Surficial Sediment Data Collected During U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cruise R/V RAFAEL 2013-005-FA in H12299 Study Area in Block Island Sound (Geographic, WGS 84, 2013-005_299SEDDATA.SHP)

Metadata also available as - [Outline] - [Parseable text] - [XML]

Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?
Who produced the data set?
Why was the data set created?
How was the data set created?
How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
How can someone get a copy of the data set?
Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

Title:

Surficial Sediment Data Collected During U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cruise R/V RAFAEL 2013-005-FA in H12299 Study Area in Block Island Sound (Geographic, WGS 84, 2013-005_299SEDDATA.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. Bathymetric data, originally collected by NOAA for charting purposes, provide a fundamental framework for research and management activities along this part of Block Island Sound, show the composition and terrain of the seabed, and provide information on sediment transport and benthic habitat. During June 2013, bottom photographs and surficial sediment data were acquired as part of a ground-truth reconnaissance survey of this area. Interpretations were derived from the multibeam-echosounder, sedimentary, and photographic data collected in Block Island Sound. For more information on the ground-truth survey see https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2013-005-FA.

How might this data set be cited?
McMullen, Katherine, 2014, Surficial Sediment Data Collected During U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cruise R/V RAFAEL 2013-005-FA in H12299 Study Area in Block Island Sound (Geographic, WGS 84, 2013-005_299SEDDATA.SHP): Open-File Report 2014-1160, 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., Danforth, W.W., Blackwood, D.S., Clos, A.R., and Parker, C.E., 2014, Sea-floor morphology and sedimentary environments of western Block Island Sound, northeast of Gardiners Island, New York: Open-File Report 2014-1160, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.
Online Links:
- https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141160
Other_Citation_Details: DVD-ROM
What geographic area does the data set cover?
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -72.096917
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -71.857217
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.193250
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.125617
What does it look like?

https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1160/data/sediment/2013-005_299seddata.gif (GIF)
Thumbnail image showing the locations of sediment data collected during R/V RAFAEL cruise 2013-005 in the H12299 study area in Block Island Sound
Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

Beginning_Date: 18-Jun-2013

Ending_Date: 20-Jun-2013

Currentness_Reference:

ground condition
What is the general form of this data set?
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
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 (38)
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.

How does the data set describe geographic features?

2013-005_299seddata

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) BLOCK ISLAND SOUND

CRUISEID

Name or number of cruise during which the samples were collected, in the format yyyy-xxx-FA where yyyy is the year, xxx is the cruise number of that year. FA indicates field activity. (Source: Scientist) 2013-005-FA

PRINCIPAL

Name (initial and last name) of the principal investigator (Source: Scientist) LPOPPE

LATITUDE

Latitude coordinate of the sample location, WGS 84 (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	41.125617
Maximum:	41.193250
Units:	Decimal degrees
Resolution:	0.000001

LONGITUDE

Longitude coordinate of sample location, WGS 84 (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	-72.096917
Maximum:	-71.857217
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:	9
Maximum:	56
Units:	meters
Resolution:	0.1

T_DEPTH

Top depth of the sample below sediment-water interface. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	2
Units:	centimeters
Resolution:	1

B_DEPTH

Bottom depth of the sample below the sediment-water interface. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	2
Maximum:	4
Units:	centimeters
Resolution:	1

DEVICE

Device used to collect sample (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) MINI SEABOSS

MONTH

Calendar month sample was collected (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Value	Definition
6	June

DAY

Day of month sample was collected (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	18
Maximum:	20
Units:	days
Resolution:	1

YEAR

Year sample was collected (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Value	Definition
2013	year

WEIGHT

Weight of dry sample in grams. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	15.4067
Maximum:	191.3252
Units:	grams
Resolution:	0.0001

ZGRAVEL

Gravel content in percent dry weight. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	79.34
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

ZSAND

Sand content in percent dry weight. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	19.04
Maximum:	99.72
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

ZSILT

Silt content in percent dry weight. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.11
Maximum:	15.57
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

ZCLAY

Clay content in percent dry weight. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.08
Maximum:	6.92
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

SEDCLASS

Sediment description based on a rigorous definition (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Value	Definition
SAND	Sediment whose main phase is less than 2 mm, but great greater than or equal to 0.0625 mm
GRAVEL	Sediment whose main phase is >2 mm
GRAVELLY SEDIMENT	Sediment whose main phase is >2 mm, but with significant other sediment

MEDIAN

Middle point in the grain-size distribution in phi units. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	-4.25
Maximum:	2.73
Units:	phi
Resolution:	0.01

MEAN

Average value in the grain-size distribution in phi units. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	-3.3
Maximum:	3.31
Units:	phi
Resolution:	0.01

STDEV

Standard deviation of the grain-size distribution in phi units. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.46
Maximum:	2.63
Units:	phi
Resolution:	0.01

SKEWNESS

Deviation from symmetrical form of the grain-size distribution. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	-0.05
Maximum:	4.24
Units:	no units
Resolution:	0.01

KURTOSIS

Degree of curvature near the mode of the grain-size distribution. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	1.17
Maximum:	133.52
Units:	no units
Resolution:	0.01

PHI_11

Weight percent of the sample in the 11 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.02
Maximum:	1.08
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

PHI_10

Weight percent of the sample in the 10 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.03
Maximum:	2.16
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

PHI_9

Weight percent of the sample in the 9 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.03
Maximum:	3.68
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

PHI_8

Weight percent of the sample in the 8 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.04
Maximum:	4.39
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

PHI_7

Weight percent of the sample in the 7 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.03
Maximum:	4.88
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

