Nahant to Gloucester, sea floor photographs and bottom samples analyses acquired during ground validation sampling

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Metadata:

Identification_Information
Data_Quality_Information
Spatial_Reference_Information
Entity_and_Attribute_Information
Distribution_Information
Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Brian D. Andrews
Publication_Date: 2006
Title:

Nahant to Gloucester, sea floor photographs and bottom samples analyses acquired during ground validation sampling

Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: raster
Series_Information:

Series_Name: Open File Report
Issue_Identification: 2005-1293

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place:

Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20051293
Online_Linkage: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1293/html/appendix1.html
Larger_Work_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Walter A. Barnhardt
Originator: Brian D. Andrews
Originator: Bradford Butman
Publication_Date: 2006
Title:

High-Resolution Mapping of the Inner Continental Shelf: Nahant to Gloucester, Massachusetts

Edition: 1.0
Series_Information:

Series_Name: Open-File Report
Issue_Identification: 2005-1293

Publication_Information:

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

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20051293
Online_Linkage: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1293/

Description:

Abstract:

This report presents high-resolution maps of the seafloor offshore of Massachusetts, from Nahant to Gloucester. Approximately 134 km² of the inner shelf were mapped with a focus on the nearshore region in water depths less than 40 m. The maps were prepared as part of a cooperative mapping program between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM). They are based on marine geophysical data, sediment sampling, and bottom photography obtained on two research cruises carried out in 2003 and 2004. The primary objective of this program is to develop a suite of seafloor maps that provide geologic information for management of coastal and marine resources. Accurate maps of seafloor geology are important first steps toward protecting fish habitat, delineating marine reserves, and assessing environmental changes due to natural or human impacts. The maps also provide a geologic framework for scientific research, industry and the public.

Purpose:

The remotely-sensed data collected as part of this study were validated with direct sampling of the surficial sediments and photographs of the seafloor. The ground validation portion of the project commenced immediately following the conclusion of the geophysical surveys in May 2004. One hundred target stations were identified prior to the survey for sampling and photography with the USGS Mini SEABed Observation and Sampling System

Supplemental_Information:

The original report did not include separate metadata files for these data, so the metadata file was created at a later date (2025). Additional information about the activity that acquired the data can be found at: https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/services/activity.php?fan=2004-002-FA

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20040506
Ending_Date: 20040508

Currentness_Reference: ground condition of acquistion

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.909698
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.7068174
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.569156
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.411826

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Metadata Identifier
Theme_Keyword: USGS:dc680cee-c6b8-4d95-b457-612479c6633a

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: U.S. Geological Survey
Theme_Keyword: USGS
Theme_Keyword: Coastal and Marine Geology Program
Theme_Keyword: CMGP
Theme_Keyword: Woods Hole Science Center
Theme_Keyword: WHSC
Theme_Keyword: Seafloor
Theme_Keyword: Marine Geology
Theme_Keyword: bottom photograph
Theme_Keyword: field activity serial number RAFA04002
Theme_Keyword: sea floor photo
Theme_Keyword: sediment sample
Theme_Keyword: seafloor mapping

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: oceans
Theme_Keyword: imageryBaseMapsEarthCover
Theme_Keyword: geoscientificInformation

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: sea-floor characteristics
Theme_Keyword: image collections
Theme_Keyword: grab sampling
Theme_Keyword: grain-size analysis
Theme_Keyword: marine geology
Theme_Keyword: underwater photography

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: Massachusetts Bay
Place_Keyword: Atlantic Ocean
Place_Keyword: Salem Sound
Place_Keyword: Nahant
Place_Keyword: Gloucester
Place_Keyword: South Essex Ocean Sanctuary

Access_Constraints:

No access constraints. Please see 'Distribution Information' for details.

Use_Constraints:

These data are marked with a Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal License. These data are in the public domain and do not have any use constraints. Users are advised to read the dataset's metadata thoroughly to understand appropriate use and data limitations. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as the source of this information.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Brian Andrews
Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey

Contact_Position: Marine Geographer
Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 384 Woods Hole Rd.
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2348
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: bandrews@usgs.gov

Browse_Graphic:

Browse_Graphic_File_Name: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1293/images/pict0409.jpg
Browse_Graphic_File_Description: Example of a bottom photograph from the study area.
Browse_Graphic_File_Type: HOEG

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.1.0.722

Data_Quality_Information:

Logical_Consistency_Report: Information not available.
Completeness_Report: Information not available.
Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

The report indicates that the research vessel occupied the target location (+/- 10 m) for instrument deployment. Additional inaccuracies can probably be included associate with the instrument drifting away from the research vessel.

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

The report does not seem to indicate the source of the depth values that are present in the sediment texture analysis data.

