Backscatter B [USGS]--Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity, California

Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title: Backscatter B [USGS]--Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity, California
Abstract:
This part of DS 781 presents data for part of the acoustic-backscatter map of the Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity map area, California. Backscatter data are provided as separate grids depending on mapping system or processing method. The raster data file is included in "BackscatterB_USGS_HuenemeCanyon.zip," which is accessible from https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/781/HuenemeCanyon/data_catalog_HuenemeCanyon.html. These data accompany the pamphlet and map sheets of Johnson, S.Y., Dartnell, P., Cochrane, G.R., Golden, N.E., Phillips, E.L., Ritchie, A.C., Kvitek, R.G., Greene, H.G., Krigsman, L.M., Endris, C.A., Clahan, K.B., Sliter, R.W., Wong, F.L., Yoklavich, M.M., and Normark, W.R. (S.Y. Johnson, ed.), 2012, California State Waters Map Series--Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity, California: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3225, 41 p., 12 sheets, scale 1:24,000, https://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3225/.
The acoustic-backscatter map of Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity map area, California, was generated from backscatter data collected by California State University, Monterey Bay, Seafloor Mapping Lab (CSUMB) and by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This metadata file describes the acoustic-backscatter data collected by the USGS. See https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/781/HuenemeCanyon/metadata/BackscatterA_CSUMB_HuenemeCanyon_metadata.txt for a description of the acoustic-backscatter data collected by CSUMB. The far northern part of the Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity, California map area was mapped by the USGS in 2006, using a 117-kHz SEA (AP) Ltd. SWATHplus-M phase-differencing sidescan sonar. This mapping mission collected acoustic-backscatter data from about the 10-m isobath to almost the 3-nautical-mile limit of California's State Waters. Within the acoustic-backscater imagery, brighter tones indicate higher backscatter intensity, and darker tones indicate lower backscatter intensity. The intensity represents a complex interaction between the acoustic pulse and the seafloor, as well as characteristics within the shallow subsurface, providing a general indication of seafloor texture and sediment type. Backscatter intensity depends on the acoustic source level; the frequency used to image the seafloor; the grazing angle; the composition and character of the seafloor, including grain size, water content, bulk density, and seafloor roughness; and some biological cover. Harder and rougher bottom types such as rocky outcrops or coarse sediment typically return stronger intensities (high backscatter, lighter tones), whereas softer bottom types such as fine sediment return weaker intensities (low backscatter, darker tones).
Supplemental_Information:
Additional information about the field activities from which these data were derived is available online at:
https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=Z206SC
Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Although this Federal Geographic Data Committee-compliant metadata file is intended to document the data set in nonproprietary form, as well as in Esri format, this metadata file may include some Esri-specific terminology.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Dartnell, Peter, Phillips, Eleyne L., Ritchie, Andrew C., Kvitek, Rikk G., and Johnson, Samuel Y., 2012, Backscatter B [USGS]--Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity, California: Data Series DS 781, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Golden, Nadine E., 2013, California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog: Data Series DS 781, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -119.338007
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -119.139569
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 34.223097
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 34.058099
  3. What does it look like?
    https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/781/HuenemeCanyon/images/BackscatterB_USGS_HuenemeCanyon.jpg (JPEG)
    Acoustic backscatter imagery of Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity collected by USGS
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 2006
    Ending_Date: 2006
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: GeoTiff
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Raster data set. It contains the following raster data types:
      • Dimensions, type Grid Cell
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
      UTM_Zone_Number: 11
      Transverse_Mercator:
      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.9996
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -117.00000
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.00000
      False_Easting: 500000.0
      False_Northing: 0.00
      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 2.0
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 2.0
      Planar coordinates are specified in Meters
      The horizontal datum used is WGS84.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS84.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.00.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257223563.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    The USGS Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity backscatter grid was originally archived as an Esri grid with the following attributes: 
    Cell size = 2.0
Number of rows = 8958
Number of columns = 8958

Data type = floating point

Boundary
Xmin = 284625.00
Xmax = 302541.00
Ymin = 3771055.00
Ymax = 3788971.00

Statistics
Minimum value = 0
Maximum value = 254
Mean = 140.45
Standard deviation = 24.02

Coordinate system description
Projection  UTM
Zone  11
Datum  WGS84
Units  meter
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: none

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?
    U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator
    2885 Mission Street
    Santa Cruz, CA
    US

    831-427-4747 (voice)
    pcmsc_data@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

These data are intended for science researchers, students, policy makers, and the general public. These data can be used with geographic information systems or other software.

