BATHCNTR_10M - 10 meter bathymetric contours of the Cape Ann - Salisbury Beach MA Survey Area.

Metadata also available as - [Outline] - [Parseable text]

Frequently-anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
BATHCNTR_10M - 10 meter bathymetric contours of the Cape Ann - Salisbury Beach MA Survey Area.
Abstract:
These data were collected under a cooperative agreement with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) and the U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center. Initiated in 2003, the primary objective of this program is to develop regional geologic framework information for management of coastal and marine resources. Accurate data and maps of sea-floor geology are important first steps toward protecting fish habitat, delineating marine reserves, and assessing environmental changes due to natural or human impacts. The project is focused on the inshore waters (5-30m deep) of Massachusetts between the New Hampshire border and Cape Cod Bay.

Data collected for the mapping cooperative have been released in a series of USGS Open-File Reports <http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/project-pages/coastal_mass/html/current_map.html>). This spatial dataset is from the Cape Ann to Salisbury Beach Massachusetts project area. They were collected in two separate surveys in 2004 and 2005 and cover approximately 325 square kilometers of the inner continental shelf. High resolution bathymetry and backscatter intensity were collected in 2004 and 2005. Seismic profile data, sediment samples and bottom photography were collected to ground-truth the acoustic geophysical data were collected in 2005.

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    U.S. Geological Survey, 2008, BATHCNTR_10M - 10 meter bathymetric contours of the Cape Ann - Salisbury Beach MA Survey Area.: Open-File Report 2007-1373, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Barnhardt, Walter A. , Andrews, Brian D. , Ackerman, Seth D. , Baldwin, Wayne E. , and Hein, Christopher J. , 2008, High-Resolution Geological Mapping of the Inner Continental Shelf: Cape Ann to Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts.: Open-File Report 2007-1373, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.805125
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.597044
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.874633
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.675142

  3. What does it look like?

    <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1373/GIS/browse_jpg/BathCntr_10m.jpg> (JPEG)
    thumbnail image of 10 meter bathymetric contours

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

    Beginning_Date: 23-Feb-2004, 20050908
    Ending_Date: 16-Mar-2004, 20050916
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition

  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):

      • String (310)

    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 0.000000. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000000. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is D_WGS_1984.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS_1984.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257224.

      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:
      Depth_System_Definition:
      Depth_Datum_Name: mean lower low water
      Depth_Distance_Units: meters
      Depth_Encoding_Method: Attribute values

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    BathCntr_10m
    10 meter bathymetric Contours (Source: USGS)

    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    ID
    Internal identification number (Source: ESRI)

    CONTOUR
    Depth below mean lower low water of contour. (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-10
    Maximum:-90
    Units:meters below mean lower low water

    FID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    Shape_Leng
    Length of feature in meters (UTM 19, WGS84) automatically calculated in the geodatabase. (Source: ESRI)

    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    The order of attributes in the attribute table may be different than the order of the Entity_and_Attribute_Information: Detailed_Description in this metadata file.


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?

    Brian Andrews
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geographer
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2348 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    bandrews@usgs.gov


Why was the data set created?

The purpose of these data is to provide reference depth contours at ten meter intervals for the merged bathymetric data that covers both the nearshore and offshore survey areas.


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: Dec-2007 (process 1 of 4)
    Calculate depth contour feature class at 10m contour intervals from input grid CABATH5m. Used the Contour Surface Tool within ArcGIS 9.2 Spatial Analyst Tools. Used 10 meter analysis cell size to generalize smoother contours.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Brian Andrews
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geographer
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2348 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    bandrews@usgs.gov

    Data sources used in this process:
    • cabath5m (This publication)

    Date: Dec-2007 (process 2 of 4)
    Output depth contours were simplified using the Simplify Line tool in ArcGIS 9.2 Data Management Toolbox. The Simplify Line parameters included the Simplification Algorithm = BEND_SIMPLIFY, Simplification Tolerance Reference Baseline ="100 Meters" , RESOLVE_ERRORS KEEP_COLLAPSED_POINTS CHECK.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Brian Andrews
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geographer
    384 Woods Hole Rd
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2348 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    bandrews@usgs.gov

    Date: Dec-2007 (process 3 of 4)
    The simplified contours were then smoothed to enhance cartographic display. The SmoothLine tool in ArcGIS 9.2 ArcToolbox was used to smooth the polyline with following parameters: Smoothing Algorithm= BEZIER_INTERPOLATION, Handling Topological Errors=NO_CHECK.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Brian Andrews
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geographer
    384 Woods Hole Rd
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2348 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    bandrews@usgs.gov

    Date: Jun-2008 (process 4 of 4)
    Export feature class "BathCntr_10m" from ArcMap 9.2 file geodatabase to "BathyCntr_10m.shp" shapefile using "Feature Class To Shapefile (multiple)" in ArcCatalog (ver 9.2) Conversion Toolbox. Environmental settings during conversion set output coordinate system as Geographic coordinate system WGS84.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Brian Andrews
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geographer
    384 Woods Hole Rd
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2348 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    bandrews@usgs.gov

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

    Barnhardt, Walter A. , Andrews, Brian D. , and Butman, Bradford, 2006, High-Resolution Mapping of the Inner Continental Shelf: Nahant to Gloucester, Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2005-1293, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Ackerman, Seth D. , Butman, Bradford, Barnhardt, Walter A. , Danforth, William W. , and Crocker, James M. , 2006, High-Resolution Geologic Mapping of the Inner Continental Shelf: Boston Harbor and Approaches, Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2006-1008, 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?

  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?

    Small depth contours less than 100 meters in length were removed for cartographic quality.

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

    Bathymetric contours were simplified and smoothed to increase cartographic quality of contours.


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)

    Brian Andrews
    U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Science Center
    Geographer
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2348 (voice)
    bandrews@usgs.gov

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

    Downloadable Data

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Neither the U.S. Government, the Department of the Interior, nor the USGS, nor any of their employees, contractors, or subcontractors, make any warranty, express or implied, nor assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, nor represent that its use would not infringe on privately owned rights. 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. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

    These data are available as a shapefile in Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) format. The shapefile is distributed in a compressed format as a WinZip (ver. 9.0) To utilize these data, the user must be able to uncompress the WinZip file and have software capable of viewing ESRI shapefiles.


Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 08-Jan-2009
Metadata author:
Brian Andrews
U.S. Geological Survey
Geographer
384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA

508-548-8700 x2348 (voice)
508-457-2310 (FAX)
bandrews@usgs.gov

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


Generated by mp version 2.8.25 on Thu Jan 08 09:18:14 2009