Location of grab samples from inner continental shelf of North Carolina during U.S. Geological Survey research cruises 1999-045-FA, 2001-005-FA, 2002-013-FA, 2004-003-FA (grabsamples.shp, geographic, WGS 84)

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What does this data set describe?

Title:
Location of grab samples from inner continental shelf of North Carolina during U.S. Geological Survey research cruises 1999-045-FA, 2001-005-FA, 2002-013-FA, 2004-003-FA (grabsamples.shp, geographic, WGS 84)
Abstract:
The northeastern North Carolina coastal system, from False Cape, Virginia, to Cape Lookout, North Carolina, has been studied by a cooperative research program that mapped the Quaternary geologic framework of the estuaries, barrier islands, and inner continental shelf. This information provides a basis to understand the linkage between geologic framework, physical processes, and coastal evolution at time scales from storm events to millennia. The study area attracts significant tourism to its parks and beaches, contains a number of coastal communities, and supports a local fishing industry, all of which are impacted by coastal change. Knowledge derived from this research program can be used to mitigate hazards and facilitate effective management of this dynamic coastal system. This regional mapping project produced spatial datasets of high-resolution geophysical (bathymetry, backscatter intensity, and seismic reflection) and sedimentary (core and grab-sample) data. The high-resolution geophysical data were collected during numerous surveys within the back-barrier estuarine system, along the barrier island complex, in the nearshore, and along the inner continental shelf. Sediment cores were taken on the mainland and along the barrier islands, and both cores and grab samples were taken on the inner shelf. Data collection was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and several other institutions including East Carolina University (ECU), the North Carolina Geological Survey, and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). The high-resolution geophysical data of the inner continental shelf were collected during six separate surveys conducted between 1999 and 2004 (four USGS surveys north of Cape Hatteras: 1999-045-FA, 2001-005-FA, 2002-012-FA, 2002-013-FA, and two USGS surveys south of Cape Hatteras: 2003-003-FA and 2004-003-FA) and cover more than 2600 square kilometers of the inner shelf. Single-beam bathymetry data were collected north of Cape Hatteras in 1999 using a Furuno fathometer. Swath bathymetry data were collected on all other inner shelf surveys using a SEA, Ltd. SwathPLUS 234-kHz bathymetric sonar. Chirp seismic data as well as sidescan-sonar data were collected with a Teledyne Benthos (Datasonics) SIS-1000 north of Cape Hatteras along with boomer seismic reflection data (cruises 1999-045-FA, 2001-005-FA, 2002-012-FA and 2002-013-FA). An Edgetech 512i was used to collect chirp seismic data south of Cape Hatteras (cruises 2003-003-FA and 2004-003-FA) along with a Klein 3000 sidescan-sonar system. Sediment samples were collected with a Van Veen grab sampler during four of the USGS surveys (1999-045-FA, 2001-005-FA, 2002-013-FA, and 2004-003-FA). Additional sediment core data along the inner shelf are provided from previously published studies. A cooperative study, between the North Carolina Geological Survey and the Minerals Management Service (MMS cores), collected vibracores along the inner continental shelf offshore of Nags Head, Kill Devils Hills and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1996. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers collected vibracores along the inner shelf offshore of Dare County in August 1995 (NDC cores) and July-August 1995 (SNL cores). These cores are curated by the North Carolina Geological Survey and were used as part of the ground validation process in this study. Nearshore geophysical and core data were collected by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The nearshore is defined here as the region between the 10-m isobath and the shoreline. High-resolution bathymetry, backscatter intensity, and chirp seismic data were collected between June 2002 and May 2004. Vibracore samples were collected in May and July 2005. Shallow subsurface geophysical data were acquired along the Outer Banks barrier islands using a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) system. Data were collected by East Carolina University from 2002 to 2005. Rotasonic cores (OBX cores) from five drilling operations were collected from 2002 to 2006 by the North Carolina Geological Survey as part of the cooperative study with the USGS. These cores are distributed throughout the Outer Banks as well as the mainland. The USGS collected seismic data for the Quaternary section within the Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine system between 2001 and 2004 during six surveys (2001-013-FA, 2002-015-FA, 2003-005-FA, 2003-042-FA, 2004-005-FA, and 2004-006-FA). These surveys used Geopulse Boomer and Knudsen Engineering Limited (KEL) 320BR Chirp systems, except cruise 2003-042-FA, which used an Edgetech 424 Chirp and a boomer system. The study area includes Albemarle Sound and selected tributary estuaries such as the South, Pungo, Alligator, and Pasquotank Rivers; Pamlico Sound and trunk estuaries including the Neuse and Pamlico Rivers; and back-barrier sounds including Currituck, Croatan, Roanoke, Core, and Bogue.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2013, Location of grab samples from inner continental shelf of North Carolina during U.S. Geological Survey research cruises 1999-045-FA, 2001-005-FA, 2002-013-FA, 2004-003-FA (grabsamples.shp, geographic, WGS 84): Open-File Report 2011-1015, 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.

