Boulder ridges less than 1 m high on the sea floor of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region (ridges0.shp)

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Frequently anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
Boulder ridges less than 1 m high on the sea floor of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region (ridges0.shp)
Abstract:
This data set contains the locations of boulder ridges that are less than 1 meter in height in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region off Boston, Massachusetts, an area of approximately 1100 nautical square miles. The Stellwagen Bank NMS Mapping Project is designed to provide detailed maps of the Stellwagen Bank region's environments and habitats and the first complete multibeam topographic and sea floor characterization maps of a significant region of the shallow EEZ. The boulder ridges were identified using multibeam topographic imagery and backscatter intensity of the seabed and video and photographic images collected from 1994 to 2003.
Supplemental_Information:
For additional information about the field activities associated with this dataset, see https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1994-008-FA, https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1995-013-FA, https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1996-032-FA, https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1996-043-FA for the multibeam work. The following activities are related to the video, photographic, and sampling work: https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1993-023-FA (ANDR9301), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1993-006-FA (DE93-03, DLWR9303), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1993-030-FA (DE93-12, DLWR9312), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1994-014-FA (9401, ARGO9401), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1994-004-FA (9409; FERL9409), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1995-015-FA (9502, ANDR9502), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1995-036-FA (9503, ANDR9503), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1995-012-FA (9511, FERL9511), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1996-025-FA (DIAN9625), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1996-038-FA (FERL9638), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1996-037-FA (ISBL9637), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1997-020-FA (ABLJ9720), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1997-033-FA (FERL9733), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1998-022-FA (CAND9822), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1998-029-FA (FERL9829), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1998-017-FA (ISB9817), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1999-011-FA (DLWR9911), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=1999-024-FA (ISBL9924), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2000-065-FA (CAND0065), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2000-011-FA (FERL0011), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?2001-060-FA (CONN0106), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2002-029-FA (FERL0202), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2003-014-FA (CONN0301), https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2004-010-FA (FSTR0401).
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Valentine, Page C., Scully, Lian A., and Fuller, Sarah J., 2005, Boulder ridges less than 1 m high on the sea floor of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region (ridges0.shp): Scientific Investigations Map 2840, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    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:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    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: -70.599891
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.036156
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.792679
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.116601
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Calendar_Date: 2005
    Currentness_Reference:
    publication date
  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):
      • G-polygon (513)
    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 0.000128
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000128
      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?
    ridges0
    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.
    Area
    Area (square meters) covered by each boulder ridge. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:507.166806
    Maximum:44182.282778
    Units:square meters
    Resolution:.000001
    Perimeter
    Perimeter (meters) of each boulder ridge. (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:93.035378
    Maximum:977.777809
    Units:meters
    Resolution:.000001
    Hectares
    Hectares covered by each boulder ridge (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.050717
    Maximum:4.418228
    Units:hectares
    Resolution:.000001
    MIN
    Base of ridge, in meters above sea level (a negative value). (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-93.919998
    Maximum:-19
    Units:meters
    Resolution:.000001
    MAX
    Top of ridge, in meters above sea level (a negative value). (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-93.209999
    Maximum:-18.080000
    Units:meters
    Resolution:.000001
    RANGE
    Height of ridge (meters), calculated by subtracting top of ridge (max) from base of ridge (min). (Source: USGS)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.129997
    Maximum:0.990002
    Units:meters
    Resolution:.000001

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
    • Lian A. Scully
    • Sarah J. Fuller
  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?

Development of interpretive seabed maps, sea floor imagery, and a GIS database that are accessible to scientists, policymakers, managers, and the general public.

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)
    Boulder ridges were visually identified using the Stellwagen Bank sun-illuminated multibeam sonar image combined with backscatter intensity images, and where available, video and/or photographic imagery from the region and then digitized using the Editor toolbar in ArcMap. Data sources produced in this process:
    • ridges0.shp
    • ridges.dbf
    • ridges.shx
    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?

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?
    Information not available from original metadata.
  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?

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)
    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: 0.442
      Network links: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2005/2840/DATA/ridges/ridges0.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: 27-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)

This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/whcmsc/sim/sim2840/ridges0-metadata.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.51 on Fri Apr 28 16:18:38 2023