PHI_6

Weight percent of the sample in the 6 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.02
Maximum:	4.03
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

PHI_5

Weight percent of the sample in the 5 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.02
Maximum:	2.27
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

PHI_4

Weight percent of the sample in the 4 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.04
Maximum:	19.90
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

PHI_3

Weight percent of the sample in the 3 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.35
Maximum:	85.85
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

PHI_2

Weight percent of the sample in the 2 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	1.35
Maximum:	59.98
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

PHI_1

Weight percent of the sample in the 1 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.22
Maximum:	71.99
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

PHI_0

Weight percent of the sample in the 0 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0.02
Maximum:	24.20
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

PHIm1

Weight percent of the sample in the -1 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	6.96
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

PHIm2

Weight percent of the sample in the -2 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	8.79
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

PHIm3

Weight percent of the sample in the -3 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	13.04
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

PHIm4

Weight percent of the sample in the -4 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	19.67
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

PHIm5

Weight percent of the sample in the -5 phi fraction. A nodata value of -9999 is used where no actual sample was acquired. (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

Range of values
Minimum:	0
Maximum:	35.29
Units:	percent
Resolution:	0.01

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

Textural data and visual descriptions produced from the samples and photography of the 2013-005-FA cruise within the H12299 study area. 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?

Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
- Katherine McMullen
Who also contributed to the data set?
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 37 stations on multibeam bathymetric data of the sea floor in the H12299 study area in Block Island Sound.

How was the data set created?

From what previous works were the data drawn?
How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
Date: 2013 (process 1 of 6)
Twenty-eight 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 nine 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:
- 2013-005_299seddata.xls
Date: 2013 (process 2 of 6)
An Esri shapefile was created in ArcMap 9.3 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 2013-005_299seddata.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:
- 2013-005_299seddata.xls
Data sources produced in this process:
- 2013-005_299seddata.shp
Date: 2013 (process 3 of 6)
ArcGIS 9.3 was used to define the projection of the Esri shapefile as Geographic, WGS 84, 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:
- 2013-005_299seddata.shp
Data sources produced in this process:
- 2013-005_299seddata.prj
Date: 04-Oct-2017 (process 4 of 6)
Edits to the metadata were made to fix any errors that MP v 2.9.36 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.). Attempted to modify http to https where appropriate. Reordered the links in the identification section, and added the DOI link as the first link. The source information only had time period of content, which was the same as the dataset time period of content, so the element was removed. Updated the link to the field activity. 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 Road
Woods Hole, MA

508-548-8700 x2251 (voice)

508-457-2310 (FAX)

vatnipp@usgs.gov

Date: 20-Jul-2018 (process 5 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: 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
What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
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:
- https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1001/
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., Danforth, W.W., McMullen, K.Y., Blankenship, M.A., Glomb, K.A., Wright, D.B., and Smith, S.M., 2012, Sea-floor character and sedimentary processes of Block Island Sound, offshore Rhode Island: Open-File Report 2012-1005, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.
Online Links:
- https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1005/
McMullen, K.Y., Poppe, L.J., Ackerman, S.D., Blackwood, D.S., Lewit, P.G., and Parker, C.E., 2013, Sea-floor geology in northeastern Block Island Sound, Rhode Island: Open-File Report 2013-1003, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.
Online Links:
- https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1003/
McMullen, K.Y., Poppe, L.J., Ackerman, S.D., Blackwood, D.S., Glomb, K.A., and Wood, D.A., 2014, Sea-floor geology in northwestern Block Island Sound, Rhode Island: Open-File Report 2014-1018, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.
Online Links:
- https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1018/
Other_Citation_Details: DVD-ROM

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

How well have the observations been checked?
All attributes were checked in a consistent manner.
How accurate are the geographic locations?
Navigation was by differential GPS. Although GPS gave the ship's position rather than that of the SEABOSS, water depths were generally shallow and scope of the cable minimal. Therefore, SEABOSS offset from the antenna was less than 10 m.
How accurate are the heights or depths?
Depths were recorded in the logbook at the beginning of each station from the boat's fathometer.
Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
All available grain-size data collected in the H12299 study area during the R/V Rafael cruise 2013-005 are included in this dataset. Other samples were collected during cruise 2013-005 that lie outside the study area.
How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
No additional checks for consistency were performed on this data. Sediment samples were not collected at all stations due to rough sea conditions or coarse sea floor. Where samples were not obtained, the sea floor was classified using visual descriptions based on photographs and video from the station. There are two samples from station 299_35, one from 0-2 cm and the other from 2-4 cm.

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.

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
What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Downloadable Data
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.

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 Shapefile (version ArcMap 9.3) Esri point shapefile Size: 0.1
Network links:	https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1160/data/sediment/2013-005_299seddata.zip
Media you can order:	DVD-ROM (Density 4.75 Gbytes) (format UDF)

Data format:	An Excel file containing navigation and grain-size analysis data. in format XLS MS Excel Format Size: 0.1
Network links:	https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1160/data/sediment/2013-005_299seddata.xls
Media you can order:	DVD-ROM (Density 4.75 Gbytes) (format UDF)

Data format:	First record contains field headings. Data fields are comma separated. in format CSV (version Information unavailable from original metadata.) comma separated value Size: 0.1
Network links:	https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1160/data/sediment/2013-005_299seddata.csv
Media you can order:	DVD-ROM (Density 4.75 Gbytes) (format UDF)

Cost to order the data: None

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 a program capable of reading a shapefile. A free data viewer, ArcGIS Explorer, 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/ofr2014-1160/2013-005_299seddata.faq.html>