These data were drawn and vetted for accuracy using the source input rasters and point sample data described in the processing steps and source contributions. Overlapping features and unintentional gaps within the survey area were identified using the topology checker in ArcMap (version 9.3.1) and corrected or removed.
Not all digitized sea floor features contained sample information, so often the sea floor texture is characterized by the nearest similar feature that contains a sample. Conversely, sometimes a digitized feature contained multiple samples and not all of the samples within the feature were in agreement (of the same texture). In these cases all data were considered, and the dominant sediment texture from sample analyses did not necessarily determine the primary texture assigned to a polygon. Samples from rocky areas often only consist of bottom photographs, because large particle size often prevents the recovery of a sediment sample. Bottom photo classification can be subjective, such that determining the sediment type that is greater than 50% of the view frame is estimated by the interpreter and may differ among interpreters. Bottom photo transects often reveal changes in the sea floor over distances of less than 100 m and these changes are often not observable in acoustic data. Heterogeneous sea floor texture can change very quickly, and many small-scale changes will not be detectable or mappable at a scale of 1:25,000. The boundaries of polygons are often inferred on the basis of sediment samples, and even boundaries that are traced on the basis of amplitude changes in geophysical data are subject to migration. Polygon boundaries should be considered an approximation of the location of a change in texture.
These physiographic zones are defined for areas where source data exists. In general, gaps in the coverage coincide with gaps in the source data. However, some small data gaps were interpreted through extrapolation. Areas of lower data quality and incomplete coverage are noted in a data confidence attribute field.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Poppe, L.J.
Originator: Ackerman, S.D.
Originator: Foster, D.S.
Originator: Blackwood, D.S.
Originator: Butman, B.
Originator: Moser, M.S.
Originator: Stewart, H.F.
Publication_Date: 2007
Title:
Sea-floor character and surface processes in the vicinity of Quicks Hole, Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Open-File Report
Issue_Identification: 2006-1357
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey
Online_Linkage: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1357/
Type_of_Source_Media: online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 20040810
Ending_Date: 20050617
Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Poppe and others, 2007
Source_Contribution:
This publication provides the source geophysical data (backscatter and bathymetry) and bottom photographs and sediment samples for the Quicks Hole area. Two 29-foot launches deployed from the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson were used to acquire bathymetric and backscatter data during 2004. The multibeam bathymetric data were collected with hull-mounted 455-kHz RESON 8125 and 240-kHz RESON 8101 systems. The sidescan-sonar data were acquired with a hull-mounted Klein 5250 system operating at 100 kHz. Sediment samples and bottom photos were collected aboard the R/V Rafael with a modified Van Veen grab sampler and SEABOSS, respectively.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Poppe, L.J.
Originator: McMullen, K.Y.
Originator: Foster, D.S.
Originator: Blackwood, D.S.
Originator: Williams, S.J.
Originator: Ackerman, S.D.
Originator: Moser, M.S.
Originator: Glomb, K.A.
Publication_Date: 2010
Title:
Geological interpretation of the sea floor offshore of Edgartown, Massachusetts
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Open-File Report
Issue_Identification: 2009-1001
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey
Online_Linkage: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2009/1001/
Type_of_Source_Media: online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 20040814
Ending_Date: 20080909
Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Poppe and others, 2010
Source_Contribution:
This publication provides the source geophysical (backscatter and bathymetry) and bottom photographs and sediment samples in the vicinity of Edgartown. Two 29-foot launches deployed from the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson were used to acquire bathymetric and backscatter data during 2004. The multibeam bathymetric data were collected with hull-mounted 455-kHz RESON 8125 and 240-kHz RESON 8101 systems. The sidescan-sonar data were acquired with a hull-mounted Klein 5250 system operating at 100 kHz. Sediment samples and bottom photos were collected aboard the R/V Rafael with a modified Van Veen grab sampler and SEABOSS, respectively.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Pendleton, E.A.
Originator: Twichell, D.C.
Originator: Foster, D.S.
Originator: Worley, C.R
Originator: Irwin, B.J.
Originator: Danforth, W.W.
