Nahant to Gloucester, high-resolution seismic-reflection profiles

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Metadata:

Identification_Information
Data_Quality_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, high-resolution seismic-reflection profiles

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:

These seismic-relfection data were used to generate a sediment isopach map, which shows the total thickness of sediment between the seafloor and bedrock

Supplemental_Information:

The original report did not include a separate metadata file for these data, so the metadata file was created at a later date (2025). Additional information about the activities that acquired the data can be found at: https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/services/activity.php?fan=2003-007-FA and https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/services/activity.php?fan=2004-002-FA
The bounding coordinates are the same as the sidescan sonar mosaic bounding coordinates. The shot point and trackline data are in a personal geodatabase and were inaccessible at the time of the metadata creation.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20030922
Ending_Date: 20040507

Currentness_Reference:

ground condition of two separate date ranges - 20030922 to 20031015 and 20040412 to 20040507

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.942180
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.660046
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.577803
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.388418

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Metadata Identifier
Theme_Keyword: USGS:a0d87e91-5339-473f-800a-190aedda5203

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: field activity serial number RAFA03007
Theme_Keyword: field activity serial number RAFA04002
Theme_Keyword: Sidescan
Theme_Keyword: Sidescan Sonar
Theme_Keyword: Edgetech
Theme_Keyword: DF-1000
Theme_Keyword: greyscale image
Theme_Keyword: GeoTIFF
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: image collections
Theme_Keyword: marine geology
Theme_Keyword: seismic reflection methods
Theme_Keyword: marine geophysics
Theme_Keyword: sub-bottom profiling
Theme_Keyword: geospatial datasets

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/L108_001.jpg
Browse_Graphic_File_Description: Example of one of the seismic-relfection profiles images.
Browse_Graphic_File_Type: PDF

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:

Although the profiles images themselves don't have navigation data, the report indicates navigation for the research vessel and all data collection used Real-Time Kinematic Global Positioning System (RTK-GPS). The RTK corrected GPS signal was sent to the R/V Rafael from a base station established by the USGS that occupied a Defense Mapping Agency geodetic monument near the Eastern Point Lighthouse in Gloucester.

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Seismic data are not corrected for tides.

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Approximately 1,175 km of high-resolution seismic-reflection profiles (fig. 3.4) were collected using a Knudsen 320b chirp system (3.5-12 kHz). Data were processed using SIOSEIS (Scripps Institute of Oceanography) and Seismic Unix (Colorado School of Mines) to produce segy files and jpg images of the seismic profiles. The segy data were then imported into SeisWorks (Landmark Graphics Inc), an integrated seismic interpretation software package, where selected horizons were digitized to calculate depth to reflections below the seafloor. A constant velocity of 1500 m/s was applied through both water and sediment. Interpreted depth to bedrock (every 5 shots ) was exported into ArcGIS for interpolation into a 50-m grid. Interpreted depth to reflections were calculated, exported every 5 shots, and then imported to ArcGIS for interpolation into a continuous raster with a resolution of 50m/pixel. These data were used to generate a sediment isopach map, which shows the total thickness of sediment between the seafloor and bedrock.
This information was copied from the report to assist in generating this metadata file.

Process_Date: unknown

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

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

There are no attributes associated with the seismic-reflection profile images. Any trackline information available for the seismic data would be in the ArcMap 9.0 personal geodatabase.

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 zip file contains 273 JPEG image of the seismic-reflection profiles (SeismicProfiles_zip.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: JPEG
Format_Information_Content: A ZIP file containing 585 bottom photographs.
Transfer_Size: 540

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: hhttps://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1293/zip/SeismicProfiles_zip.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.

Offline_Option:

Offline_Media: DVD-ROM
Recording_Capacity:

Recording_Density: 4.75
Recording_Density_Units: Gbytes

Recording_Format: UDF

Fees: None

Technical_Prerequisites: The user must be capable of uncompressing the zip file

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/seismic_profiles.html>