West Florida Shelf; sidescan-sonar and sediment data from shelf-edge habitats in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
West Florida Shelf; sidescan-sonar and sediment data from shelf-edge habitats in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico
Abstract:
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and Florida State University (FSU), collected the data presented here as part of a larger study of seafloor habitats on the shelf edge of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. It is a pilot study, carried out to demonstrate the utility of geologic mapping to fisheries management issues. This report contains sidescan-sonar mosaics, seismic-reflection profiles, texture and calcium carbonate content of sediment samples and interpretative maps of the seafloor morphology, sediments, and benthic habitats of the study area. The study area is an approximately 150-km2 area along the shelf edge in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. The site is on the eastern side of the DeSoto Canyon and 75 km due south of Cape San Blas on the Florida panhandle. Water depth ranges from about 50 meters (m) to 120 m. It was chosen because reports from fishermen suggested that high-relief rocky outcrops, which are preferred by gag grouper as spawning aggregation sites, would be abundant. The geologic maps help the fisheries biologists select station locations for ongoing monitoring studies and provide a basis for siting of future reserves.

Sediment data: In 1997, four surficial sediment grab samples were collected by C. Koenig during a cruise of the NOAA R/V Chapman. In 1998, an additional 51 sediment grab samples were collected by C. Gledhill during a cruise of the R/V Chapman and 3 by G. Fitzhugh during a cruise of the R/V Carretta. All samples were collected using a van Veen grab sampler. All samples (except those that were made up of chunks of coral or coral rubble) were analyzed for particle size and carbonate content in the sedimentology laboratory of the U.S.G.S. at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Texture terminology used in this report is according to Folk (1974). The percent of calcium carbonate material was determined by weight loss of 15 grams of bulk material after digestion with 10 percent hydrochloric acid. Details of the laboratory techniques can be found in Appendix I: Sediment Texture Analysis Techniques. The data are presented in Appendix II: Table of Sediment Analyses.

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Briere, P.R., Scanlon, K.M., Gledhill, C.T., Koenig, C.C., Fitzhugh, G., and U.S. Geological Survey, 1999, West Florida Shelf; sidescan-sonar and sediment data from shelf-edge habitats in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico: Open-File Report 99-589.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -86.2407
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -82.586
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 29.6327
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.8273

  3. What does it look like?

    99589.jpg
    Image showing geographic extent of data layer coverage

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

    Calendar_Date: 1999
    Currentness_Reference: publication date

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: online publication

  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 (78)

    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 0.1234. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.1234. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

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?

    Please review the cross reference information for the original data set credit to Briere and others (1999), and Jamey Reid for digitizing samples locations and entering the data from the source report.

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

    Kathryn M. Scanlon
    U.S. Geological Survey
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    USA

    (508) 458-8700 x2323 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    kscanlon@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

The purpose of this data layer is to create a digital version of the sedimentary characteristics published by Briere and others (1999) for inclusion in the usSEABED data collection.

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_MNEx.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

    Contact_Instructions: email preferred
  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?

    All attributes were entered and checked in a consistent manner.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    Navigational accuracy is unknown.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

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

    Sedimentary descriptions and locations are provided for 78 samples.

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

    No additional check 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 except that acknowledgement must be made in publications and reports of (i) the original data source, and (ii) the data integration by USGS and dbSEABED project at the University of Colorado.

  1. Who distributes the data set?[Distributor contact information not provided.]

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

    Briere and others, 1999

  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: 27-Mar-2006
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
c/o Brian J. Buczkowski
Core Curator and Data Management Specialist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA

(508) 548-8700 x2361 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
bbuczkowski@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
Metadata extensions used:

Generated by mp version 2.8.24 on Mon Mar 27 19:54:08 2006