H12012_INTERP.SHP: Interpretation of Bottom Features from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Survey H12012 Offshore in Northeastern Long Island Sound (Geographic, WGS84)

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
H12012_INTERP.SHP: Interpretation of Bottom Features from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Survey H12012 Offshore in Northeastern Long Island Sound (Geographic, WGS84)
Abstract:
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), has produced detailed geologic maps of the coastal sea floor. Bathymetry, originally collected by NOAA for charting purposes, provides a fundamental framework for research and management activities in Long Island Sound, shows the terrain of the seabed, and provides information on sediment transport and benthic habitat. During April 2009 NOAA completed hydrographic survey H12012 offshore in the northeastern Sound, and during April 2010 and May 2010 bottom photographs and surficial sediment data were acquired as part of two ground-truth reconnaissance surveys of this area. Two interpretive data layers were derived from the multibeam echo-sounder and the ground-truth data used to verify them. For more information on the ground-truth surveys see: <http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2010-010-FA> and <http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2010-015-FA>
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Poppe, Larry, 2013, H12012_INTERP.SHP: Interpretation of Bottom Features from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Survey H12012 Offshore in Northeastern Long Island Sound (Geographic, WGS84): Open-File Report 2013-1060, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Poppe, L.J., McMullen, K.Y., Ackerman, S.D., and Glomb, K.A., 2013, Sea-floor geology and topography offshore in northeastern Long Island Sound: Open-File Report 2013-1060, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 DVD-ROM

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -72.402191
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -72.144953
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.260298
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.199221

  3. What does it look like?

    <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1060/data/interpret/h12012_interp.gif> (GIF)
    Thumbnail image showing the interpreted bottom features within NOAA survey H12012

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

    Beginning_Date: 17-Apr-2010
    Ending_Date: 26-May-2010
    Currentness_Reference:
    Ground condition, however, calendar dates are for the bottom samples and photography. Multibeam bathymetry used in the interpretation were collected during 20090418 to 20090430.

  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):

      • G-polygon (163)

    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 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.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    h12012_interp
    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.

    ID
    Internal feature number (Source: ESRI)

    FEATURES
    Identifiable components of the sea floor (Source: Scientist)

    ValueDefinition
    MegaripplesSea floor characterized by bedforms predominantly >10 cm, but <1m in relief. Examples of attributes used to identify these features include: low, linear, dune-like ridges in the multibeam bathymetry; large, broad ripples in the bottom photography; and sand in the sediment samples.
    Sand wavesSea floor characterized by bedforms predominantly >1 m in relief. Examples of attributes used to identify these features include: high, linear, dune-like ridges in the multibeam bathymetry; large, steep alternating slopes in the bottom photography; and sand in the sediment samples
    RockySea floor characterized by boulders or exposed bedrock. Examples of attributes used to identify these features include: rough, elevated areas and areas with numerous, small (<10 m), isolated bathymtric highs in the multibeam bathymetry; and boulders and bedrock outcrops, sometimes covered with sessile fauna and flora, in the bottom photography.
    Gravelly pavementRelatively flat sea floor characterized by variable amounts of gravel armoring the seabed
    Dredge spoilsSea floor characterized by dredge spoils of the Cornfield Shoals Disposal Site recognized by mounds and impact structures

    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    Shapefile containing interpretations of the sea floor offshore in northeastern Long Island Sound. Shapefile shows distributions of sea-floor features characterized as rocky, sand waves, megaripples, gravelly pavement, and dredge spoils.

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?

    U.S. Geological Survey
    c/o Larry Poppe
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598

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

Why was the data set created?

To release an interpretation of bottom features based on bathymetry data collected during NOAA survey H12012 and sediment samples and bottom photography collected during USGS surveys 2010-010-FA and 2010-015-FA offshore in northeastern Long Island Sound, in a geographic, WGS84 coordinate system. These data can be used to provide information on surface geology and sedimentary processes.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    (source 1 of 1)
    Type_of_Source_Media: DVD-ROM
    Source_Contribution:
    The original acoustic data (multibeam bathymetry) acquired during NOAA survey H12012 aboard the NOAA ship Thomas Jefferson and the portion of the sediment samples and bottom photography collected during USGS surveys 2010-010-FA and 2010-015-FA that fall within the study area. Historical grain-size data used in the interpretation are from Poppe and others (1998).