    Thieler, E.R., Foster, D.S., Mallinson, D.M., Himmelstoss, E.A., McNinch, J.E., List, J.H., and Hammar-Klose, E.S., 2013, Quaternary Geophysical Framework of the Northeastern North Carolina Coastal System: Open-File Report 2011-1015, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -76.473780
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.390440
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.615320
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 34.573001
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 07-Oct-1999
    Ending_Date: 09-Jul-2004
    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):
      • Entity point (202)
    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 0.000001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is D_WGS_1984.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS_1984.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257224.
      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:
      Depth_System_Definition:
      Depth_Datum_Name: Local surface
      Depth_Resolution: 1
      Depth_Distance_Units: centimeters
      Depth_Encoding_Method: Explicit depth coordinate included with horizontal coordinates
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    grabsamples
    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.
    GROUP
    Number assigned to data based on source. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    ValueDefinition
    3samples analyzed by the USGS Branch of Atlantic Marine Geology Sediment Laboratory
    DB_ID
    Unique identification number generated in the sedimentation laboratory of the USGS's Woods Hole Science Center. For samples analyzed after 1980 this identifier consists of 2 characters and 3 numerics (e.g. AS114). For samples analyzed prior to 1980, this identifier consists of 4 numerics possibly followed by as many as 2 characters. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Information unavailable from original metadata.
    FIELD_NO
    Sample name or number as assigned in the field by the Chief Scientist (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Information unavailable from original metadata.
    PROJECT
    Name of project or project number under which samples were taken or data generated; sometimes project name indicates a more specific area (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string of width 21.
    CRUISE_ID
    Name or number of cruise on which sample collected. Historically cruise identifiers were a combination of ship name, year of cruise and cruise leg. In more recent years, cruise identifier is a sequential serial number assigned to field activities within a specific year. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string of width 21.
    CONTACT
    Name of Principal Investigator or Chief Scientist responsible for data collection (usually first initial and last name) (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string of width 12.
    AREA
    General geographic area of data collection. Name is general enough to easily locate area on a state map. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string of width 33.
    LATITUDE
    Latitude coordinate, in decimal-degrees, of sample location. South latitude recorded as negative values. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:34.573001
    Maximum:36.615320
    Units:signed decimal degrees
    Resolution:.00000001
    LONGITUDE
    Longitude coordinate, in decimal degrees, of sample location. West longitude is recorded as negative values. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-76.473780
    Maximum:-75.39044
    Units:signed decimal degrees
    Resolution:.00000001
    DEPTH_M
    Measured depth of water overlying sediment at sample time, not corrected for tides, in meters. Some samples contain zeros, indicating that depth of sample is unknown. (Source: USGS East coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:9.48
    Maximum:23.86
    Units:meters
    Resolution:.01
    B_DEPTH
    Bottom depth of the sample below the sediment-water interface, in centimeters (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:2
    Units:centimeters
    Resolution:1
    DEVICE
    Device used to collect the sample. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    ValueDefinition
    VAN VEEN GRABsample collected with Van Veen grab sampler
    Character string of width 28.
    MONTH_COLL
    Calendar month sample collected (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:7
    Maximum:10
    Units:month of year
    Resolution:1
    YEAR_COLL
    Calendar year sample collected (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1999
    Maximum:2004
    Units:year
    Resolution:1
    MONTH_ANAL
    Calendar month sample analyzed (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:10
    Units:month of year
    Resolution:1
    DAY_ANAL
    Calendar day sample analyzed (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:14
    Maximum:28
    Units:day of month
    Resolution:1
    YEAR_ANAL
    Calendar year sample analyzed (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:2000
    Maximum:2004
    Units:year
    Resolution:1
    WEIGHT
    Weight of dry sample in grams (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:27.357900
    Maximum:565.642500
    Units:grams
    Resolution:.0001
    GRAVEL_PCT
    Gravel content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters greater than 2 mm; -1 phi and larger) (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:81.92
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    SAND_PCT
    Sand content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 2 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.0625 mm ; 0 phi through 4 phi ) (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:14.25
    Maximum:100
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    SILT_PCT
    Silt content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 0.0625 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.004 mm; 5 phi through 8 phi , inclusive) (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:39.91
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    CLAY_PCT
    Clay content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 0.004 mm; 9 phi and smaller) (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:41.74
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    CLASSIFICA
    Sediment Classification - Sediment description based on a rigorous definition, usually Shepard, 1954 (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    ValueDefinition
    GRAVELSediment whose main phase (usually greater than 50 percent) is greater than 2 mm
    GRAVELLY SEDIMENTSediment whose main phase is greater than 2 mm, but with significant other sediment
    SANDSediment whose main phase is less than 2 mm, but greater than 0.062 mm
    SAND SILT CLAYsediment with significant (greater than 20%) sand, silt, and clay
    SILTY CLAYSediment whose main phase is clay but with significant silt
    SILTY SANDSediment whose main phase is sand, but with significant silt
    Character string of width 19.
    MEDIAN
    Middle point in the grain size distribution in phi units (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-2.72
    Maximum:7.56
    Units:phi
    Resolution:.01
