USGS OFR 00-358: East Coast Sediment Texture Database

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?
    Title: USGS OFR 00-358: East Coast Sediment Texture Database
    Abstract:
    This sediment database contains data on collection, location, description, and texture of samples taken by numerous marine sampling programs. Although most records contain complete grain size analyses, some are simple bottom descriptions from rocky and bouldery locations where samples were not taken. Most of the samples were collected with some type of grab sampler; however, a few were obtained by coring.

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Hastings, M.E., 2005, USGS OFR 00-358: East Coast Sediment Texture Database: Open-File Report 00-358, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -169.083300
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: 170.520000
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 55.280000
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: -16.232067

  3. What does it look like?

    00358.jpg (JPEG)
    Image map showing extent and distribution of data layer coverage

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

    Calendar_Date: 2000
    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 (15346)

    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 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?

    00358

    FID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    GROUP

    DB_ID_

    FIELD_ID

    LATITUDE

    LONGITUDE

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?

    Larry 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 report is to describe the field methods used to collect marine sediment samples and the laboratory methods used to determine and characterize the grain-size distributions, to present these data in several flat-file formats that can be readily employed by interested parties, and to provide referenceable verified data and metadata to an Access relational database being developed as part of the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program’s Aggregates Project.

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

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

    (process 1 of 1)
    Digital data were hand formatted into dbSEABED data entry structure, then filtered and data-mined through dbSEABED software (version: db9_MNEs.bas)

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Jane Reid
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    400 Natural Bridges Drive
    Santa Cruz, CA 95060
    USA

    (831) 427-4727 (voice)
    (831) 427-4748 (FAX)
    jareid@usgs.gov

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

    Hastings, M.E., Poppe, L.J., and Hathaway, J.C., 2000, Chapter 2: Surficial sediment database: Open-File report 00-358, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Poppe, L.J., and Polloni, C.F., 2000, USGS East Coast sediment analysis: procedures, database and georeferenced displays: Open-File Report 00-358, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

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

    Those samples from the USGS's Woods Hole Science Center labs (coded with a "3") were imported into usSEABED. Those coded with "1" and "2" represent the ConMar data and are included elsewhere. In the original report, all samples were given as individual analyses with attached database IDs (DB_IDs), with no effort made to group subsamples from the same core together. Here, these samples are grouped together, and downcore analyses are included under the topmost sample's DB_ID, given in brackets in the sitename. Subsample DB_IDs are included as metadata in the input data resource file. Data are listed in order of the topmost sample's DB_IDs. SEDCLASS classification are included as Shepard classification for all samples with textural analyses (input field LTH:30). For those samples without textural analyses (mostly boulders, n = 89), the SEDCLASS description are included in input field LTH:8 for parsing by the dbSEABED software.

  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 observations, including topology?

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)

    L.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?

    USGS OFR 00-358: East Coast Sediment Texture Database

  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: 25-May-2005
Last Reviewed: 04-May-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:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Metadata extensions used:

Generated by mp version 2.7.33 on Wed May 25 13:43:29 2005