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: 2011 (process 1 of 2)
    USGS backscatter data were collected in 2006 using 117 kHz SEA (AP) Ltd. SWATHplus-M phase-differencing sidescan sonar aboard the USGS R/V Parke Snavely. The survey vessel was equipped with a CodaOctopus F180 attitude and position system. This system combines Real Time Kinematic (RTK) Global Positioning System (GPS) data (2-centimeter error ellipse) with inertial motion measurements so that high-precision position and attitude corrections are fed in real-time to the sonar acquisition equipment. Up to 10 pings per second are transmitted with each ping consisting of 2048 samples per side (port and starboard). The returned samples are projected to the seafloor using a ray-tracing algorithm working with the previously measured sound velocity profiles. A series of statistical filters are applied to the raw samples that discriminate the seafloor returns from other unintended targets in the water column. The raw 16-bit backscatter data recorded simultaneously with bathymetry by the SWATHplus was georeferenced and gain-normalized by the program SXPEGN, software written by the USGS to enhance the backscatter of the SWATHplus system. The program normalizes for time-varying signal loss and beam directivity differences. The resulting normalized amplitude values are rescaled to 16-bit, and gridded into a GeoJPEG image using GRID Processor Software supplied by SEA. The GeoJPEG was imported into a GRID using Esri GIS software and clipped to the Hueneme Canyon and vicinity, California, map boundary.
    Date: 26-Sep-2018 (process 2 of 2)
    Metadata was modified to bring up to current USGS PCMSC standards. Information for accompanying Scientific Investigations Report added to Abstract and Cross Reference sections. Point of Contact information was updated. USGS Thesaurus and keywords were added, and Process Steps were refined. Details about different Network Resource Name links was given in the Access Instructions section. Phone number for Metadata Contact was corrected. Minor typos were corrected. No data information was changed. Person who carried out this activity:
    Susan A Cochran
    U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Geologist
    2885 Mission Street
    Santa Cruz, CA
    USA

    (831) 460-7545 (voice)
    scochran@usgs.gov
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Johnson, Samuel Y., Dartnell, Peter, Cochrane, Guy R., Golden, Nadine E., Phillips, Eleyne L., Ritchie, Andrew C., Kvitek, Rikk G., Greeene, H. Gary, Krigsman, Lisa M., Endris, Charles A., Clahan, Kevin B., Sliter, Ray W., Wong, Florence L., Yoklavich, Mary M., and Normark, William R., 2012, California State Waters Map Series--Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity, California: Scientific Investigations Map 3225, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    Not applicable for raster data.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    0.5 meters
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    Not applicable
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Complete
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    Unspecified

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:
USGS-authored or produced data and information are in the public domain from the U.S. Government and are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize and acknowledge the U.S. Geological Survey as the originator(s) of the dataset and in products derived from these data. This information is not intended for navigation purposes.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey
    345 Middlefield Rd
    Menlo Park, CA
    USA

    (650) 329-4309 (voice)
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? The .zip file (BackscatterB_USGS_HuenemeCanyon.zip) includes the .tfw, .tif, .tif.aux.xml, and .tif.ovr, files, as well as FGDC-compliant metadata for the backscatter data collected by the USGS in the Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity region of California.
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    The downloadable data file has been compressed with the "zip" command and can be unzipped with Winzip (or other tool) on Windows systems. To utilize these data, the user must have software capable of uncompressing the WinZip file and importing and viewing an Esri ArcMap TIFF. Users should download the ArcGIS Project File, HuenemeCanyonGIS.mxd.zip, a compressed (with the "zip" command) version of the ArcMap document (.mxd) that has all the data layers loaded in the table of contents for "Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity" and has all the data symbolized as on the map sheets. Download and save this ArcGIS project file, including all data layers, to the directory the user has created for this GIS.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 26-Sep-2018
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator
2885 Mission Street
Santa Cruz, CA
US

831-427-4747 (voice)
pcmsc_data@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
Generated by mp version 2.9.49 on Wed Sep 26 10:39:29 2018