    MEAN
    Average value in the grain size distribution in phi units (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-2.64
    Maximum:6.96
    Units:phi
    Resolution:.01
    STDEV
    Standard deviation (root mean square of the deviations) of the grain size distribution in phi units (sorting) (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.42
    Maximum:3.74
    Units:phi
    Resolution:.01
    SKEWNESS
    Skewness (deviation from symmetrical form) of the grain size distribution in phi units (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.90
    Maximum:4.19
    Units:phi
    Resolution:.01
    KURTOSIS
    Kurtosis (degree of curvature near the mode) of the grain size distribution in phi units (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-1.53
    Maximum:81.19
    Units:phi
    Resolution:.01
    MODE1CLASS
    Mode 1 class - First mode (particle size that occurs the most number of times) in phi units (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-5.500
    Maximum:7.500
    MODE1FREQ
    Mode 1 strength - Modal strength of the first mode in percent (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:15.17
    Maximum:88.12
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    MODE2CLASS
    Mode 2 class - Second mode in phi units (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-5.50
    Maximum:8.50
    Units:phi
    Resolution:.01
    MODE2FREQ
    Mode 2 strength - Modal strength of the second mode in percent (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:38.19
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    MODE3CLASS
    Mode 3 class - Third mode in phi units (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-5.50
    Maximum:3.50
    Units:phi
    Resolution:.01
    MODE3FREQ
    Mode 3 strength - Modal strength of the third mode in percent (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:13.36
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    NMODES
    Number of modes (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.00
    Maximum:3.00
    Units:integer count
    Resolution:1
    PHIm5
    -5 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -5 phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 32 mm, but less than 64 mm); very coarse pebbles (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:25.96
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    PHIm4
    -4 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -4 phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 16 mm, but less than 32 mm); coarse pebbles (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:10.29
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    PHIm3
    -3 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -3 phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 8 mm, but less than 16 mm); medium pebbles (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:22.18
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    PHIm2
    -2 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -2 phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 4 mm, but less than 8 mm); fine pebbles (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:32.75
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    PHIm1
    -1 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -1 phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 2 mm, but less than 4 mm); very fine pebbles (granules) (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:47.23
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    PHI_0
    0 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 0 phi fraction (nominal diameters of particles greater than or equal to 1 mm, but less than 2 mm); very coarse sand (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:43.29
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    PHI_1
    1 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 1 phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.5 mm, but less than 1 mm); coarse sand (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:67.31
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    PHI_2
    2 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 2 phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.25 mm, but less than 0.5 mm); medium sand (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:83.04
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    PHI_3
    3 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 3 phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.125 mm, but less than 0.25 mm); fine sand (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:85.97
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    PHI_4
    4 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 4 phi fraction (nominal diameters of particles greater than or equal to .0625 mm, but less than 0.125 mm); very fine sand (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:88.12
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    PHI_5
    5 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 5 phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.031 mm, but less than 0.0625 mm); coarse silt (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:19.07
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    PHI_6
    6 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 6 phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.016 mm, but less than 0.031 mm); medium silt (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:11.35
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    PHI_7
    7 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 7 phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.008 mm, but less than 0.016 mm); fine silt (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:15.41
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    PHI_8
    8 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 8 phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.004 mm, but less than 0.008 mm); very fine silt (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:18.72
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    PHI_9
    9 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 9 phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.002 mm, but less than 0.004 mm); coarse clay (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:17.86
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    PHI_10
    10 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 10 phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.001 mm, but less than 0.002 mm); medium clay (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:15.44
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    PHI_11
    11 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 11 phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.5 µm, but less than 0.001 mm); fine clay (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:8.44
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01
    ANALYST
    Name(usually first initial and last name) of person who performed the grain size or physical properties analysis (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string of width 43.
    COMMENTS
    Comments on sample collection or lithology (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string of width 66.

