National Status and Trends Program: Benthic Surveillance Project

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
National Status and Trends Program: Benthic Surveillance Project
Abstract:
"The Benthic Surveillance Project monitors contaminant levels in surficial sediments, selected bottomfish, and fish stomach contents in nearshore waters of the United States. From 1984 through 1986, samples were collected from monitoring sites on an annual basis. Since 1987, sites have been monitored every other year, due to fiscal restraints. Collection activities take place in the Northeast between April and June, in the Southeast and Gulf of Mexico between August and October, and on the West Coast between May and July. The data base presently (as of summer 1992) contains six years of analytical data, from 1984 to 1989. As of 1992, sediment and fish tissue samples had been collected for 1991, and samples collected in 1990 were being analyzed for contaminants. Samples are collected and analyzed for contaminants by scientists from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Samples from the Northeast and West Coasts are analyzed by the NMFS Environmental Conservation Division, Northwest Fisheries Center at Seattle, WA. The NMFS Beaufort Laboratory, Southeast Fisheries Center at Beaufort, NC, monitors Southeast coastal waters through the Gulf of Mexico to the Mexican border. Both laboratories participate in the NS&T Quality Assurance Project to ensure intercomparison of the data." From: <http://gcmd.nasa.gov/records/GCMD_ORCA_CMBAD_NS_T_BSP.html>
Supplemental_Information:
At the time of download, data were located at <http://www-orca.nos.noaa.gov/projects/nsandt/nsandt.html>. That site moved and is currently (May 2006) at <http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/cit/nsandt/download/mw_monitoring.aspx>
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2000, National Status and Trends Program: Benthic Surveillance Project.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -166.50800
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -118.17800
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 70.50800
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 25.61300

  3. What does it look like?

    bssites.jpg (JPEG)
    Benthic Surveillance Project sample locations

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

    Beginning_Date: 1984
    Ending_Date: 1995
    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 (1142)

    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 0.00001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.00001. 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?

    Point
    BSsites (Source: <http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/cit/data/>)

    FID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    Latitude
    Location of sample (Source: NOAA NS&T)

    Non-unique number

    Longitude
    Location of sample (Source: NOAA NS&T)

    Non-unique number

    Mud
    Fine sediment (Source: NOAA NS&T)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.78
    Maximum:99.49
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.01

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?

    NOAA National Status and Trends Mussel Watch Program
    <http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/cit/data/>
    Unknown, Unknown Unknown

    Unknown (voice)
    <http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/cit/data/>

Why was the data set created?

Contaminant monitoring

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)
    Original fine grain data were multiplied by 100 to obtain percent.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    NOAA National Status & Trends Benthic Surveillance Program
    <http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/cit/data/>
    Unknown, Unknown Unknown

    Unknown (voice)
    <http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/cit/data/>

  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?

    All attributes were entered and checked by the compilers in a consistent manner.

  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?

    Locations and % fine grain are provided for 764 samples

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

    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: None

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

    NOAA National Status and Trends Mussel Watch Program
    <http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/cit/data/>
    Unknown, Unknown Unknown

    Unknown (voice)
    <http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/cit/data/>

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

    NOAA's NS & T Mussel Watch Project data

  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?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 2005
Metadata author:
Jamey Reid
U.S. Geological Survey
IT Specialist (Data Management)
384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598

(508) 548-8700 x2204 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
jreid@usgs.gov

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

Generated by mp version 2.8.17 on Tue May 23 16:12:35 2006