Surficial Sediment Data Collected During U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cruise R/V RAFAEL 2011-006-FA in Rhode Island Sound (2011-006_995SEDDATA.SHP)

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Surficial Sediment Data Collected During U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cruise R/V RAFAEL 2011-006-FA in Rhode Island Sound (2011-006_995SEDDATA.SHP)
Abstract:
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is producing detailed geologic maps of the coastal sea floor. Bathymetry, originally collected by NOAA for charting purposes, provides a fundamental framework for research and management activities along this part of Rhode Island Sound, shows the composition and terrain of the seabed, and provides information on sediment transport and benthic habitat. Interpretations were derived from the multibeam echo-sounder data collected in Rhode Island Sound. During June 2011, bottom photographs and surficial sediment data were acquired as part of a ground-truth reconnaissance survey of these areas. For more information on the ground-truth survey see <http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2011-006-FA>.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    McMullen, Katherine, 2012, Surficial Sediment Data Collected During U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cruise R/V RAFAEL 2011-006-FA in Rhode Island Sound (2011-006_995SEDDATA.SHP): Open-File Report 2012-1004, 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.

    McMullen, K.Y., Poppe, L.J., Ackerman, S.D., Worley, C.R., Nadeau, M.A., and Hoy, M.V. Van, 2012, Sea-floor geology in central Rhode Island Sound south of Sakonnet Point, Rhode Island: Open-File Report 2012-1004, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: DVD-ROM
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -71.256150
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -71.102667
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.321950
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.265900
  3. What does it look like?
    http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1004/data/sediment/2011-006_995seddata.gif (GIF)
    Thumbnail image showing the locations of sediment data collected during R/V RAFAEL cruise 2011-006 in Rhode Island Sound
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Calendar_Date: 15-Jun-2011
    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 (27)
    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.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    2011-006_995seddata
    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.
    LABNO
    Unique identifier consisting of two characters and three numerics assigned during lab analysis (Source: Scientist) Character String of width 5
    STATIONID
    Sample name assigned in the field (Source: Scientist) Character String
    PROJECT
    Project name (Source: Scientist) SURVEY H11995
    CRUISEID
    Name or number of cruise during which the samples were collected (Source: Scientist) 2011-006-FA
    PRINCIPAL
    Name (initial and last name) of the principal investigator (Source: Scientist) LPOPPE
    LATITUDE
    Latitude coordinate of the sample location, WGS84 (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:41.2659
    Maximum:41.32195
    Units:Decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.000001
    LONGITUDE
    Longitude coordinate of sample location, WGS84 (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-71.2562
    Maximum:-71.1027
    Units:Decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.000001
    DEPTH_M
    Depth or sounding in meters. Handwritten at time station was occupied based on reading from the ship's fathometer corrected for draft, but not tide. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:27.8
    Maximum:38.7
    Units:meters
    Resolution:0.1
    T_DEPTH
    Top depth of the sample below sediment-water interface (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    ValueDefinition
    0Depth in sediment in centimeters
    B_DEPTH
    Bottom depth of the sample below the sediment-water interface (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    ValueDefinition
    2Depth in sediment in centimeters
    DEVICE
    Device used to collect sample (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) SMALL SEABOSS GRAB
    MONTH
    Calendar month sample was collected (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    ValueDefinition
    6June
    DAY
    Day of month sample was collected (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    ValueDefinition
    15day
    YEAR
    Year sample was collected (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    ValueDefinition
    2011year
    WEIGHT
    Weight of dry sample in grams (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:34.467
    Maximum:51.5718
    Units:grams
    Resolution:0.0001
    ZGRAVEL
    Gravel content in percent dry weight (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:3.37
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    ZSAND
    Sand content in percent dry weight (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:73.98
    Maximum:99.49
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    ZSILT
    Silt content in percent dry weight (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.19
    Maximum:20.54
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    ZCLAY
    Clay content in percent dry weight (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.11
    Maximum:5.05
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    SEDCLASS
    Sediment description based on a rigorous definition (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    ValueDefinition
    SANDSediment whose main phase is less than 2 mm, but great greater than or equal to 0.062 mm
    GRAVELSediment whose main phase is >2 mm
    GRAVELLY SEDIMENTSediment whose main phase is >2 mm, but with significant other sediment
    SILTY SANDSediment whose main phase is sand, but with significant silt
    MEDIAN
    Middle point in the grain-size distribution in phi units (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.41
    Maximum:2.96
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.01
    MEAN
    Average value in the grain-size distribution in phi units (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.39
    Maximum:3.53
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.01
    STDEV
    Standard deviation of the grain-size distribution in phi units (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.58
    Maximum:2.05
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.01
    SKEWNESS
    Deviation from symmetrical form of the grain-size distribution (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.03
    Maximum:3.49
    Units:no units
    Resolution:0.01
    KURTOSIS
    Degree of curvature near the mode of the grain-size distribution (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.18
    Maximum:81.4
    Units:no units
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_11
    Weight percent of the sample in the 11 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.01
    Maximum:0.67
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_10
    Weight percent of the sample in the 10 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.04
    Maximum:1.52
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_9
    Weight percent of the sample in the 9 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.06
    Maximum:2.86
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_8
    Weight percent of the sample in the 8 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.06
    Maximum:3.57
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_7
    Weight percent of the sample in the 7 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.06
    Maximum:6.31
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_6
    Weight percent of the sample in the 6 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.03
    Maximum:5.91
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_5
    Weight percent of the sample in the 5 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.04
    Maximum:4.75
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_4
    Weight percent of the sample in the 4 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.06
    Maximum:34.38
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_3
    Weight percent of the sample in the 3 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.74
    Maximum:70.32
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_2
    Weight percent of the sample in the 2 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:5.21
    Maximum:68.43
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_1
    Weight percent of the sample in the 1 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.09
    Maximum:78.73
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_0
    Weight percent of the sample in the 0 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.03
    Maximum:19.21
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHIm1
    Weight percent of the sample in the -1 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:1.27
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHIm2
    Weight percent of the sample in the -2 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:1.37
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHIm3
    Weight percent of the sample in the -3 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:2.13
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHIm4
    Weight percent of the sample in the -4 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:0
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHIm5
    Weight percent of the sample in the -5 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:0
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    Textural data and visual descriptions produced from the samples and photography of the 2011-006-FA cruise. Visual descriptions of sediment texture were used in areas where samples could not be collected (e.g., boulder fields). These stations can be differentiated by the presence of the nodata value '-9999' in some of the numeric analytical fields. The shapefile attributes are the same as those in the Excel and text formats of this data.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: U.S. Geological Survey

