software Computed) Information unavailable from original metadata.
    SEDIMENT
    Assigned code describing sediment. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    ValueDefinition
    brbedrock
    grgravel
    gr-sdgravel-sand
    sdsand
    cl-st/sdclay-silt/sand
    sd/st/clsand/silt/clay
    sd-cl/stsand-clay/silt
    sd-st/clsand-silt/clay
    clclay
    SEDNUM
    Assigned code describing sediment (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    ValueDefinition
    1bedrock
    2gravel
    3gravel-sand
    4sand
    5clay-silt/sand
    6sand-clay/silt
    7clay
    8sand-silt/clay
    9sand/silt/clay

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?
    Larry 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

Why was the data set created?

The purpose of the CONMAPSG sediment layer is to show the sediment grain size distributions. The maps depicted in this series are old and do not accurately depict small-scale sediment distributions or sea-floor variability. This data layer is supplied primarily as a gross overview and to show general textural trends.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    IMAP 1987-D (source 1 of 4)
    Poppe, L.J., Schlee, J.S., Butman, B., and Lane, C.M., 1989, Map Showing the distribution of surficial sediment, Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank: IMAP 1986-A, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 1000000
    Source_Contribution:
    Map was used as source during process of digitizing sediment polygons.
    IMAP 1987-D (source 2 of 4)
    Poppe, L.J., Schlee, J.S., and Knebel, H.J, 1994, Map showing distribution of surficial sediment on the mid-Atlantic continental margin, Cape Cod to Albemarle Sound: IMAP 1987-D, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 1000000
    Source_Contribution:
    Map was used as source during process of digitizing sediment polygons.
    unpublished Mid-Atlantic continental margin map (source 3 of 4)
    Poppe, L.J., and Lane, C.M., Unpublished Material, Map showing distribution of surficial sediment on the mid-Atlantic continental margin and Carolina Trough, Albemarle Sound to Charleston.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 1000000
    Source_Contribution:
    was used as source during process of digitizing sediment polygons.
    unpublished map of the south-Atlantic continental margin and Blake Plateau (source 4 of 4)
    Poppe, L.J., and Lane, C.M., Unpublished Material, Map showing distribution of surficial sediment on the south-Atlantic continental margin and Blake Plateau.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 1000000
    Source_Contribution:
    Map was used as source during process of digitizing sediment polygons.
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 1995 (process 1 of 9)
    Source maps from the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank and the mid-Atlantic, Cape Cod to Albemarle Sound were digitized in PC ArcInfo to create a vector line data set of sediment polygon boundaries, registered to the NOAA medium-resolution shoreline, and processed to create a polygon dataset. Person who carried out this activity:
    Kevin Joy
    National Underwater Research Center
    GIS Specialist
    1084 Shennecossett Road
    Groton, CT
    USA

    (860) 405-9112 (voice)
    kevin.joy@uconn.edu
    Data sources used in this process:
    • IMAP 1986-A
    • IMAP 1987-D
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • vector line data
    • nat_sed.e00
    Date: 2000 (process 2 of 9)
    Source maps from the remaining two areas (Carolina Trough, Albemarle Sound to Charleston and South Atlantic and Blake Plateau) were digitized to create a vector line data set of sediment polygon boundaries. Person who carried out this activity:
    Larry 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:
    • unpublished Mid-Atlantic continental margin map
    • unpublished map of the south-Atlantic continental margin and Blake Plateau
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • vector line data
    Date: 18-Jul-2000 (process 3 of 9)
    The "line" data generated from digitizing the sediment boundaries of the Carolina Trough, Albemarle Sound to Charleston and the South Atlantic and Blake Plateau areas were registered to the NOAA medium-resolution shoreline, combined with the data from the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank and the mid-Atlantic, Cape Cod to Albemarle Sound, and processed in ArcInfo to create the a polygon dataset of the entire U.S. east coast. Person who carried out this activity:
    Dan Martin
    TPMC
    Senior GIS Analyst
    Mill Wharf Plaza, suite 208
    Scituate, MA
    USA