Publication_Date: 2012
Title:
High-resolution geophysical data from the sea floor surrounding the Western Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Open-File Report
Issue_Identification: 2011-1184
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey
Online_Linkage: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1184/
Type_of_Source_Media: online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 20100909
Ending_Date: 20100918
Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Pendleton and others, 2012
Source_Contribution:
This report provided source geophysical data (sidescan, bathymetry, and seismic-reflection profiles) for portions of Vineyard Sound adjacent to the western Elizabeth Islands. Surveying was conducted aboard the RV Rafael in September 2010. Interferometric-sonar, sidescan-sonar, and chirp seismic-reflection systems were deployed simultaneously during the cruise. Bathymetric sounding data were collected with an SEA SWATHplus 234-kilohertz (kHz) interferometric sonar system. Sidescan-sonar (acoustic-backscatter) data were acquired with a Klein 3000 dual-frequency (100 and 500 kHz) sidescan-sonar system. High-resolution chirp seismic-reflection profiles were collected using an EdgeTech Geo-Star full spectrum sub-bottom (FSSB) system and SB-424 towfish.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Andrews, B.D.
Originator: Ackerman, S.D.
Originator: Baldwin, W.E.
Originator: Foster, D.S.
Originator: Schwab, W.C.
Publication_Date: 2014
Title:
High-Resolution Geophysical Data from the Inner Continental Shelf at Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts
Edition: 2
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Open-File Report
Issue_Identification: 2012-1006
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey
Online_Linkage: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1006/
Type_of_Source_Media: online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 20090528
Ending_Date: 20110517
Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Andrews and others, 2014
Source_Contribution:
This report provided the source geophysical data (sidescan, bathymetry, and seismic-reflection profiles) for Vineyard and western Nantucket Sounds. The mapping was conducted during research cruises aboard the Megan T. Miller (2009 and 2010) and the Scarlett Isabella (2011). Bathymetric data were acquired using a Systems Engineering and Assessment, Ltd. (SEA) SWATHplus-M 234-kilohertz (kHz) interferometric sonar system, acoustic backscatter data were collected with a Klein 3000 dual-frequency sidescan-sonar (132 and 445 kHz), and chirp seismic-reflection data were collected using an EdgeTech Geo-Star FSSB subbottom profiling system and an SB-0512i towfish.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Pendleton, E.A.
Originator: Andrews, B.D.
Originator: Danforth, W.W.
Originator: Foster, D.S.
Publication_Date: 2014
Title:
High-resolution geophysical data collected aboard the U.S. Geological Survey research vessel Rafael to supplement existing datasets from Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Open-File Report
Issue_Identification: 2013-1020
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey
Online_Linkage: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1020/
Type_of_Source_Media: online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 20071005
Ending_Date: 20110413
Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Pendleton and others, 2014
Source_Contribution:
This report provided the source geophysical data (sidescan, bathymetry, and seismic-reflection profiles) for central portions of Vineyard and western Nantucket Sounds. These areas were surveyed with the RV Rafael in 2010 and 2011. In 2010, seismic-reflection data were acquired with a boomer source and GeoEel 8-channel streamer. Interferometric-sonar, sidescan-sonar, and Knudsen seismic-reflection systems were deployed simultaneously during cruise 2011. Bathymetry data were collected with an SEA SWATHplus 234-kilohertz (kHz) interferometric sonar, Sidescan-sonar (acoustic-backscatter) data were acquired with a Klein 3000 dual-frequency (100 and 500 kHz) sidescan sonar, and high-resolution chirp seismic data were collected using a dual frequency (3.5 and 200 kHz) Knudsen Engineering Limited (KEL) Chirp 3202 system.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Ford, K.H.
Originator: Huntley, E.C.
Originator: Sampson, D.W.
Originator: Voss, S.
Publication_Date: Unpublished Material
Title: Massachusetts Sediment Database
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Other_Citation_Details:
This sample database has been compiled and vetted from existing samples and datasets by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management. The data are currently unpublished, but may be acquired by contacting the CZM office:
251 Causeway St Boston, MA 02114
(617) 626-1000
czm@state.ma.us
Type_of_Source_Media: digital vector
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 19950101
Ending_Date: 20110101
Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Source_Citation_Abbreviation: CZM sample database
Source_Contribution:
Sediment sample databases of Ford and Voss (2010) and McMullen and others (2011) were combined then edited and supplemented with NOAA chart sampling data and bottom photos and descriptions by a group of GIS specialists at the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (Emily Huntley, personal communication). These data contained sediment laboratory statistics when available, visual descriptions if sediment analysis was not performed or if the site was a bottom photograph, and classification fields of Barnhardt and others (1998), Shepard (1954), and Wentworth (1922) as well as average sediment statistics and phi size, when laboratory analysis was conducted.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Poppe, L.J.
