The user should be aware that meteorological events such as hurricanes may alter these depths or may have already have already altered the actual depths from those represented on the source NOAA charts. Furthermore, geomorphological processes due to sediment load are causing landward migration of isocontours at a rate of about 25 meters per year in the Mississippi River Delta Plain area (east and west of where the Mississippi empties out into the Gulf). Because these data are based on historical NOAA charts, the effects of this migration have not been captured.
The metadata for this data set are encapsulated into several documents and graphics files. The metadata are not complete if you did not receive the following files along in the data set:
congeog3dlbth.mtd - this metadata in mp (metadata parser) compatible ASCII text form congeog3dlbth.html - this metadata in HTML form congeog3dlbth_faq.html - this metadata presented as Questions and Answers congeog3dlbth.sgml - this metadata in SGML form congeog3dlbth1.gif - thumbnail graphic of data setThe attribute and/or geometric component(s) of the data are provided as Arc export (.e00) file(s) and the corresponding three part (.shp, .shx, .dbf) shapefile(s) or standalone .dbf file(s) in the case an export file is a standalone INFO file. You should have received the following as part of the dataset:
congeog3dlbth.e00 congeog3dlbth.shp congeog3dlbth.shx congeog3dlbth.dbf congeog3dlbth.prj - coordinate system definition file for shape
If these data are altered or incorporated into another dataset, they are not to be redistributed without also: altering the name of the dataset, including a Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998) compliant metadata file that describes the dataset and reflects the alteration steps that makes the new dataset different from this one, and citing this dataset in the metadata as a source for the altered dataset using the source citation specified below.
If these digital data are used in the production of a report or in the compilation of a standalone printed map, then this dataset is to be cited in the report or on the map using the source citation specified below.
The following source citation is to be used when citing this dataset: LOSCO Environmental Baseline Inventory Dataset 'Louisiana Offshore Bathymetry, Geographic NAD83, LOSCO (1999) [congeog3dlbth]'
Users hereby agree to abide by the use and reproduction conditions specified above. By using the data described in these metadata, the user acknowledges that the terms and conditions of use have been read and that the user is bound by these criteria.
This is the explanation for the obtuse name: <URL:http://www.3001data.com/metadata/systematic_name.html>
These data have been developed from the best available sources. Although efforts have been made to ensure that the data are accurate and reliable, errors and variable conditions originating from physical sources used to develop the data may be reflected in the data supplied. Users must be aware of these conditions and bear responsibility for the appropriate use of the information with respect to possible errors, scale, resolution, rectification, positional accuracy, development methodology, time period, environmental and climatic conditions and other circumstances specific to these data. The user is responsible for understanding the accuracy limitations of the data provided herein. The burden for determining fitness for use lies entirely with the user. The user should refer to the accompanying metadata notes for a description of the data and data development procedures.
Although these data have been processed successfully on computers at the LOSCO, no guarantee, expressed or implied, is made by LOSCO regarding the use of these data on any other system, nor does the act of distribution constitute or imply any such warranty. Distribution of these data is intended for information purposes and should not be considered authoritative for navigational, engineering, legal and other site-specific uses.