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?
    E. Robert Thieler
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Research Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508.548.8700 x2350 (voice)
    508.457.2310 (FAX)
    rthieler@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

This ESRI point shapefile contains the locations of marine sediment samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey along the inner continental shelf study area. It was produced to ground-truth (verify) topography and backscatter intensity of the seafloor. Grain size analysis of these samples have been included in U.S. Geological Survey East-Coast Sediment Analysis Report published in 2005 (Open-File Report 2005-1001).

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    ecstdb2005.xls - not available in original metadata, inferred from first process step (source 1 of 1)
    Poppe, L.J., Williams, S.J., and Paskevich, V.F., 2005, ECSTDB2005 - USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database (2005): Open-File Report 2005-1001, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Publication OFR2005-1001 supersedes previous editions of this publication.
    Type_of_Source_Media: disc
    Source_Contribution:
    The Excel spreadsheet document (ecstdb2005.xls) contains the accumulated results of the surficial sediment analysis collected and processed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Woods Hole Science Center (WHSC).
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 22-Jun-2006 (process 1 of 6)
    The surficial sediment data fields from the 2005 USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database was accessed to generate a new Excel spreadsheet document containing only the data for sediment samples collected during USGS field activity numbers 1999-045-FA, 2001-005-FA, 2002-013-FA, and 2004-003-FA. Field headings that contained no information (such as DAY_COLL) were removed. The spreadsheet was then exported as a comma-delimited text file. Person who carried out this activity:
    Emily Himmelstoss
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508.548.8700 x2262 (voice)
    508.457.2310 (FAX)
    Data sources used in this process:
    • ecstdb2005.xls
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • grabsamples.txt
    Date: 22-Jun-2006 (process 2 of 6)
    The comma delimited source file was imported into ArcGIS as a point shapefile (geographic, WGS 84) by right-clicking on the file in ArcCatalog (v 9.1) and choosing "Create Feature Class" > "From XY table..." from the pop-up window. Person who carried out this activity:
    Emily Himmelstoss
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2262 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    Data sources used in this process:
    • grabsamples.txt
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • grabsamples.dbf
    • grabsamples.shp
    • grabsamples.shx
    • grabsamples.sbn
    • grabsamples.sbx
    Date: 10-Jun-2016 (process 3 of 6)
    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 link to the data catalog was fixed. Minor fixes to the attribute format for some attributes were needed. The distribution format name was modified in an attempt to be more consistent with other metadata files of the same data format. 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 4 of 6)
    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 5 of 6)
    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 6 of 6)
    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?
    Poppe, Lawrence J., Williams, S.J., and Paskevich, V.F., 2005, ECSTDB2005 - USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database (2005): Open-File Report 2005-1001, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Publication OFR2005-1001 supersedes previous editions of this publication.

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Navigation was by DGPS; positional accuracy to less than 10 m, as reported in the USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database (2005) Edition 2.0 report.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    This is a subset of the USGS East Coast Sediment Texture database (2005) published as OFR 2005-1001. Only data from U.S. Geological Survey research cruises 1999-045-FA, 2001-005-FA, 2002-013-FA, and 2004-003-FA have been included.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    No additional checks for topological consistency were performed on this data. Gaps in sequential sample numbers may exist.

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 as the originator of the dataset.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    E. Robert Thieler
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Research Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508.548.8700.x2350 (voice)
    508.457.2310 (FAX)
    rthieler@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?
    Neither the U.S. Government, the Department of the Interior, nor the USGS, nor any of their employees, contractors, or subcontractors, make any warranty, express or implied, nor assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, nor represent that its use would not infringe on privately owned rights. 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?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 18-Mar-2024
Metadata author:
Emily Himmelstoss
Geologist
384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole, MA
USA

508-548-8700 x2262 (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 person is no longer with USGS. (updated on 20240318)
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/ofr2011-1015/grabsamples.faq.html>
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