Originator: McMullen, K.Y.
Originator: Foster, D.S.
Originator: Blackwood, D.S.
Originator: Williams, S.J.
Originator: Ackerman, S.D.
Originator: Barnum, S.R.
Originator: Brennan, R.T.
Publication_Date: 2008
Title:
Sea-floor character and sedimentary processes in the vicinity of Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Edition: 1.0
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: raster digital data
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Open File Report
Issue_Identification: 2008-1004
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey
Online_Linkage: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1004/
Type_of_Source_Media: online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 20010905
Ending_Date: 20071119
Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Poppe and others, 2008
Source_Contribution:
This publication provides the source geophysical data (backscatter and bathymetry) and bottom photographs and sediment samples for Woods Hole. Two 29-foot launches deployed from the NOAA Ship Whiting were used to acquire bathymetric and backscatter data during 2001. The bathymetric data were collected with a hull-mounted 240-kHz RESON 8101 shallow-water system aboard launch 1005. The sidescan-sonar data were acquired with a hull-mounted Klein T-5000 system operating at 455 kHz aboard launch 1014. Sediment samples and bottom photos were collected aboard the R/V Rafael with a modified Van Veen grab sampler and SEABOSS, respectively, in 2007.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Ackerman, S.D.
Originator: Pappal, A.L.
Originator: Huntley, E.C.
Originator: Blackwood, D.S.
Originator: Schwab, W.C.
Publication_Date: 2015
Title:
Geological Sampling Data and Benthic Biota Classification: Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Open file Report
Issue_Identification: 2014-1221
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey
Online_Linkage: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1221
Type_of_Source_Media: online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 20100909
Ending_Date: 20110914
Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Ackerman and others, 2014
Source_Contribution:
This report provided high-resolution digital photographs of the Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay Seafloor. At each station, the USGS SEABOSS was towed approximately one meter off the bottom at speeds of less than one knot. Because the recorded position is actually the position of the GPS antenna on the survey vessel, not the SEABOSS sampler, the estimated horizontal accuracy of the sample location is ± 30 meters (m). Photographs were obtained using a Konica-Minolta DiMAGE A2 digital still camera, and continuous video was collected from a Kongsberg Simrad OE1365 high-resolution color video camera, usually for 5 to 15 minutes. These data were important in defining rocky zones where sediment samples do not exist.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Joint Airborne Lidar Bathymetry Center of Expertise
Publication_Date: 2009
Title:
2005 - 2007 US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Topo/Bathy Lidar: Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: digital point data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Charleston, SC
Publisher:
NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS), Coastal Services Center (CSC)
Online_Linkage:
Online_Linkage:
Type_of_Source_Media: online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 20070527
Ending_Date: 20070527
Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Source_Citation_Abbreviation: USACE-JALBTCX, 2009
Source_Contribution:
The source lidar data for the very nearshore (< -5 m) region along the northern shoreline of Vineyard and western Nantucket Sounds. Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) data were acquired with a SHOALS-1000T (for hydrographic & topographic data) using the Joint Airborne Joint Airborne LiDAR Bathymetry Center of Expertise (JALBTCX) lidar plane. These data are now publically available in LAS lidar format via NOAA's Digital Coast website.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Publication_Date: 2008
Title:
Descriptive report, navigable area survey H11920, Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts, Gay Head to Cedar Tree Neck
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: BAG files
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Norfolk, VA
Publisher:
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration - National Ocean Survey
Online_Linkage:
Online_Linkage:
Type_of_Source_Media: online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 20080715
Ending_Date: 20080908
Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Source_Citation_Abbreviation: NOAA, 2008
Source_Contribution:
The Bathymetry Attributed Grid (BAG) files accompanying this publication provide the source bathymetry data for portions of Vineyard Sound around the Menemsha Bight. Two 29-foot launches deployed from the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson were used to acquire bathymetry during 2008 using hull-mounted 455-kHz RESON 8125 and 240-kHz RESON 8101 systems.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Publication_Date: 2008
Title:
Descriptive report, navigable area survey H11921, Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts, Sow and Pigs reef to Quicks Hole
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: BAG and TIFF files
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Norfolk, VA
Publisher:
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration - National Ocean Survey
Online_Linkage:
Online_Linkage:
Type_of_Source_Media: online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 20080806
Ending_Date: 20080908
Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Source_Citation_Abbreviation: NOAA, 2008
Source_Contribution:
The BAG and TIFF files accompanying this publication provide the source geophysical data (backscatter and bathymetry) for portions of Vineyard Sound around Cuttyhunk Island and Quicks Hole. Two 29-foot launches deployed from the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson were used to acquire bathymetric and backscatter data during 2008. The multibeam bathymetric data were collected with hull-mounted 455-kHz RESON 8125 and 240-kHz RESON 8101 systems. The sidescan-sonar data were acquired with a hull-mounted Klein 5250 system operating at 100 kHz.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Type_of_Source_Media: online
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 1938
Ending_Date: 1977
Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition
Source_Citation_Abbreviation: NOAA Single-Beam Soundings
Source_Contribution:
These data include NOAA lead-line and single-beam sonar soundings, which were used to cover areas where no swath bathymetry or lidar data exist.
