MEISBURGER76: Sediments of Western Mass Bay

Metadata also available as: OUTLINE - TEXT

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?
• 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?

Title: MEISBURGER76: Sediments of Western Mass Bay

Abstract:

A seismic reflection survey with concurrent bottom sampling was conducted in western Massachusetts Bay to obtain information on bottom topography and sediments, subbottom structure and composition, and the location of sand deposits potentially usable for restoration and nourishment of nearby beaches. Primary sediment data was derived from 43 cores. The predominant sediments of the surface and shallow subsurface deposits in the study area are fine sand, sand and gravel, and clayey silt. Sand suitable for beach restoration and nourishment on the contiguous coast occurs only locally and in generally small quantity relative to other sediments of the study area.

1. How should this data set be cited?

   Poppe, Lawrence J. , 2003, MEISBURGER76: Sediments of Western Mass Bay:, U. S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Field Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/of03-001/data/seddata/meisburger76/meisburger76.zip>
   • <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/of03-001/data/seddata/meisburger76/meisburger76.zip>

   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 Program, Woods Hole Field Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/of03-001>
   • <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/of03-001>

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Data are 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: -70.960700

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.676300

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.600130

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.168040

3. What does it look like?

   meisburger76 (GIF)

   Image map showing extent and distribution of data layer coverage.

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

   Calendar_Date: 1976

   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 (42)

   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?

   meisburger76.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.

   PROJECTID

   Name assigned to the data for future identification. (Source: Compiler)

   Value	Definition
   MEISBURGER1976

   DEVICE

   Equipment used to collect samples (Source: Scientist)

   Value	Definition
   VIBRACORE	Vibracore device

   CORE_ID_

   Numeric identifier assigned to each core (Source: Scientist)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	151
   Maximum:	193
   Units:	integer count
   Resolution:	1

   LATITUDE

   Latitude coordinate of sample location (Source: Scientist)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	42.16804
   Maximum:	42.60013
   Units:	Decimal Degrees
   Resolution:	0.00001

   LONGITUDE

   Longitude coordinate of sample location (Source: Scientist)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-70.96070
   Maximum:	-70.67630
   Units:	Decimal Degrees
   Resolution:	0.00001

   DESCRIPTIO

   Lithologic description of the surficial sediment (Source: Scientist)

   Value	Definition
   SILTY SAND AND GRAVEL	silty sand and gravel content
   SILTY MEDIUM SAND	silty medium sand content
   SILTY FINE SAND	silty fine sand content
   SILTY FINE COARSE SAND	silty fine coarse sand content
   SILTY CLAY	silty clay content
   SILT, SHELLS, AND GRAVEL	silt, shells, and gravel content
   SILT, SAND AND GRAVEL	silt, sand and gravel content
   SILT	silt content
   SAND, SHELLS, AND GRAVEL	sand, shells, and gravel content
   SAND AND GRAVEL	sand and gravel content
   MEDIUM SAND AND GRAVEL	medium sand and gravel content
   MEDIUM SAND	medium sand content
   FINE SAND AND SHELLS	fine sand and shells content
   FINE SAND AND GRAVEL	fine sand and gravel content
   FINE SAND	fine sand content
   FINE COARSE SAND	fine coarse sand content
   COARSE SAND AND GRAVEL	coarse sand and gravel content

   Character string containing verbal description of the sediment

   MEDIAN_PHI

   50th percentile of the grain size distribution in phi units (Source: Scientist)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0.31
   Maximum:	2.95
   Units:	phi
   Resolution:	0.01

   MEAN_PHI

   Mean grain size in phi units (Source: Scientist)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0.37
   Maximum:	2.57
   Units:	phi
   Resolution:	0.01

   STDEV_PHI

   Standard deviation of the grain size distribution in phi units (Source: Scientist)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0.4
   Maximum:	1.08
   Units:	phi
   Resolution:	0.01

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Lawrence J. Poppe

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

   Please view the cross reference information for the original data set credit to Meisburger (1976). Larry Poppe for creating the 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
   

The purpose of this data layer is to release a digital version of the sediment data published by Meisburger (1976).

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   (source 1 of 1)

   Meisburger, E.P., 1976, Geomorphology and Sediments of Western Massachusetts Bay: Technical Paper 76-3, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Coastal Engineering Research Center, Fort Belvoir, VA.

   Type_of_Source_Media: paper

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

   Date: 13-Sep-2002 (process 1 of 1)

   The source information was imported from an ASCII text file 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
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

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

   Data sources used in this process:

   • meisburger76.txt

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • meisburger76.shp
   • meisburger76.dbf
   • meisburger76.shx

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?

   Original report did not discuss navigational methods. Navigational accuracy is unknown.

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

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

   Sediment descriptions, grain-size distribution statistics, and sample identifiers are provided for 42 cores.

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

   No additional checks for topological consistency were performed on this data.

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, meisburger.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?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	Five files (meisburger76.shp, meisburger76.dbf, meisburger76.shx, meisburger76.sbx, meisburger76.sbn) comprising the ArcView point shapefile components, 'prj' and 'avl' files, metadata text file and browse graphic. in format ArcView shapefile (version 3.2) ESRI point shapefile Size: 0.131
     Media you can order:	CD-ROM (Density 650 Mbytes) Note: The user must have a computer system with a CD-ROM available. To browse the information contained on this CD-ROM, the user must have a current WWW browser available. The user must also have software installed on their computer to unzip the archived file.

   • Cost to order the data: None

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.

Dates:

Last modified: 21-Mar-2003

Metadata author:

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

Metadata standard:

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

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