SB_SEDSAMPLES (Shapefile): Geographic Locations of Seabed Sediment Samples from the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Region

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?

   Gallea, Leslie B. , 2009, SB_SEDSAMPLES (Shapefile): Geographic Locations of Seabed Sediment Samples from the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Region: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 469, Version 1.0, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • <https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/469/html/datacatalog/sb_sedsamples.zip>

   This is part of the following larger work.

   Valentine, Page C. , Gallea, Leslie B. , Blackwood, Dann S. , and Twomey, Erin R. , 2009, Seabed Photographs, Sediment Texture Analyses, and Sun-illuminated Sea Floor Topography in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Region off Boston, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 469, Version 1.0, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • <https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/469/>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.597750

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.033220

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.798900

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.084650

3. What does it look like?

   <https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/469/DataCatalog/sb_sedsamples.jpg> (JPEG)

   thumbnail image of seabed sediment sample locations

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

   Beginning_Date: 1993

   Ending_Date: 2004

   Currentness_Reference: ground condition

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 (2628)

   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 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222.
      

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   sb_sedsamples

   shapefile (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.

   USGS_SBNMS

   Station number for samples collected during this project in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region off Boston, Massachusetts. The stations were named using a number and in some instances a letter (3131a) or a decimal number (3131.1) suffix was appended. During the project, this station numbering scheme was not consistent, so that some station names used one format and some the other. For example, station 3131.1 is now named 3131a. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Character set

   USGS_DBID

   Sediment database identification number for analyzed sediment samples collected in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region.

   Longitude

   Longitude west (decimal degrees, NAD83) of sediment sample location. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-70.597750
   Maximum:	-70.033220

   Latitude

   Latitude north (decimal degrees, NAD83) of sediment sample location (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	42.084650
   Maximum:	42.798900

   WHCMSC_Fie

   USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Field Activity (cruise) number. Example: andr is the vessel name code (andr is short for Peter W. Anderson); 95036 is USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Field Activity number, where 95 is last two digits of the year, and 036 is the third field activity of the year. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	ablj97020
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1997/97020/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	andr95015
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1995/95015/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	andr95036
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1995/95036/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	argo94014
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1994/94014/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	cand00065
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/2000/00065/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	cand98022
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1998/98022/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	conn03014
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/2003/03014/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	dian96025
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1996/96025/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	dlwr93006
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1993/93006/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	dlwr93030
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1993/93030/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	dlwr99011
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1999/99011/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	ferl00011
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/2000/00011/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	ferl02029
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/2002/02029/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	ferl94004
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1994/94004/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	ferl95012
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1995/95012/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	ferl96038
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1996/96038/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	ferl97033
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1997/97033/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	ferl98029
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1998/98029/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	isbl96037
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1996/96037/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	isbl98017
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1998/98017/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	isbl99024
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1999/99024/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	andr93023
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/1993/93023/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	fstr04010
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/2004/04010/>

   Formal codeset
   Codeset Name:	conn01060
   Codeset Source:	<http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/2001/01060/>

   Water_Dept

   Depth of water at some station locations measured by the ship's fathometer and at other station locations by the SEABOSS depth sensor. (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	15
   Maximum:	190
   Units:	meters

   Year

   Year seabed sediment sample collected (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1993
   Maximum:	2004

   Julian_Day

   Julian Date and Time GMT: Julian Day:HH:MM:SS seabed sediment sample collected (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Quad

   Geographic Location: Quadrangle Number in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Character set

   Sampler_us

   Sampler used USGS Van Veen: sediment sample collected using a USGS modified Van Veen (VV) grab sampler (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Character set

   Sed_smpl_t

   Sediment sample top relative to seabed, cm: depth of top of sediment sample is the seabed surface (0 cm) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Value	Definition
   0

   Sed_smpl_b

   Sediment sample bottom relative to seabed, cm: depth of bottom of sediment sample is 2 cm below the seabed surface (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Value	Definition
   2	Depth in sediment in cm