    (781) 544-0026 (voice)
    (781) 544-3086 (FAX)
    dmartin@tpmc.com
    Hours_of_Service: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, EST
    Data sources used in this process:
    • vector line data
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • conmapsg.dbf
    • conmapsg.shp
    • conmapsg.shx
    Date: 19-Dec-2004 (process 4 of 9)
    Removed the "land" and "no data" polygons and the ArcInfo fields from the shapefile. Person who carried out this activity:
    Valerie Paskevich
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Information Technology Specialist, GIS Coordinator
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    (508) 548-8700 x2281 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    vpaskevich@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • conmapsg.dbf
    • conmapsg.shp
    • conmapsg.shx
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • conmapsg.dbf
    • conmapsg.shp
    • conmapsg.shx
    Date: 20-Dec-2004 (process 5 of 9)
    Merged some polygons that had previously been divided by old Continental Margin Mapping Program boundaries. The split polygons showed unnecessary boundaries. Combining the polygons provides a better representation of the East Coast dataset. Person who carried out this activity:
    Valerie Paskevich
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Information Specialist, GIS Coordinator
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    (508) 548-8700 x2281 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    vpaskevich@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • conmapsg.dbf
    • conmapsg.shp
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • conmapsg.dbf
    • conmapsg.shp
    Date: 04-Nov-2015 (process 6 of 9)
    Edits to the metadata were made to fix any errors that MP v 2.9.30 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 from original metadata" for those required fields that were left blank. Other minor edits were probably performed (title, publisher, publication place, etc.). 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 7 of 9)
    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: 31-Jan-2019 (process 8 of 9)
    Fixed a broken link and added the DOI link. 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 9 of 9)
    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?
    Lawrence J. Poppe (ed.), and Polloni(ed.), Chris, 20000501, USGS East-Coast Sediment Analysis: Procedures, Database, and Georeferenced Displays: Open File Report 00-358, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Data are released via CD-ROM media. The publication may also be available online at pubs.usgs.gov
    Poppe, L.J., Schlee, J.S., Butman, B., and Lane, C.M., 1989, Map showing distribution of surficial sediment, Gulf of Maine and Georges Banks: IMAP 1986-A, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Poppe, L.J., Schlee, J.S., and Knebel, H.J., 1994, Map showing distribution of surficial sediment on the mid-Atlantic continental margin, Cape Cod to Albemarle Sound: IMAP 1987-D, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    The assigned sediment attributes in this data set are believed to be accurate. The sediment classification for any given polygon (i.e. area) reflects the dominant surficial sediment type for that polygon. It does not mean that other sediment types are not present within the polygon, only that the dominant sediment type is the one that is most common.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    The accuracy of this dataset is based on source data that is assumed to have met National Map Accuracy Standards
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    This dataset covers the GLORIA project area for the United States East Coast Atlantic Ocean Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) area.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    These data are believed to be logically consistent, although not tested. Geometry appears to be topologically clean.

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)
    Larry 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 this derived data set and its lineage dataset have been used by the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the accuracy of the data and/or related materials. 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. Trade, firm, or product names and other references to non-USGS products and services are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement or warranty, express or implied, by the USGS, USDOI, or U.S. Government, as to their suitability, content, usefulness, functioning, completeness, or accuracy.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
    • Availability in digital form:
      Data format: The SHP file contains the geospatial data. The SHX file contains the index of the geospatial data. The DBF file contains the attribute data in dBase format. The PRJ file contains the coordinate system information (optional). The AVL file contains the legend information (optional). The SBN and SBX files contain the spatial index of the geospatial data (optional). The XML file contains the metadata describing the data set <data set name>.shp.xml. An ASCII version of the metadata file. A browse graphic showing the data layer coverage and extent (optional). in format SHP (version 3.3) ESRI Shapefile format Size: 0.012
      Network links: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1001/data/conmapsg/conmapsg.zip
      https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1001/data/conmapsg/
    • 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 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:
Valerie Paskevich
U.S. Geological Survey
Information Technology Specialist, GIS Coordinator
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA
USA

(508) 548-8700 x2281 (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/ofr2005-1001/conmapsg.shp.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.50 on Tue Nov 16 10:06:30 2021