40-m Hillshaded relief image produced from elevation of the late-Wisconsinan regressive unconformity beneath Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts (GeoTIFF Image; UTM, Zone 19N, WGS 84)

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
40-m Hillshaded relief image produced from elevation of the late-Wisconsinan regressive unconformity beneath Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts (GeoTIFF Image; UTM, Zone 19N, WGS 84)
Abstract:
Geologic, sediment texture, and physiographic zone maps characterize the sea floor of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. These maps were derived from interpretations of seismic-reflection profiles, high-resolution bathymetry, acoustic-backscatter intensity, bottom photographs, and surficial sediment samples. The interpretation of the seismic stratigraphy and mapping of glacial and Holocene marine units provided a foundation on which the surficial maps were created. This mapping is a result of a collaborative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management to characterize the surface and subsurface geologic framework offshore of Massachusetts.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Foster, David S., 2014, 40-m Hillshaded relief image produced from elevation of the late-Wisconsinan regressive unconformity beneath Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts (GeoTIFF Image; UTM, Zone 19N, WGS 84): Open-File Report 2014-1220, 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.

    Foster, David S., Baldwin, Wayne E., Barnhardt, Walter A., Schwab, William C., Ackerman, Seth D., Andrews, Brian D., and Pendleton, Elizabeth A., 2014, Shallow Geology, Sea-Floor Texture, Physiographic Zones, and Depositional History of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2014-1220, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -71.128663
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.608699
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.692492
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.367663
  3. What does it look like?
    https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1220/GIS_catalog/Stratigraphy/Ur/Urelevhs_browse.png (PNG)
    Browse image of Esri GeoTIFF representing the hillshade-relif image of the depth to glacial deposits beneath Buzzards Bay
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 28-May-2009
    Ending_Date: 31-Aug-2011
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition of the source data that this interpretation is based on
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: raster digital data
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Raster data set. It contains the following raster data types:
      • Dimensions 879 x 1066 x 1, type Pixel
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
      UTM_Zone_Number: 19
      Transverse_Mercator:
      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -69.000000
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.000000
      False_Easting: 500000.000000
      False_Northing: 0.000000
      Planar coordinates are encoded using row and column
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 40.000000
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 40.000000
      Planar coordinates are specified in meters
      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?

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?
    David S. Foster
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2271 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    dfoster@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