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Katherine McMullen
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Katherine McMullen
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Field and Laboratory Technician
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2277 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    kmcmullen@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

The purpose of this dataset is to release the locations, identifiers, grain-size data and(or) textural descriptions of surficial sediments collected at 27 stations on multibeam bathymetric data of the sea floor in the H11995 study area in Rhode Island Sound.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    Information unavailable from original metadata. (source 1 of 1)
    Information unavailable from original metadata., unknown, Information unavailable from original metadata..

    Type_of_Source_Media: computer program
    Source_Contribution: Information unavailable from original metadata.
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 2011 (process 1 of 7)
    Eleven samples were collected with a Van Veen grab sampler (Blackwood and Parolski, 2001) equipped with a still and video camera. Visual descriptions were used for the other 16 stations where samples could not be collected. Samples were analyzed in the sediment laboratory at the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center. Coarse fraction was determined by sieve; fine fraction was determined by Coulter Counter. See Poppe, Williams, and Paskevich (2005) for analytical specifics. Person who carried out this activity:
    Katherine McMullen
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Field and Laboratory Technician
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2277 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    kmcmullen@usgs.gov
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • 2011-006_995seddata.xls
    Date: 2011 (process 2 of 7)
    An ESRI shapefile was created in ArcMap 9.2 from an Excel file (2003 version) created by the laboratory's software. Used Tools, Add XY Data with Longitude for x field and Latitude for y field. Then right clicked on Sheet1$Events, selected Data, Export Data and exported all features using the layers source data and output 2011-006_995seddata.shp. Person who carried out this activity:
    Katherine McMullen
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Field and Laboratory Technician
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2277 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    kmcmullen@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • 2011-006_995seddata.xls
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • 2011-006_995seddata.shp
    Date: 2011 (process 3 of 7)
    ArcGIS 9.2 was used to define the projection of the ESRI shapefile as Geographic, WGS84, which creates the .prj file. Person who carried out this activity:
    Katherine McMullen
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Field and Laboratory Technician
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2277 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    kmcmullen@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • 2011-006_995seddata.shp
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • 2011-006_995seddata.prj
    Date: 20-May-2016 (process 4 of 7)
    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 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 5 of 7)
    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 6 of 7)
    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 7 of 7)
    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, L.J., Williams, S.J., and Paskevich, V.F., 2005, USGS East-Coast Sediment Analysis: Procedures, Database, and GIS Data: Open-File Report 2005-1001, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Blackwood, D.S., and Parolski, K.F., 2001, Seabed Observation and Sampling System: Sea Technology v. 42, no. 2, p.39-43.

    Poppe, L.J., McMullen, K.Y., Ackerman, S.D., Blackwood, D.S., Irwin, B.J., Schaer, J.D., and Forrest, M.R., 2011, Sea-Floor Geology and Character of Eastern Rhode Island Sound West of Gay Head, Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2011-1004, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    McMullen, K.Y., Poppe, L.J., Ackerman, S.D., Blackwood, D.S., Schaer, J.D., Nadeau, M.A., and Wood, D.A., 2011, Surficial geology of the sea floor in central Rhode Island Sound, southeast of Point Judith, Rhode Island: Open-File Report 2011-1005, 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?
    All attributes were checked in a consistent manner.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Navigation was by differential GPS. Although positions were ship antenna location, depths were shallow and the cable's scope minimal. Positional accuracy of samples to less than 10 m.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    All available grain-size data collected in the H11995 study area during the R/V Rafael cruise 2011-006 are included in this data set.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    No additional checks for 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)
    Katherine McMullen
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Field and Laboratory Technician
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2277 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    kmcmullen@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 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 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 or NOAA 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: A zip file containing the geospatial data, metadata describing the data set, a text file with the data dictionary, and a browse graphic showing the data layer coverage and extent. These data are available as a shapefile, an Excel 2003 spreadsheet, and a comma-delimited text file--all within the WinZip. in format SHP (version ArcView 3.3) ESRI point shapefile Size: 0.08
      Network links: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1004/data/sediment/2011-006_995seddata.zip
      Media you can order: DVD-ROM (Density 4.75 Gbytes) (format UDF)
    • 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. The user must have software capable of uncompressing archived zip files, such as WinZip or Pkware. These data are also available in Microsoft Excel 2003 spreadsheet format. The user must have software capable of reading or importing the Excel-formatted data file. These data are also available as a generic ASCII formatted data file. The user must have a software program capable of reading the comma-delimited data file.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 16-Nov-2021
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
Attn: Katherine McMullen
Field and Laboratory Technician
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA

508-548-8700 x2277 (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/ofr2012-1004/2011-006_995seddata.shp.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.50 on Tue Nov 16 10:06:45 2021