Location and analysis of sediment samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2014 along the Delmarva Peninsula, MD and VA (Esri point shapefile and CSV file, Geographic, WGS 84)

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

Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Location and analysis of sediment samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2014 along the Delmarva Peninsula, MD and VA (Esri point shapefile and CSV file, Geographic, WGS 84)
Abstract:
The Delmarva Peninsula is a 220-kilometer-long headland, spit, and barrier island complex that was significantly affected by Hurricane Sandy. A U.S. Geological Survey cruise was conducted in the summer of 2014 to map the inner continental shelf of the Delmarva Peninsula using geophysical and sampling techniques to define the geologic framework that governs coastal system evolution at storm-event and longer timescales. Data collected during the 2014 cruise include swath bathymetry, sidescan sonar, chirp and boomer seismic-reflection profiles, acoustic Doppler current profiler, and sample and bottom photograph data. Processed data in raster and vector format are released here for the bottom photographs and sediment samples. More information about the USGS survey conducted as part of the Hurricane Sandy Response-- Geologic Framework and Coastal Vulnerability Study can be found at the project website or on the WHCMSC Field Activity Web pages: https://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/project-pages/delmarva/ and https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2014-002-FA
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2015, Location and analysis of sediment samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2014 along the Delmarva Peninsula, MD and VA (Esri point shapefile and CSV file, Geographic, WGS 84): data release DOI:10.5066/F7MW2F60, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Pendleton, E. A., Ackerman, S.D., Baldwin, W.E., Danforth, W.W., Foster, D.S., Thieler, E.R., and Brothers, L.L., 2015, High-resolution geophysical data collected along the Delmarva Peninsula 2014, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2014-002-FA: data release DOI:10.5066/F7MW2F60, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.520736
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -74.826439
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 38.406095
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.589722
  3. What does it look like?
    https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/data/field-activity-data/2014-002-FA/data/samples/sample_pic.png (PNG)
    Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center sediment sample locations along the Delmarva Peninsula
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 22-Jul-2014
    Ending_Date: 25-Jul-2014Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition; sample and photo data were collected after geophysical data collection was complete.
  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 (39)
    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?
    2014_002_FA_samples
    Sample locations and texture analysis (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    FID
    Internal feature number. (Source: Esri) Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: Esri) Coordinates defining the features.
    DB_ID
    Unique identification number generated in the sedimentation laboratory of the USGS's Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center. For samples analyzed after 1980 this identifier consists of 2 characters and 3 numerics (e.g. AS114). For samples analyzed prior to 1980, this identifier consists of 4 numerics possibly followed by as many as 2 characters. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string of width 254.
    FIELD_NO
    Sample name or number as assigned in the field by the Chief Scientist. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string of width 254.
    PROJECT
    Name of project or project number under which samples were taken or data generated; sometimes project name indicates a more specific area (DELMARVA = Delaware, Maryland, Virginia Peninsula). (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string of width 254.
    CRUISE_ID
    Name or number of cruise on which sample collected. Historically cruise identifiers were a combination of ship name, year of cruise and cruise leg. In more recent years, cruise identifier is a sequential serial number assigned to field activities within a specific year (in the format YYXXX where YY is the year and XXX is the cruise number within that year) (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string of width 254.
    CONTACT
    Name of Principal Investigator or Chief Scientist responsible for data collection (usually first initial and last name) when available. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string of width 254.
    AREA
    General geographic area of data collection. Name is general enough to easily locate area on a state map. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string of width 254.
    LATITUDE
    Latitude coordinate, in decimal-degrees, of sample location. South latitude recorded as negative values. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:37.589588
    Maximum:38.40588
    Units:Decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.000001
    LONGITUDE
    Longitude coordinate, in decimal degrees, of sample location. West longitude is recorded as negative values. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-75.564818
    Maximum:-74.826541
    Units:Decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.000001
    DEPTH_M
    Depth in meters extracted from the NOAA U.S. coastal relief model data. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:6.2
    Maximum:30.8
    Units:meters
    T_DEPTH
    Top depth of the sample below the sediment-water interface, in centimeters. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:4
    Units:centimeters
    B_DEPTH
    Bottom depth of the sample below the sediment-water interface, in centimeters. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:2
    Maximum:6
    Units:centimeters
    DEVICE
    Device used to collect the sample. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    ValueDefinition
    VanVEENsample collected with Van Veen grab sampler on the mid-size SEABOSS (Mark II configuration).
    MONTH_COLL
    Calendar month sample collected based on time in UTC. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:7
    Maximum:7
    DAY_COLL
    Calendar day sample collected based on time in UTC. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:22
    Maximum:25
    YEAR_COLL
    Calendar year sample collected based on time in UTC. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:2014
    Maximum:2014
    MONTH_ANAL
    Calendar month sample analyzed. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:7
    Maximum:7
    DAY_ANAL
    Calendar day sample analyzed. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:9
    Maximum:9
    YEAR_ANAL
    Calendar year sample analyzed. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:2015
    Maximum:2015
    WEIGHT
    Weight of dry sample in grams. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:16.975593
    Maximum:190.898
    Units:grams
    Resolution:0.0001
    GRAVEL_PCT
    Gravel content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters greater than 2 mm; -1 Phi and larger). No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionarymodified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:64.19
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    SAND_PCT
    Sand content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 2 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.0625 mm; 0 Phi through 4 Phi). No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:8.85
    Maximum:99.96
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    SILT_PCT
    Silt content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 0.0625 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.004 mm; 5 Phi through 8 Phi, inclusive). No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.01
    Maximum:70.01
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    CLAY_PCT