   Sediment_s

   Dry weight sediment sample analyzed mass, g: mass of sediment used for grain size analysis in grams (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	7.4195
   Maximum:	1727.1
   Units:	grams
   Resolution:	0.01

   Clay_wt_pe

   Weight percent clay in dry sample (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	52.3
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   Silt_wt_pe

   Weight percent silt in dry sample (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	86.8
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   Mud

   Weight percent mud (combined clay and silt) in dry sample (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	99.45
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   Sand_wt_pe

   Weight percent sand in dry sample (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0.55
   Maximum:	100
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   Gravel_wt

   Weight percent gravel in dry sample (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	98.21
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   11_phi_siz

   Weight percent of 11 phi size sediment in dry sample (fine clay) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	12.07
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   10_phi_siz

   Weight percent of 10 phi size sediment in dry sample (medium clay) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	21.55
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   9_phi_size

   Weight percent of 9 phi size sediment in dry sample (coarse clay) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	23.89
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   8_phi_size

   Weight percent of 8 phi size sediment in dry sample (very fine silt) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	27.23
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   7_phi_size

   Weight percent of 7 phi size sediment in dry sample (fine silt) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	27.4
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   6_phi_size

   Weight percent of 6 phi size sediment in dry sample (medium silt) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	32.9
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   5_phi_size

   Weight percent of 5 phi size sediment in dry sample (coarse silt) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	55.92
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   4_phi_size

   Weight percent of 4 phi size sediment in dry sample (very fine sand) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	89.77
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   3_phi_size

   Weight percent of 3 phi size sediment in dry sample (fine sand) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	89.19
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   2_phi_size

   Weight percent of 2 phi size sediment in dry sample (medium sand) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	84.54
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   1_phi_size

   Weight percent of 1 phi size sediment in dry sample (coarse sand) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	74.01
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   0_phi_size

   Weight percent of 0 phi size sediment in dry sample (very coarse sand) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	69.16
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   1_phi_siz

   Weight percent of -1 phi size sediment in dry sample (very fine pebbles-granules) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	84.97
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   2_phi_siz

   Weight percent of -2 phi size sediment in dry sample (fine pebbles) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	31.65
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   3_phi_siz

   Weight percent of -3 phi size sediment in dry sample (medium pebbles) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	50.65
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   4_phi_siz

   Weight percent of -4 phi size sediment in dry sample (coarse pebbles) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	65.78
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   5_phi_siz

   Weight percent of -5 phi size sediment in dry sample (very coarse pebbles to cobbles) (Source: U.S. Geological Survey)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0
   Maximum:	61.76
   Units:	percent
   Resolution:	0.01

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   Geographic location and textural data from seabed sediment samples taken from the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region. There are no blank fields in the data. If a zero is present in any row, then the sample had zero phi percent or zero weight percent of the field description.

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Leslie B. Gallea

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   Page C. Valentine
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Research Geologist
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700 x2339 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   pvalenting@usgs.gov
   

Why was the data set created?

These data provide the locations of seabed sediment samples taken in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region from 1993 to 2004. In addition to location information, the data also provides sediment analyses of each sample. See attribute section for complete description. The data for all of Stellwagen Bank is available as a shapefile.

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   (source 1 of 1)

   Source_Contribution:

