Distribution of beach sediment near the Columbia River

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title: Distribution of beach sediment near the Columbia River
Abstract:
"The coastline near the Columbia River, between Tillamook Head, Oregon and Grays Harbor, Washington, is characterized by prograding beaches in contrast to the rest of the Washington-Oregon coast where actively eroding sea cliffs are present. The Columbia River appears to be the major contributor of sediment to the beaches and probably accounts for their prograding character. Littoral transport of material from coastal erosion probably has some effect on the sediment budget, but coastal barriers of promontories and estuaries limit influx of this material. Some material is added to the beach as a result of jetty breakdown, especially near Grays Harbor, Washington. The net direction of beach sediment movement near the Columbia River appears to be northward. Seasonal changes in the direction of wave attack complicate the analysis, but the greater energy associated with winter wave conditions is directed northward and probably results in a predominant northerly sediment movement. Mechanical and heavy mineral analyses are consistent with the results of wave studies."
Supplemental_Information:
Samples taken along transects offshore of beaches. Those samples with a "D" were taken in the offshore trough. Data digitized by the USGS for the inclusion in, and may overlap other data held in usSEABED.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Ballard, Ronald L. , 1964, Distribution of beach sediment near the Columbia River: Technical Report No. 98, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Department of Oceanography; Reference: M64-60 U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Contract AT(45-1)-1725 and Office of Naval Research Contract Nonr-477(10) Project NR 083 012;

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -124.1700
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.9783
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.0200
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 45.9650

  3. What does it look like?

    TechRep98 (JPG)
    Screen grab of GIS-produced sample distribution, with bathymetry and land for reference.

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

    Beginning_Date: 1961
    Ending_Date: 1962
    Currentness_Reference: Publication date

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Paper

  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):

      • Point (123)

    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 0.00028. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.00028. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    Point
    SDTS point (Source: Source report)

    Sample number
    Sample number (Source: University of Washington)

    Alpha numeric number based on cruise, site, sampler, and downcore depth information

    Gravel
    Amount of gravel in sample (Source: Wentworth, 1938)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:34.54
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.01

    Sand
    Amount of sand in sample (Source: Wentworth, 1938)

    Range of values
    Minimum:65.01
    Maximum:99.65
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.01

    Silt
    Amount of silt in sample (Source: Wentworth, 1938)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.35
    Maximum:10.84
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.01

    Mean
    Mean grainsize (Source: Inman, 1952)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.39
    Maximum:3.18
    Units:Phi
    Resolution:0.1

    Standard deviation
    Standard deviation of grain size distribution (sorting) (Source: Inman, 1952)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.16
    Maximum:2.22
    Units:Phi
    Resolution:0.1

    Skewness
    First skewness of grain size distribution (Source: Inman, 1952)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.63
    Maximum:0.48
    Units:Unitless
    Resolution:0.01

    Heavy minerals
    Heavy mineral frequency in fine-sand fraction (3.0 to 3.5 phi) (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.5
    Maximum:81.7
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.1

    Magnetic minerals
    Magnetic minerals frequency in fine-sand fraction (3.0 to 3.5 phi) (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.4
    Maximum:23.2
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.1

    Mica
    Mica percent in heavy-mineral portion in fine-sand fraction (3.0 to 3.5 phi) (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:49
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Cor
    Corundum percent in heavy-mineral portion in fine-sand fraction (3.0 to 3.5 phi) (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:20
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Iron oxide
    Iron oxide percent in heavy-mineral portion in fine-sand fraction (3.0 to 3.5 phi) (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:19
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Hbl
    Hornblende percent in heavy-mineral portion in fine-sand fraction (3.0 to 3.5 phi) (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:46
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Hyp
    Hypersthene percent in heavy-mineral portion in fine-sand fraction (3.0 to 3.5 phi) (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:34
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Oliv
    Olivine percent in heavy-mineral portion in fine-sand fraction (3.0 to 3.5 phi) (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:16
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Other Amph
    Other amphibole percent in heavy-mineral portion in fine-sand fraction (3.0 to 3.5 phi) (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:24
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

    Other
    Other heavy minerals percent in heavy mineral portion in fine sand fraction (3.0 to 3.5 phi) (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:20
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:1

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?

    Ronald L. Ballard at the University of Washington for the collection and analysis of data. For inclusion into usSEABED: digitization: Jennifer Mendonca (USGS); Formatting corrections: Jane Reid (USGS); and Chris Jenkins (University of Colorado).

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    University of Washington
    P.O. Box 357940
    Seattle, WA 98195

    206-543-5060 (voice)

Why was the data set created?

"The objectives of this report are to describe the sediments of the ocean beaches in the vicinity of the Columbia River and to determine the relationships among the regional topography, the processes active in the beach zone, and the properties of the sediments."

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 1)
    "The grainsize distribution of each sediment sample was determined by means of a mechanical analysis. A split portion of each sample was size-graded using 8-inch sieves with screen sizes that followed a 0.5 phi unit progression. Size statistics were determined using a computer program (Creager, McManus, and Collias, 1962)."

    Person who carried out this activity:

    University of Washington
    P.O. Box 357940
    Seattle, WA 98195

    206-543-5060 (voice)

    Data sources used in this process:
    • Creager, McManus, and Collias, 1962

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • TechRep98

  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?

    No estimate made for the accuracy of the data in the original report. Data digitized by the USGS and partners were visually compared to the source data, and corrected. Where appropriate, data were tested for completeness using MS Excel. Locations checked using GIS.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    Navigational technique not given. Latitudes and longitudes given in degrees, tenths, minutes.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

    Water depth determination technique not given. Water depths given in feet or physiographic location ("trough").

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    Data digitized include (table 1): locations, granulometric analyses (gravel, sand, silt), Inman statistics; (table 5): relative frequencies of heavy mineral and magnetic mineral (percent) in the 3 to 3.5 phi class from selected cores; (table 6): relative percent of selected heavy minerals [in the 3 to 3.5 phi class]. Not digitized are table 2: averaged mean grainsize values for various beaches; table 3: sorting values for the various beach zones; table 4: skewness values for the various beach zones; table 7: relative frequency of waves with given steepness values from various directions; and table 8: longshore components of wave energy flux.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    Data fall within normal ranges for the given parameters.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints:
Report is available at libraries and the University of Washington
Use_Constraints:
Cite Ronald L. Ballard and the University of Washington as originators of the data.

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

    University of Washington
    P.O. Box 357940
    Seattle, WA 98195

    206-543-5060 (voice)

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

    University of Washington Department of Oceanography Technical Report 98

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Although this dataset has been used by the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the accuracy of the data. Users of the data should be aware of limitations of the data due to possible imprecision due to navigational inaccuracies and limitations of the statistical data.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

    None

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 2005
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
c/o Jane A. Reid
Geologist
400 Natural Bridges Drive
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

831-427-4727 (voice)
jareid@usgs.gov

Contact_Instructions: Email preferred
Metadata standard:
CSDGM Version 2 (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Generated by mp version 2.8.17 on Sat May 20 20:54:03 2006