    Clay content in percent dry weight of the sample (particles with nominal diameters less than 0.004 mm; 9 Phi and smaller). No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:39.93
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    CLASSIFICA
    Sediment Classification - Sediment description based on a rigorous definition, usually Shepard (1954) as modified by Schlee (1973) and Poppe and others (2005). (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    ValueDefinition
    CLAYEY SILTSediment whose main phase is silt, but with significant clay.
    GRAVELSediment whose main phase (equal to or greater than 50 percent) is greater than 2 mm.
    GRAVELLY SEDIMENTSediment whose phase is equal to or greater than 10 percent, but less than 50 percent gravel, but with significant other sediment.
    SANDSediment whose main phase is less than 2 mm, but greater than or equal to 0.062 mm.
    SAND SILT CLAYSediment with significant (over 20 percent) sand, silt, and clay.
    SANDY SILTSediment whose main phase is silt, but with significant sand.
    SILTY SANDSediment whose main phase is clay, but with significant silt.
    MEDIAN
    Middle point in the grain size distribution in phi units. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-1.29
    Maximum:7.57
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.01
    MEAN
    Average value in the grain size distribution in phi units. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-1.07
    Maximum:7.26
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.01
    STDEV_
    Standard deviation (root mean square of the deviations) of the grain size distribution in phi units (sorting). No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.29
    Maximum:3.41
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.01
    SKEWNESS
    Skewness (deviation from symmetrical form) of the grain size distribution in phi units. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.89
    Maximum:3.78
    Units:unitless
    Resolution:0.01
    KURTOSIS
    Kurtosis (degree of curvature near the mode) of the grain size distribution in phi units. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-1.48
    Maximum:142.32
    Units:unitless
    Resolution:0.01
    PHIm5
    -5 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -5 Phi fraction and larger (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 32 mm); very coarse pebbles, cobbles, and boulders. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:0
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHIm4
    -4 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -4 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 16 mm, but less than 32 mm); coarse pebbles. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:10.59
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHIm3
    -3 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -3 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 8 mm, but less than 16 mm); medium pebbles. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:9.59
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHIm2
    -2 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -2 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 4 mm, but less than 8 mm); fine pebbles. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:14.07
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHIm1
    -1 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the -1 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 2 mm, but less than 4 mm); very fine pebbles (granules). No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:49.46
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_0
    0 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 0 Phi fraction (nominal diameters of particles greater than or equal to 1 mm, but less than 2 mm); very coarse sand. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.01
    Maximum:61.04
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_1
    1 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 1 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.5 mm, but less than 1 mm); coarse sand. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.06
    Maximum:64.59
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_2
    2 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 2 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.25 mm, but less than 0.5 mm); medium sand. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.2
    Maximum:84.13
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_3
    3 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 3 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.125 mm, but less than 0.25 mm); fine sand. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.02
    Maximum:86.88
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_4
    4 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 4 Phi fraction (nominal diameters of particles greater than or equal to .0625 mm, but less than 0.125 mm); very fine sand. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.01
    Maximum:59.31
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_5
    5 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 5 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.031 mm, but less than 0.0625 mm); coarse silt. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:11.63
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_6
    6 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 6 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.016 mm, but less than 0.031 mm); medium silt. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:31.19
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_7
    7 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 7 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.008 mm, but less than 0.016 mm); fine silt. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:24.61
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_8
    8 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 8 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.004 mm, but less than 0.008 mm); very fine silt. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:23.71
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_9
    9 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 9 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.002 mm, but less than 0.004 mm); coarse clay. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:21.32
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_10
    10 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 10 Phi fraction (nominal diameter of particles greater than or equal to 0.001 mm, but less than 0.002 mm); medium clay. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:12.25
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    PHI_11
    11 Phi - Weight percent of the sample in the 11 Phi fraction and smaller (nominal diameter of particles less than 0.001 mm); fine clay. No data value -9999. (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:6.64
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    ANALYST
    Name (usually first initial and last name) of person who performed the grain size or physical properties analysis (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string of width 254.
    ANAL_COMM
    Comments on analyses - Any further information about sediment analysis for all or specific parameters in this table (Source: modified from USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary) Character string of width 254.
    F_Carbonat
    Weight percent of the sample coarse fraction that is composed of carbonate (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.13
    Maximum:52.28
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    F_Mud
    Weight percent of the sample that is fine fraction (SILT_PCT + CLAY_PCT) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.01
    Maximum:91.06
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    F_GravSand
    Weight percent of the sample that is coarse fraction (100-(F_Carbonat)+(F_Mud)) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)
    Range of values
    Minimum:8.91
    Maximum:99.78
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    The CSV file has the same attributes with the same definitions, with some additional fields.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
    USGS Open File Report 2005-1001 (https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1001/)