   The SEABed Observation and Sampling System (SEABOSS) was designed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for rapid and effective collection of seabed images and sediment samples in coastal regions. The observations from video and still cameras and the sediment data are used to explore the nature of the seafloor and, in conjunction with high-resolution geophysical data, to make interpretive maps of sedimentary environments and validate the acoustic remote sensing data. The SEABOSS is a simple system that can be deployed from both small and large surface vessels and operates in water depths up to 200 m. It incorporates two video cameras, a still camera, a depth sensor, and a modified Van Veen sediment sampler. The elements of the SEABOSS system used on Stellwagen Bank are housed within a stainless steel framework that measures 1.2 x 1.2 meters and weighs approximately136 kilograms overall. The frame has a stabilizer fin that orients the system as it drifts over the seabed. The height of the camera above the seabed (76 cm; 30 in) initially was determined by viewing an object hanging from the SEABOSS below the video camera; when the object touched the seabed, the camera height was appropriate for still photography. Later in the project, the camera height was determined by viewing a pattern of laser beams on the seabed. Two parallel lasers are set 20 cm apart on the SEABOSS frame and project onto the seabed for scale measurements. All of the system's elements are powered from the surface vessel through a conducting cable. Video displays include station number, water depth (from the depth sensor), and date, time, and geographic position (provided by a shipboard navigation system). During deployment, the camera system hangs directly below the side of the ship, and the recorded navigation data closely approximates the position of the camera system near the seabed. The ship is oriented so that wind and waves will not cause it to drift over the conducting cable attached to the SEABOSS. The winch operator uses a video feed from the system to maintain the camera at the proper height above the seabed and to avoid obstacles. The scientist uses the video to decide when to take a grab sample of seabed sediment.

2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: 1993 (process 1 of 4)

   Annual research cruises visited stations from 1993-2004 and took seabed sediment samples using the SEABOSS that was equipped with a modified Van Veen grab sampler, a still camera and video cameras. The modified Van Veen sediment grab sampler is located in the center of the SEABOSS frame. Before deployment, the grab's buckets (jaws) are opened by collapsing the extended arms to a near-horizontal position and locking them in place with two catches. The sampler operates passively to sample the seabed; it is not spring-loaded. To collect a sample, the SEABOSS is lowered to rest gently on the seabed, and the time is recorded for navigation purposes. When the cable is slack, the two locking catches automatically release by gravity. As the cable is retrieved, the grab sampler's arms are pulled upward closing the bucket around the sediment, and the SEABOSS is lifted off the seabed. Weight can be added to the SEABOSS frame, making it harder to lift off the seabed, which results in the grab buckets closing more tightly around the sediment. The SEABOSS is retrieved and set upon a wooden platform that keeps the sampler buckets and camera systems above the deck. The sampler's arms are maintained in the upright position by holding them or by maintaining tension on the cable; the doors on the upper sides of the buckets are opened; and the sediment is retrieved. For this project, the upper 2 cm of sediment, representing the surface of the seabed, was removed with a rectangular shovel 2-cm deep and stored in a plastic bag for analysis ashore. The remaining sediment was dumped into a tray located on the deck below the sampler, and the Van Veen grab was washed in preparation for the next site.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Page C. Valentine
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Research Geologist
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700 x 2339 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   pvalentine@usgs.gov
   

   Date: 1993 (process 2 of 4)

   Grain size analyses of the 2628 sediment samples collected were performed at the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center in Woods Hole, MA using a standard suite of analytical methods. Processing included the following steps: coarse fraction determined by sieve; fine fraction determined by Coulter Counter.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Larry J. Poppe
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Geologist
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700 x2314 (voice)
   (508) 548-8700 x2314 (FAX)
   lpoppe@usgs.gov
   

   Date: 2009 (process 3 of 4)

   Station sediment sample analyses records were exported from the lab's database using Microsoft Excel 2007 (12.0.6504.5001) SP2 MSO (12.0.6425.1000). Some fields were deleted from the sediment lab analysis report that are unnecessary to our purpose. A mud weight percent column was added to the exported Excel spreadsheet since mud was found to be an important seabed characteristic in the Stellwagen region. Second, a quad column was added to organize the data into eighteen individual quadrangles. Third, Julian Day and time was complied in another column. Fourth an original Excel column, "Field ID" was reformatted as a text field for ease of import into ArcGIS. The reason being during the project, the station numbering scheme was not consistent, so that some station names used a decimal number format and some a number and letter format. For the purpose of this report, all sediment sample stations were renamed using the number and letter format for the station name where necessary. For example, station 3131.1 is now named 3131a. Lastly, headers were applied to the exported sediment sample Excel file. A check of the exported data was conducted against the lab's database to ensure consistency.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Leslie B. Gallea
   U.S. Geological Survey
   GIS Specialist
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700 x2341 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   lgallea@usgs.gov
   