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Sea floor physiographic zones were qualitatively defined in ArcGIS, following the criteria defined by Kelley and others (1996), primarily on the basis of acoustic backscatter, bathymetrically derived slope and roughness, surficial geologic interpretations from seismic-reflection data, and textural information from bottom photographs and sediment samples. The interpretation was initiated by digitizing a polygon shapefile (file > new > shapefile in ArcCatalog 9.3.1, then editor > 'create new feature' in ArcMap 9.3.1) around the extent of the regional bathymetric DEM (see vns10m_navd88 in the larger work citation), and a new field called 'Pzone_name' was created in the shapefile attribute table. The polygon was then partitioned into multiple physiographic zone polygons using 'cut polygon' and 'auto-complete polygon' in an edit session. As each new polygon area was created, the 'Pzone_name' attribute field was populated with the appropriate physiographic zone label. In general, polygon editing was done at scales between 1:5,000 and 1:20,000, depending on the size of the interpreted zone and the resolution of the source data.
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: All source geophysical data and sediment texture analysis data
Process_Date: 2014
Process_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Wayne Baldwin
Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
Contact_Position: Geologist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: U.S. Geological Survey
Address: 384 Woods Hole Road
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-5488700 x2226
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: wbaldwin@usgs.gov
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
The polygon shapefile containing the physiographic zone units was imported as a feature class within a file geodatabase feature dataset, and topological rules were established (ArcCatalog 9.3.1). Topological errors, primarily overlaps and gaps, were identified and remedied using the topology toolbar in ArcMap (9.3.1).
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: polygon shapefile containing the physiographic zone units
Process_Date: 2014
Process_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Wayne Baldwin
Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
Contact_Position: Geologist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: U.S. Geological Survey
Address: 384 Woods Hole Road
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2226
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: wbaldwin@usgs.gov
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
The physiographic zone polygon feature class was exported back to a shapefile and the 'Shape_Area' and 'Shape_Length' fields were deleted from its attribute table (ArcCatalog and ArcMap 9.3.1). XTools Pro (7.1.0) was then used to add and populate a new attribute field containing polygon area in square kilometers based on UTM, zone 19 N, WGS84. Finally, the shapefile was reprojected from UTM zone 19 N, WGS84 to GCS WGS84 using ArcToolbox > Data Management Tools > Projections and Transformations > Feature > Project.
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: physiographic zone polygon feature class
Process_Date: 2014
Process_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Wayne Baldwin
Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
Contact_Position: Geologist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: U.S. Geological Survey
Address: 384 Woods Hole Road
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2226
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: wbaldwin@usgs.gov
Process_Step:
Process_Description: USGS Thesaurus keywords added to the keyword section.
Process_Date: 20180720
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: 384 Woods Hole Road
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2251
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: vatnipp@usgs.gov
Process_Step:
Process_Description: Fixed a broken link and added the DOI link.
Process_Date: 20190130
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: 384 Woods Hole Road
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2251
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: vatnipp@usgs.gov
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Added keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword.
Process_Date: 20200908
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: 384 Woods Hole Road
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2251
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: vatnipp@usgs.gov
