USGS OFR 00-006: Surficial Seafloor Sediment Database of the Puerto Rico Insular Shelf

Frequently-anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should 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 should this data set be cited?

   Scanlon, K.M., DaSilva, J.L., and Reynolds, J.M., 2000, USGS OFR 00-006: Surficial Seafloor Sediment Database of the Puerto Rico Insular Shelf: Open-File Report 00-006, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>

   This is part of the following larger work.

   Scanlon, K.M., and Briere, P.R., 2000, USGS OFR 00-006: Puerto Rico - Marine Sediments, Terrestrial and Seafloor Imagery, and tectonic Interpretations: Open-File Report 00-006, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -68.966000

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -64.345333

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 19.964167

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 17.928000

3. What does it look like?

   00006.jpg (JPEG)

   Image map showing the extent and distribution of data layer coverage

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

   Calendar_Date: 2000

   Currentness_Reference: publication date

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

   Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular 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 (3465)

   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 North American Datum of 1927.
      The ellipsoid used is Clarke 1866.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378206.400000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/294.978698.
      

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   00006

   FID

   Internal feature number (Source: ESRI)

   Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated

   Shape

   Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

   Coordinates defining the features.

   numero

   a consecutive and unique ID (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   location

   general geographic region, e.g., SE shelf (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   our ID

   unique designation for sample in this master database (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   institution ID

   ID given by the institution collecting the sample (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   other ID

   e.g., given by lab doing analyses (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   latitude DD

   latitude in decimal degrees (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   latitude

   latitude in degrees, minutes, decimal minutes (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   longitude DD

   longitude in decimal degrees (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   longitude

   longitude in degrees, minutes, decimal minutes (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   institution

   affiliation of person collecting the sample (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   ship

   name of vessel used for sample collection (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   cruise

   identifier given by institution (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   type

   sampling equipment used, e.g. grab sampler (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   water depth

   depth in meters (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   recovery

   quantity of sediment collected (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   date

   date sample was collected (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   reference

   source of information (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   sed descript

   description of the sample (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   % CaCO3

   determined by dissolution with HCl (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   % insoluable residue

   opposite of %CaCO3 (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   grain size notes

   various comments on analyses, where needed (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   % gravel

   <-1 phi (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   % sand

   -1 to 3 phi (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   % silt

   4 to 8 phi (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   % clay

   8 phi
   

   (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   % mud

   4 phi, that is, mud equals silt plus clay
   

   (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   mineralogy?

   yes indicates that mineralogical data is available (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

   comments

   various, where needed (Source: <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-006/htm/seddbase.htm>)

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • K.M. Scanlon
   • J.L. DaSilva
   • J.M. Reynolds

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   Kathryn M. Scanlon
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Geologist
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

   (508) 458-8700 x2323 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   kscanlon@usgs.gov
   

Why was the data set created?

During the last 20 years the U.S. Geological Survey, often in cooperation with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources and/or the University of Puerto Rico, has conducted a variety of projects to address the geologic aspects of these pressing societal issues. The papers and data presented here are the results of these projects. Some have been previously published elsewhere; others, such as the database of surficial sediments of the Puerto Rico insular shelf, interpretation of side-looking airborne radar imagery of the island, and the GIS data, are presented here for the first time. The purpose of this CD is to make the results of these diverse studies available in a readily accessible digital form, so that managers, planners, and other researchers can utilize the results.

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: 2005 (process 1 of 1)

   Digital data were hand formatted into dbSEABED data entry structure, then filtered and data-mined through dbSEABED software (version: db9_MNEv.bas).

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Brian J. Buczkowski
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Core Curator and Data Management Specialist
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

   (508) 458-8700 x2361 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   bbuczkowski@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?

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

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:

None except that acknowledgement must be made in publications and reports of (i) the original data source, and (ii) the data integration by USGS and dbSEABED project at the University of Colorado. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as the source of this information.

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   K.M. Scanlon
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Geologist
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700 x2323 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   kscanlon@usgs.gov
   

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

   USGS OFR 00-006: Surficial Seafloor Sediment Database of the Puerto Rico Insular Shelf

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   Although this data set has been used by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the accuracy of the data and/or related materials. 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. Trade, firm, or product names and other references to non-USGS products and services are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement or warranty, express or implied, by the USGS, USDOI, or U.S. Government, as to their suitability, content, usefulness, functioning, completeness, or accuracy.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	Size: 0.949 MB

   • Cost to order the data:

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 07-Feb-2006

Metadata author:

Brian J. Buczkowski
U.S. Geological Survey
Core Curator and Data Management Specialist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA

(508) 458-8700 x2361 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
bbuczkowski@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

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

Metadata extensions used:

• <http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html>