   Date: 2009 (process 4 of 4)

   Using the sediment sample MS Excel spreadsheet of all seabed sediment samples taken in the 18 quadrangles, a shapefile was created in ESRI ArcCatalog 9.3.1.1850 by selecting the sediment sample excel table, right clicking on the table and selecting the "Create Feature Class" from "XY table" option in the drop-down menu. In the popup window that displays after selecting Create Feature Class, Longitude was applied to the "X Field" and Latitude was applied to the "Y Field". Next, clicking on "The Coordinate System of Input Coordinates" opens a second window where "Select a predefined coordinated system" was chosen. Navigate to Geographic Coordinate Systems North American Datum 1983, which will give the shapefile a projection in GCS NAD1983 (GRS 80). Lastly, specify an output for the shapefile.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Leslie B. Gallea
   U.S. Geological Survey
   GIS Specialist
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1958
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700 x2341 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   lgallea@usgs.gov
   

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • sb_sedsamples.zip

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

   Blackwood, D., Parolski, K., and Valentine, P., 2000, Seabed Observation and Sampling System: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-142-00 FS-142-00, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • <https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs142-00/fs142-00.pdf>

   Poppe, L.J., Williams, S.J., and Paskevich, V.F., 2005, U.S. Geological Survey East-Coast Sediment Analysis: Procedures, Database, and GIS Data: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1001 2005-1001, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1001/>

   Page C. Valentine, editor, 2005, Sea floor image maps showing topography, sun-illuminated topography, backscatter intensity, ruggedness, slope, and the distribution of boulder ridges and bedrock outcrops in the Stellwagen Bank national marine Sanctuary region off Boston, Massachusetts: Scientific Investigations Map 2840, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • <https://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2005/2840/>

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

1. How well have the observations been checked?

   The seabed sediment sample locations were plotted in ArcMap 9.3 to ensure geographic location and station names were correct.

2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

   These data were navigated with a Differential Global Position System (DGPS); they are accurate to +/- 10 meters horizontally. During deployment, the camera system hangs directly below the side of the ship, and the recorded navigation data closely approximates the position of the camera system near the seabed. The ship is oriented so that wind and waves will not cause it to drift over the conducting cable attached to the SEABed Observation and Sampling System (SEABOSS).

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

   Depth was acquired using the ship fathometer until 1998. After 1998 depth was acquired using the depth sensor on the SEABOSS. Depths are accurate to +/- 1 meter.

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

   This shapefile has the locations for all seabed sediment samples taken between 1993 and 2004 on Stellwagen Bank as part of this project. We did not always collect photographs and video at stations where the purpose was just to collect sediment. All available grain-size data collected by the research cruises are included in this data set.

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

   Data was sorted by station number to check for duplications. No other checks for topological consistency were preformed 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 (USGS) as the source of this information.

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   Page C. Valentine
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Research Geologist
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700 x2339 (voice)
   (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
   pvalentine@usgs.gov
   

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

   Downloadable Data

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?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	Shapefile and associated metadata in format WinZip Size: 0.070
     Network links:	<https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/469/DataCatalog/sb_sedsamples.zip> <https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/469/DataCatalog/sb_sedsamples.zip>

   • Cost to order the data: None

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

   These data are available in Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) shapefile format. The user must have ArcGIS or ArcView 3.0 or greater software to read and process the data file. In lieu of ArcView or ArcGIS, the user may utilize another GIS application package capable of the importing data. A free data viewer, ArcExplorer, capable of displaying the data is available from ESRI at www.esri.com. The data is available to download in WinZip format that was created with WinZip Version 9.0 SR-1 (6224). An Excel file of the eighteen quadrangle's sediment analyses is included in the zip file.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 28-Oct-2009
Last Reviewed: 2009

Metadata author:

U.S. Geological Survey
c/o Leslie B. Gallea
GIS Specialist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA

(508) 548-8700 x2341 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
lgallea@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>