Who produced the data set?

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

    508-548-8700 x2259 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    ependleton@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

This data set includes the locations, identifiers, grain-size ananlysis, and carbonate concentration of the coarse fraction for surficial sediments collected at 133 stations along the Delmarva Peninsula. The sediments were collected with a modified Van Veen grab on the mid-sized SEABed Observation and Sampling System (SEABOSS, SEABOSS Mark II configuration) during USGS survey 2014-002-FA, aboard the M/V Scarlett Isabella. This data set was collected to ground-truth (verify) the acoustic data sets that were acquired early during the same survey (2014-002-FA). Bottom photographs were also taken at each station occupied by the SEABOSS (see shapefile 2014_002_FA_Photos.shp). Samples were analyzed in the sediment laboratory at the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    Sediment sample locations and sediment size analysis (source 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2015, sediment sample locations and sediment size analysis.

    Type_of_Source_Media: disc
    Source_Contribution:
    Bottom photographs and sediment samples are acquired to validate the seafloor interpretations made from geophysical data. A modified VanVeen sampler was mounted to a USGS SEABOSS (Mark II configuration) frame. Approximate SEABOSS dimensions are 115 X 115 X 117 cm. The Van Veen sampler is housed at the bottom and center of the frame at approximately 30 X 32 X 16 cm with a 1/10 sq. meter sample capacity. Two red lasers were mounted on the frame above the sampler, 20 cm apart for scale in bottom photographs. 1 Keldan (Advanced Lighting Technology) light was mounted at the top of the frame and aimed downward to illuminate the seabed for photographs. Two GoPro cameras were mounted on the frame and set to capture photographs at 2 or 5 second intervals. Samples were recovered when the frame touched the seabed and triggered the Van Veen sampler.
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 2015 (process 1 of 5)
    One hundred and thirty-three target stations were occupied aboard the M/V Scarlett Isabella (USGS survey 2014-002-FA) with the mid-sized SEABOSS (Blackwood and Parolski, 2001) that was equipped with a Van Veen grab sampler, and 2 digital GoPro cameras. Physical sediment samples were collected at all 133 stations. Person who carried out this activity:
    Seth Ackerman
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA

    (508) 548-8700x2315 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    sackerman@usgs.gov
    Date: 2015 (process 2 of 5)
    Samples were analyzed in the sediment laboratory at the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center. Coarse fraction determined by sieve; fine fraction determined by Coulter Counter. See Poppe, McMullen, Williams, and Paskevich (2005) for analytical specifics. Additionally carbonate concentrations were determined through acid wash analysis on the coarse fraction. Sediment statistics were recorded in MS Excel file (XLS) and saved as Comma Separated Value file (CSV). Person who carried out this activity:
    Larry Poppe
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA

    (508) 548-8700x2361 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    lpoppe@usgs.gov
    Date: 2015 (process 3 of 5)
    In ArcCatalog (version 10.2.2), the ASCII comma-delimited file (2014_002_FA_samples.csv) was converted to a point feature class by right-clicking on the comma separated value text file -- Create Feature Class -- from XY table using the defined geographic coordinate system (Decimal_Degrees_WGS84.prj). [output file: 2014_002_FA_samples.shp] Person who carried out this activity:
    Elizabeth Pendleton
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA

    (508) 548-8700x2259 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    ependleton@usgs.gov
    Date: 2015 (process 4 of 5)
    In ArcMap (version 10.2.2), several fields containing null values (MODE1CLASS, MODE1FREQ, MODE2CLASS, MODE2FREQ, MODE3CLASS, MODE3FREQ, NMODES, LITHOLOGY, and COMMENTS) and the field GROUP were deleted from the shapefile. These fields remain in the CSV file that contains the full table of sediment analyses as provided by the sediment lab. Person who carried out this activity:
    Elizabeth Pendleton
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA

    (508) 548-8700x2259 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    ependleton@usgs.gov
    Date: 19-Apr-2017 (process 5 of 5)
    The online links to the data were updated to reflect the new server hosting the data. Additionally, other small edits could be made to the metadata, such as modifying http to https where appropriate. The metadata date (but not the metadata creator) was edited to reflect the date of these changes. 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?
    Blackwood, D., and Parolski, K., 2001, Seabed observation and sampling system: Sea Technology v. 42, no.2 , p. 29-43, Compass Publications, Inc., Arlington, VA.

    Poppe, L.J., McMullen, K.Y., 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:

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    The field values associated with carbonate dissolution may not add up to exactly 100 percent. However all are with 4 percent of 100. This is due to the carbonate digestion process and the inevitable loss of material with very high carbonate concentrations.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) navigation data were acquired with a Hemisphere receiver and recorded with HYPACK (www.hypack.com). The recorded position of each sample is the position of the GPS antenna on the survey vessel acquisition van, not the SEABOSS sampler. The SEABOSS was deployed approximately 5 meters astern of the GPS antenna off the ship's A-fame on the stern of the ship. No layback or offset was applied to the recorded position. In addition to the plus or minus 5 m offset the SEABOSS may additionally drift away from the survey vessel when deployed to the seafloor. Based on the various sources of horizontal error, a conservative estimate of the horizontal accuracy of the sediment sample location is 20-30 m.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    All 133 stations occupied for sampling retained a sample and all samples were analyzed for grain-size and carbonate concentration. Two sets of analyses were performed on the sample from station S_092 because it appeared to have 2 sedimentary units within the sample. A CSV file contains the complete sediment lab analyses as it was exported from Excel.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    All samples were acquired with the same modified VanVeen Sampler mounted on a mid-sized SEABOSS (Mark II configuration). No additional checks for topological 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 as the originator of the dataset.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    Elizabeth A. Pendleton
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA

    (508) 548-8700x2259 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    ependleton@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? USGS data release 2014-002-FA file contains sediment sample locations, grain size, and carbonate concentration analysis of the seafloor samples collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (2014-002-FA_samples.zip). The zip file contains a shapefile with sample locations (2014_002_FA_samples.shp), and a CSV file with sample analysis (2014_002_FA_samples.csv). A browse graphic (sample_pic.png) and FGDC CSDGM metadata files (2014_002_FA_samples.xml) in four standard formats are also included in the zip file.
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    Neither the U.S. Government, the Department of the Interior, nor the USGS, 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 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?
  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    This zip file contains data available point shapefile format. The user must have software capable of reading shapefile forrmat to use these data. A text editor can be used to see the CSV file.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 19-Apr-2017
Metadata author:
Elizabeth Pendleton
U.S. Geological Survey
Geologist
384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole, MA

(508) 548-8700x2259 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
ependleton@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
Generated by mp version 2.9.36 on Wed Apr 19 09:03:32 2017