Digital vector bathymetric/topographic contours of the sea floor in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region (bathy.shp)

Frequently anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How might this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• 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?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How might this data set be cited?
   Valentine, Page C., Baker, Jessica L., and Unger, Tanya S., 2005, Digital vector bathymetric/topographic contours of the sea floor in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region (bathy.shp): Scientific Investigations Map 2840, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.3133/sim2840
   • http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2005/2840/DATA/bathy/bathy.zip

   This is part of the following larger work.
   Page C. Valentine (editor), 2005, Sea Floor Image Maps Showing Topography, Sun-illuminated Topography, Backscatter Intensity, Ruggedness, Slope, and the Distribution of Boulder Ridges and Bedrock Outcrops in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Region off Boston, Massachusetts: Scientific Investigations Map 2840, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.3133/sim2840
   • http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2005/2840/

   Other_Citation_Details:

   scale 1:60,000, 6 maps, 12 sheets. Suggested citation: Valentine, P.C., Baker, J.L., Unger, T.S., Sculy, L.A., Fuller, S.J., 2005, Sea floor image maps showing topography, sun-illuminated topography, backscatter intensity, ruggedness, slope, and the distribution of boulder ridges and bedrock outcrops in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region off Boston, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 2840, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim2840.

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -71.021510
   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -69.816685
   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.851518
   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.666379
   

3. What does it look like?

   http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2005/2840/data/bathy/bathy-thumb.gif (GIF)

   Thumbnail image showing extent and location of bathymetric contours in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region.

   http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2005/2840/data/bathy/bathy-browse.gif (GIF)

   Browse image showing extent and location of bathymetric contours in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region.

4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Beginning_Date: 1994

   Ending_Date: 1998

   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):
      • String (2335)
   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      The map projection used is Mercator.
      

      Projection parameters:

      Standard_Parallel: 41.650000
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -70.316667
      False_Easting: 0.000000
      False_Northing: 0.000000
      

      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000256
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000256
      Planar coordinates are specified in meters
      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222.
      
7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   bathy

   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.

   FNODE_

   From-node identifier of linear feature carried over from Arc/Info processing and the Arc/Info attribute FNODE_. It is an ArcInfo internal control parameter and has no applicable relevance to the use of the data. (Source: Software Computed)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	10
   Maximum:	2633
   Units:	integer count
   Resolution:	1

   TNODE_

   To-node identifier of linear feature carried over from Arc/Info processing and the Arc/Info attribute TNODE_. It is an ArcInfo internal control parameter and has no applicable relevance to the use of the data (Source: Software Computed)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1
   Maximum:	2634
   Units:	integer count
   Resolution:	1

   LPOLY_

   Internal number of polygon to left of arc carried over from Arc/Info processing and the Arc/Info attribute LPOLY_. It is an ArcInfo internal control parameter and has no applicable relevance to the use of the data (Source: Software Computed)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-1
   Maximum:	-1
   Units:	integer count
   Resolution:	1

   RPOLY_

   Internal number of polygon to right of arc carried over from Arc/Info processing and the Arc/Info attribute RPOLY_. It is an ArcInfo internal control parameter and has no applicable relevance to the use of the data. (Source: Software Computed)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-1
   Maximum:	-1
   Units:	integer count
   Resolution:	1

   LENGTH

   Length of the line in native units (Source: User defined)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	35.215
   Maximum:	116472.308
   Units:	meters
   Resolution:	.001

   BATHYMER_

   Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI) Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

   CONTOUR

   Depth of bathymetric contour. Values are in meters above sea level, so all values are negative. Double of width 13, but values are integer. Another attribute "INTERVAL" contains the same data stored as an integer. (Source: USGS)Frequency of measurement: 5 m

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-270
   Maximum:	-5
   Units:	meters

   INTERVAL

   Depth of bathymetric contour, in meters above sea level. (Source: USGS)Frequency of measurement: 5 m

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-270
   Maximum:	-5
   Units:	meters
   Resolution:	5

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Page C. Valentine
   • Jessica L. Baker
   • Tanya S. Unger
2. Who also contributed to the data set?
3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   Page C. Valentine

   U.S. Geological Survey

   Research Geologist

   U.S. Geological Survey

   Woods Hole, MA
   

   USA

   (508) 548-8700 x2239 (voice)

   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)

   pvalentine@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: unknown (process 1 of 2)

   The navigation and topographic data were both processed using SwathEd, a suite of bathymetric and multibeam software editing and display tools developed by Dr. John Hughes Clarke of the Ocean Mapping Group, University of New Brunswick (UNB). Tidal corrections were obtained from NOAA's Boston Tide Gauge (Station 8443970) and merged into the data set using UNB's tidal routines. The topographic information was converted into an ASCII text file containing lat, long, and depth fields, using a script created by Bill Danforth at the U.S. Geological Survey. The ASCII file was brought into Arc/Info, and a grid was generated and processed using ESRI's Arc/Info version 7.0.4 software. A point coverage containing depth values was created using the routine point-generate. The grid was created based on the depth values for each of the points using the command pointgrid. The grid was filtered with a 9 by 9 focalmedian filter. Contours were generated using latticecontour. All editing and edgematching was done by hand using arcedit.