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The ground validation portion of the project commenced immediately following the conclusion of the geophysical surveys in May 2004. One hundred target stations were identified prior to the survey for sampling and photography with the USGS Mini SEABed Observation and Sampling System (Mini SEABOSS; Valentine and others, 2000, https://doi.org/10.3133/fs14200). Stations were selected based primarily on the previously collected acoustic backscatter data, with the objective of characterizing broad areas of different backscatter intensity. In addition, the sampling design included investigation of both gradual and sharp transitions in backscatter values, inferred to be differences in substrates. The research vessel occupied the target location (+/- 10 m), deployed the Mini SEABOSS and drifted with the current over the bottom at approximately 1-3 knots. Continuous video was collected while the camera was within sight of the bottom and photographs were obtained from a still camera at user-selected locations along the transect. Samples of the surficial sediment were usually collected at the end of the drift transect. The upper 2 cm of sediment were scraped from the surface of the grab for textural analysis. At each station about 5 minutes of video and about 5 bottom photographs were obtained.
Sediment samples were collected at locations with relatively soft sediment (sand or mud) where the Mini SEABOSS would not be damaged. Samples were not collected in cobble or rocky regions. Samples were analyzed for grain size at the USGS Sediment Laboratory. Poppe and Polloni (2000, https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr00358) describe the standard procedure for grain size textural analysis
This information was copied from the report to assist in generating this metadata file.

Process_Date: 2004

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

This metadata file was written based on information from within the report and existing metadata. It's possible some elements that should have been removed were not removed. The original publication did not provide metadata for this dataset. Additionally, this metadata file provides links in the distribution section to the Excel spreadsheet of the sample analyses that was part of the ground truthing. That link is available in the report, but not as a separate link on the Appendix 1 - Geographic Information System page. The data is also available as part of the personal geodatabase. Added USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword. (20250923)

Process_Date: 20250923
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
Address: 384 Woods Hole Rd.
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2251
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: vatnipp@usgs.gov

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: 0.00001
Longitude_Resolution: 0.00001
Geographic_Coordinate_Units: decimal degrees

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: D_WGS_1984
Ellipsoid_Name: WGS_1984
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257224

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

The bottom photos as published do not have spatial information, however the associated image locations and sediment sample files do.
No attempt was made to write the detailed entity and attribute information for the sediment texture data. For these data, see Poppe and others (2000, https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr00358) for a description of the procedures for sediment texture analysis. Hastings and others (2000, https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr00358) provide a data dictionary describing the column headings in the Excel spreadsheet SEDBA1_RAFA04002.xls. I believe the dates presented in the file refer to analysis dates.
Collection dates are reflected in the field ID through the julian day. For example, STA100JD127 would be May 6, 2004.
A total of 585 bottom photographs were obtained at 100 stations for this study. TableA3_1.xls is an excel format file which lists all the bottom photographs grouped by station. Location information is in UTM zone 19 eastings and northings.

Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: U.S. Geological Survey

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Brian Andrews
Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Science Center

Contact_Position: Marine Geographer
Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 384 Woods Hole Rd.
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2348

Resource_Description:

The sediment texture analysis data is available as part of the personnal geodatabase (which requires the download of a large folder), or as an Excel spreadsheet (SEDBA1_RAFA04002.xls). The image locations (with eastings and northings) are available in an Excel spreadsheet (tableA3_1.xls) and the bottom photogrphs are available in a single ZIP file (BottomPhotos.ZIP)

Distribution_Liability:

Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes, nor on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: XLS
Format_Information_Content:

Excel format spreadsheet. One for the sediment texture analysis and one for the bottom photograph locations.

Transfer_Size: 1

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1293/tables/tableA3_1.xls
Network_Resource_Name: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1293/tables/SEDBA1_RAFA04002.xls
Network_Resource_Name: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1293/html/appendix3.html
Network_Resource_Name: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1293/html/appendix1.html
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20051293

Access_Instructions:

The first link will download the bottom photograph image locations (with locations in UTM zone 19 eastings and northings), the second link will download the sediment texture analyses data, the third link is to the page with more information about the bottom photographs, the fourth link is to the GIS page where the personal geodatabase and other GIS data are available, and the fifth link is to the DOI landing page of the report.

Offline_Option:

Offline_Media: DVD-ROM
Recording_Capacity:

Recording_Density: 4.75
Recording_Density_Units: Gbytes

Recording_Format: UDF

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: JPEG
Format_Information_Content: A ZIP file containing 585 bottom photographs.
Transfer_Size: 630

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1293/zip/BottomPhotos.ZIP
Network_Resource_Name: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1293/html/appendix1.html
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20051293

Access_Instructions:

The first link is to download a zip file of the images, the second is to the appendix containing access to all the GIS data, and the third link is to the DOI landing page of the report.

Fees: None

Technical_Prerequisites:

The user must be capable of uncompressing the zip file and reading the Excel formatted data..

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20250923
Metadata_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
Address: 384 Woods Hole Rd.
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (508) 548-8700 x2251
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (508) 457-2310
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 the U.S. Geological Survey.

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/whcmsc/open_file_report/ofr2005-1293/bottom_photos.html>