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

    Date: 2013 (process 1 of 2)
    GeoTIFF images of the multibeam bathymetry from survey H12012 and the point data layer from grain-size analyses and descriptions of sediments collected from this survey area, both those from this study and those from the historical data, were imported into the ArcView 3.3 GIS project view. Bottom features were interpreted based on geomorphology and relief in the bathymetry and on the bottom photography and textural analyses. The individually interpreted features (rocky, sand waves, megaripples, gravelly pavement, and dredge spoils) were outlined using the available graphic tools then converted to an Esri shapefile using ArcView 3.3. Polygons were traced and union and subtraction edits were conducted at scales of 1:3,500 to 1:5,500. Use of this interpretation datalayer is not recommended at scales of less than 1:24,000.

    Person who carried out this activity:

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

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

    Data sources used in this process:
    • h12012_2mmb_geo.tif
    • h12012_seddata.shp
    • h12012_botphotos.shp

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • h12012_interp.shp

    Date: 2013 (process 2 of 2)
    ArcGIS 9.2 was used to define the projection of the Esri shapefile as geographic WGS84 and to create the .prj file using the ArcToolbox Define Projection tool.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Larry Poppe
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02536
    USA

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

    Data sources used in this process:
    • h12012_interp.shp

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • h12012_interp.prj

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

    Poppe, L.J., DiGiacomo-Cohen, M.L., Doran, E.F., Smith, S.M., Stewart, H.F., and Forfinski, N.A., 2007, Geologic interpretation and multibeam bathymetry of the sea floor in the vicinity of the Race, eastern Long Island Sound: Open-File Report 2007-1012, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Poppe, L.J., Denny, J.F., Williams, S.J., Moser, M.S., Forfinski, N.A., Stewart, H.F., and Doran, E.F., 2007, The geology of Six Mile Reef, eastern Long Island Sound: Open-File Report 2007-1191, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    McMullen, K.Y., Poppe, L.J., Danforth, W.W., Blackwood, D.S., Schaer, J.D., Ostapenko, A.J., Glomb, K.A., and Doran, E.F., 2010, Surficial geology of the sea floor in Long Island Sound offshore of Plum Island, New York: Open-File Report 2010-1005, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Poppe, L.J., Hastings, M.E., DiGiacomo-Cohen, M.L., Manheim, F.T., and Mlodzinska, Z.J., 1998, Surficial sediment database: Open-File Report 98-502, Chapter 3, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Poppe, L.J., and Polloni, C., 1998, Long Island Sound environmental studies: Open-File Report 98-502, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 CD-ROM
    Poppe, L.J., McMullen, K.Y., Ackerman, D.S., Blackwood, D.S., Irwin, B.J., Schaer, J.D., Lewit, P.G., and Doran, E.F., 2010, Sea-floor geology and character offshore of Rocky Point, New York: Open-File Report 2010-1007, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 DVD-ROM
    McMullen, K.Y., Poppe, L.J., Danforth, W.W., Blackwood, D.S., Schaer, J.D., Guberski, M.R., Wood, D.A., and Doran, E.F., 2011, Surficial geology of the sea floor in Long Island Sound offshore of Orient Point, New York: Open-File Report 2010-1100, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 DVD-ROM
    McMullen, K.Y., Poppe, L.J., Danforth, W.W., Blackwood, D.S., Schaer, J.D., Glomb, K.A., and Doran, E.F., 2012, Sea-floor geology of Long Island Sound North of Duck Pond Point, New York: Open-File Report 2011-1149, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 DVD-ROM
    Poppe, L.J., McMullen, K.Y., Ackerman, S.D., Guberski, M.R., and Wood, D.A., 2013, Sea-floor character and geology off the entrance to the Connecticut River, northeastern Long Island Sound: Open-File Report 2012-1103, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 DVD-ROM

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?

    Navigation of the underlying data on which the interpretation is based was by differential GPS. Interpretation good to 1:24,000.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

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

    All collected data within the study area were processed and used to produce this dataset.

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

    No additional checks for 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:
The interpretation was completed at map scales between 1:3,500 and 1:5,500, but is not intended for use at map scales smaller than 1:24,000. 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)

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

    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?

    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 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), nor the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) 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, NOAA, or the CT DEEP 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?

    The user must be capable of uncompressing WinZip files. Also, these data are available in Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri) shapefile format. The user must have ArcGIS or ArcView 3.0 or greater software to read and process the data file. In lieu of ArcView or ArcGIS, the user may utilize another GIS application package capable of importing data. A free data viewer, ArcExplorer, capable of displaying the data is available from Esri at www.esri.com.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 19-Apr-2013
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
c/o Larry Poppe
Geologist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598

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)
Metadata extensions used:

Generated by mp version 2.8.25 on Fri Apr 19 08:35:36 2013