   Date: 27-Apr-2023 (process 2 of 2)

   The metadata was edited to remove errors as well as update some information. Edits include modifying the title to move the dataset name to the end of the title, adding the DOI link in the identification section, added the suggested citation, added supplemental information with link to the related field activity pages on CMGDS, added the USGS Thesaurus keywords, added keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword, added online links to cross-references, replaced distribution liability with FSP statement, used a generic email address in metadata. The metadata date (20050822), but not the contact (except email and contact instructions) was updated. The metadata available from a harvester may supersede metadata available from the publication. Compare the metadata dates to determine which metadata file is most recent. Original edits on 20210816. An additional author name fix on 20210908. Links to the data were fixed with respect to case-sensitivity issues. (20230427) 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?
   Valentine, Page C., Middleton, Tammie J., and Fuller, Sarah J., 2001, Sea floor maps showing topography, sun-illuminated topography, and backscatter intensity of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region off Boston, Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2000-410, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/of00-410/
   • https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr00410

   Valentine, Page C., Baker, Jessica L., and Unger, Tanya S., 2003, Sea floor topography of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off Boston, Massachusetts: Geologic Investigations Map I-2676-A, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.3133/i2676A

   Valentine, Page C., Unger, Tanya S., and Baker, Jessica L., 2003, Sun-illuminated sea floor topography of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off Boston, Massachusetts: Geologic Investigations Map I-2676-B, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.3133/i2676B

   Valentine, Page C., Unger, Tanya S., and Baker, Jessica L., 2003, Backscatter intensity and sun-illuminated sea floor topography of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off Boston, Massachusetts: Geologic Investigations Map I-2676-C, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.3133/i2676C

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

1. How well have the observations been checked?
   The ship's position was determined with an accuracy of 10 m or better using a Magnavox 4200 geographic positioning system (GPS) receiver in conjunction with differential GPS corrections transmitted by U.S. Coast Guard radio beacons. Sound velocity information was updated during the day whenever the survey moved from one area to another. Tidal corrections based on NOAA's Boston tide gauge were used to reference depth data to mean lower low water. Sounding rates depend on water depth but vary from 2 to 4 per second in water depths less than 100 meters. Horizontal spatial resolution at these sounding rates is on the order of 10% of the water depth at 16 knots; however, vertical resolution is approximately 1% or better in the same depth range.
2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
   Sounding rates depend on water depth but vary from 2 to 4 per second in water depths less than 100 meters. Horizontal spatial resolution at these sounding rates is on the order of 10% of the water depth at 16 knots; however, vertical resolution is approximately 1% or better in the same depth range.
3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
   Sounding rates depend on water depth but vary from 2 to 4 per second in water depths less than 100 meters. Horizontal spatial resolution at these sounding rates is on the order of 10% of the water depth at 16 knots; however, vertical resolution is approximately 1% or better in the same depth range.
4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
   The bathymetric data are displayed in real time on the Sun workstation using software designed and written by the Ocean Mapping Group, University of New Brunswick. This display allows data gaps to be identified during the survey and also gives a measure of the data quality.
5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
   No additional checks for topological consistency were performed on the data.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   
   Page C. Valentine

   U.S. Geological Survey

   Research Geologist

   U.S. Geological Survey

   Woods Hole, MA
   

   USA

   (508) 548-8700 x2239 (voice)

   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)

   pvalentine@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?
   Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes, nor on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.
4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	The SHP file contains the geospatial data. The SHX file contains the index of the geospatial data. The DBF file contains the attribute data in dBASE format. The PRJ file contains the coordinate system information (optional). The AVL file contains the legend information (optional). The SBN and SBX files contain the spatial index of the geospatial data (optional). The XML file contains the metadata describing the data set <data set name>.shp.xml. An ASCII version of the metadata file. A browse graphic showing the data layer coverage and extent (optional). in format SHP (version 3.3) ESRI shapefile Size: 1.985
     Network links:	http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2005/2840/DATA/bathy/bathy.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 the importing data. A free data viewer, arcexplorer, capable of displaying the data is available from ESRI at www.esri.com.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 07-Apr-2023

Metadata author:

U.S. Geological Survey

Attn: Page C. Valentine

Research Geologist

U.S. Geological Survey

Woods Hole, MA

USA

(508) 548-8700 x2239 (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 contact person is no longer with the USGS.

Metadata standard:

FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)