DEC41_GOM: NODC Lithologic Descriptions

Metadata also available as: OUTLINE - TEXT

Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?
    Title: DEC41_GOM: NODC Lithologic Descriptions
    Abstract:
    This is an original data file created by the Marine Geology and Geophysics group of NODC from 1970-1975, abstracted from published and unpublished material contributed to NODC in 1975, after which no updates were added.
    Supplemental_Information:
    This data set contains only a subset of the data available in the NGDC Seafloor Surficial Sediment (deck41) Data File. Please see the Completness Report for detailed information.

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Poppe, Lawrence J. , 2003, DEC41_GOM: NODC Lithologic Descriptions:, U. S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Field Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Poppe, L.J., Paskevich, V.F., Williams, S.J., Hastings, M.E., Kelley, J.T., Belknap, D.F., Ward, L.G., FitzGerald, D.M., and Larsen, P.F., 2003, Surficial Sediment Data from the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and vicinity: a GIS Compilation: Open-File Report 03-001, U. S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Programy, Woods Hole Field Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Data is released via CD-ROM media. This digital publication may also be available via the web at pubs.usgs.gov

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -72.000000
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -65.017000
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 44.997000
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 39.000000

  3. What does it look like?

    dec41_gom.gif (GIF)
    Image map showing extent and distribution of data layer coverage.

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

    Beginning_Date:
    Ending_Date: 19661023
    Currentness_Reference: publication date

  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 (1759)

    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 0.001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.001. 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?

    dec41_gom.dbf
    Shapefile Attribute Table (Source: ESRI)

    FID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    NODCREF
    Code that assigns records to a source (Source: NGDC)

    Range of values
    Minimum:501
    Maximum:887
    Units:integer count
    Resolution:1

    PROJECT
    Name of the project during which the data were collected (Source: NGDC)

    Project names

    SHIP_CRUIS
    Name assigned to identify the ship and cruise during which the data were collected (Source: NGDC)

    Ship and cruise names

    STATION
    Names assigned to the sample location (Source: Scientist)

    Name of sample location

    DEVICE
    Equipment used to collect samples (Source: Scientist)

    Name of sampling equipment

    DATE
    Year, month, and day when sample was collected (Source: Scientist)

    Year, month, and day when sample was collected

    LATITUDE
    Latitude coordinate of sample location (Source: Scientist)

    Range of values
    Minimum:39
    Maximum:44.997
    Units:Decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.001

    LONGITUDE
    Longitude coordinate of sample location (Source: Scientist)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-72
    Maximum:-65.017
    Units:Decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.001

    DEPTH_M
    Water depth in meters (Source: Data Collector)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:2898
    Units:meters
    Resolution:1

    DOMINANT_L
    Description of primary lithology (Source: Scientist)

    Descriptions of lithology

    SECOND_LIT
    Description of secondary lithology (Source: Scientist)

    Descriptions of minor component of the lithology

    COMBINED
    Description of primary and secondary lithologies (Source: Scientist)

    Descriptions of lithologic components

    DESCRIPTIO
    Verbal description of the samples lithology and texture (Source: Scientist)

    Descriptions of lithology and texture (e.g. grain size and color)

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?

    National Geophysical Data Center for supplying the original NGDC Seafloor Surficial Sediment (deck41) Data File. Larry Poppe for creating the ArcView shapefile.

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

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

    (508) 548-8700 x2314 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    lpoppe@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?
The purpose of this data layer is to provide the unpublished lithologic descriptions from the NGDC Surficial Sediment (deck41) Data File in a form that can be used to interpret surficial sediment distributions off the northeastern United States.

How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    (source 1 of 1)
    National Geophysical Data Center, Unpublished Material, NGDC Surficial Sediment (deck41) Data File.

    Type_of_Source_Media: online

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

    Date: 16-Oct-2002 (process 1 of 1)
    The lithologic descriptions, navigation, and survey identifiers were saved as an ASCII text file. The ASCII text file was imported to an ArcView table. The table was later converted to an event theme in ArcView and saved as the final shapefile.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Lawrence J. Poppe
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    USGS
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-457-2314 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    lpoppe@usgs.gov

    Data sources used in this process:
    • dec41_gom.txt

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • dec41_gom.shp
    • dec41_gom.dbf
    • dec41_gom.shx

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?

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

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    Navigational equipment varied by the individual source project and year. Navigational accuracy is unknown.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

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

    This data set contains fields that are only a subset of those fields available in the NGDC Seafloor Surficial Sediment (deck41) Data File (e.g. only those stations from the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and off southeastern New England are included; only unpublished data). This data set contains station locations, cruise identifiers, and lithologic descriptions (primary and secondary lithology, combined, and descriptions) for 1761 stations.

  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)

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

    (508) 548-8700 x2314 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    lpoppe@usgs.gov

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

    Regional Mapping of Surficial Sediments: Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank, Aggregates and Habitats Projects, dec41_gom.shp

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Although this data set has been used by the U.S. Geological Survey, 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.

  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 data is available in ArcView shapefile format. The user must have ArcView 3.0 or greater software to read and process the data file. In lieu of ArcView, the user may utilize another GIS application package capable of importing data.

Who wrote the metadata?
Dates:
Last modified: 16-Feb-2003

Metadata author:
Lawrence J. Poppe
U.S. Geological Survey
Geologist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA

508-457-2314 (voice)
508-457-2310 (FAX)
lpoppe@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
Generated by mp version 2.7.3 on Sun Feb 16 12:08:08 2003

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