This data set contains a hillshaded image representing the depth to the top of glacial deposits. These data are useful for assessing relations between geologic framework and sea-bed morphology. The top of the glacial deposit surface is defined by the Ur/Ut unconformity. The late Wsconsinan regressive unconformity (Ur) and where Ur merges with the Holocene transgressive unconformity (Ut) defines the upper surface of glacial deposits.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    Pendleton and others, 2012 (source 1 of 4)
    Pendleton, E.A., Twichell, D.C., Foster, D.S., Worley, C.R, Irwin, B.J., and Danforth, W.W., 2012, High-resolution geophysical data from the sea floor surrounding the Western Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2011-1184, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: online
    Source_Contribution:
    This report provided source geophysical (sidescan, bathymetry, and seismic-reflection profiles) for the area of Buzzards Bay surrounding the western Elizabeth Islands. High-resolution chirp seismic-reflection profiles were collected during U.S. Geological Survey field activity 2010-003-FA using an EdgeTech Geo-Star full spectrum sub-bottom (FSSB) system and SB-424 towfish. Thorough descriptions of acquisition and processing parameters for the survey are provided by Pendleton and others (2012) in the methods section and seismic-reflection metadata. Shallow geologic framework and surficial geology were interpreted from post-processed chirp seismic-reflection profiles.
    Turecek and others, 2012 (source 2 of 4)
    Turecek, A.M., Danforth, W.W., Baldwin, W.E., and Barnhardt, W.A., 2012, High-resolution geophysical data collected within Red Brook Harbor, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, in 2009: Open-File Report 2012-1091, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: online
    Source_Contribution:
    This report provided the source geophysical (sidescan, bathymetry, and seismic-reflection profiles), sediment sample and bottom photograph data for Buzzards Bay in the area of Red Brook Harbor. Surveying was conducted aboard the R/V Rafael during U.S. Geological Survey field activity 2009-018-FA. Seismic reflection profiles were collected with a Knudsen Engineering, Ltd. (KEL) Chirp 3202 dual-frequency (centered at 3.5- and 200-kHz) Chirp system. Thorough descriptions of acquisition and processing parameters for the survey are provided by Turecek and others (2012) in the methods section and seismic-reflection metadata. Shallow geologic framework and surficial geology were interpreted from post-processed chirp seismic-reflection profiles.
    Ackerman and others, 2013 (source 3 of 4)
    Ackerman, S.D., Andrews, B.D., Foster, D.S., Baldwin, W.E., and Schwab, W.C., 2013, High-Resolution Geophysical Data from the Inner Continental Shelf: Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2012-1002, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: online
    Source_Contribution:
    This report provided the source geophysical (sidescan, bathymetry, and seismic-reflection profiles) for Buzzards Bay. The mapping was conducted onboard the Megan T. Miller (2009, 2010) and the Scarlett Isabella (2011) during U.S. Geological Survey field activities 2009-002-FA , 2010-004-FA, and 2011-004-FA. Chirp seismic-reflection data were collected in the Buzzards Bay survey area using an EdgeTech Geo-Star FSSB subbottom profiling system and an SB-0512i towfish. Thorough descriptions of acquisition and processing parameters for each survey are provided by Ackerman and others (2013) in the methods section and seismic-reflection metadata. Shallow geologic framework was interpreted from post-processed chirp seismic-reflection profiles
    Pendleton and others, 2014 (source 4 of 4)
    Pendleton, E.A., Andrews, B.D., Danforth, W.W., and Foster, D.S., 2014, High-Resolution Geophysical Data From Sand Shoals of Vineyard Sound and the Sea Floor Surrounding the Eastern Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2013-1020, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: online
    Source_Contribution:
    This report provided the source geophysical (sidescan, bathymetry, and seismic-reflection profiles) for Buzzards Bay in the area of Naushon Island and seismic-reflection profiles in northeast Buzzards Bay. These areas were surveyed with the RV Rafael in 2010 and 2011 during U.S. Geological Survey field activities 2010-047-FA and 2011-013. In 2010, seismic-reflection data were acquired with a boomer source and GeoEel 8-channel streamer. In 2011, high-resolution chirp seismic data were collected using a dual frequency (3.5 and 200 kHz) Knudsen Engineering Limited (KEL) Chirp 3202 system. Thorough descriptions of acquisition and processing parameters for each survey are provided by Pendleton and others (2014) in the methods section and seismic-reflection metadata. Shallow geologic framework and surficial geology were interpreted from post-processed chirp seismic-reflection profiles.
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 2012 (process 1 of 6)
    Chirp and boomer seismic-reflection data were interpreted using Landmark SeisWorks 2D (R5000) seismic interpretation software. Interpretation consisted of identifying and digitizing erosional unconformities defining the boundaries between Holocene, Pleistocene, and pre-Quaternary seismic units, and digitizing the extent over which each of the defined sub-surface seismic units crops out on the sea floor. The digitized sea floor was merged with the base of dredge spoil deposits. This surface was subtracted from the Ur/Ut (postglacial) unconformity. The isochron thickness (including zero values) was sampled at a 20-meter along track interval and exported from SeisWorks as ASCII text. Person who carried out this activity:
    David S. Foster
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-5488700 x2271 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    dfoster@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • All
    Date: 2013 (process 2 of 6)
    The resultant text file was imported into ArcMap (9.3.1) as point features (easting, northing, thickness in ms) using the 'Add XY data' function, then saved as a point shapefile (UTM, Zone 19N, WGS84). Person who carried out this activity:
    David S. Foster
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2271 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    dfoster@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • All
    Date: 2013 (process 3 of 6)
    The new point shapefile was used as input for the ArcMap (9.3.1) Spatial Analyst tool 'Natural Neighbor' to create an interpolated grid of the isopach with a 40 meter cell size. Person who carried out this activity:
    David S. Foster
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2271 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    dfoster@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • All
    Date: 2013 (process 4 of 6)
    Two-way travel time thickness was converted to thickness in meters with ArcMap (9.3.1) Spatial Analyst Tools "Raster Calculator". A velocity of 1500 m/s was used. This grid was added to the thickness of dredge spoil grid. The resulting grid was subtracted from the composite bathymetry grid (NAVD 88) to produce the elevation of Ur grid. This grid was clipped using ArcMap 9.3.1 Spatial Analysist Tools Extract by Mask to clip the grid to boundary of the seismic survey data. Person who carried out this activity:
    David S. Foster
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2271 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    dfoster@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • All
    Date: 2104 (process 5 of 6)
    ArcMap (9.3.1) Spatial Analyst 'Surface Analysis' was used to derive a hillshaded relief DEM (using the default parameters azimuth 315, altitude 45, z factor 1) from elevations of the Ur/Ut unconformity. Person who carried out this activity:
    David S. Foster
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2271 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    dfoster@usgs.gov
    Data sources used in this process:
    • All
    Date: 13-May-2016 (process 6 of 6)
    Edits to the metadata were made to fix any errors that MP v 2.9.32 flagged. This is necessary to enable the metadata to be successfully harvested for various data catalogs. In some cases, this meant adding text "Information unavailable" or "Information unavailable from original metadata" for those required fields that were left blank. Other minor edits were probably performed (title, publisher, publication place, etc.). Empty fields were deleted. Links to the data were fixed. The metadata date (but not the metadata creator) was edited to reflect the date of these changes. The metadata available from a harvester may supersede metadata bundled within a download file. Compare the metadata dates to determine which metadata file is most recent. Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: VeeAnn A. Cross
    Marine Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA

    508-548-8700 x2251 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    vatnipp@usgs.gov
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Robb, James M., and Oldale, Robert N., 1977, Preliminary geologic maps, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-889, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 2 sheets
    O'Hara, Charles J., and Oldale, Robert N., 1980, Maps showing geology and shallow structure of eastern Rhode Island Sound and Vineyard Sound, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-1186, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 5 sheets

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?
    Navigational accuracy of the seismic-reflection data used for this interpretation was assumed to be ± 10 to 20 meters. Refer to seismic trackline metadata in Pendleton and others (2012; 2014), Turecek and others (2012),and Ackerman and others (2013) for specific seismic data acquisition parameters and accuracy reports. Additional navigational uncertainty in this interpretation arises from subjective digitizing of the seismic reflectors, sampling of the interpreted horizons at 20-m along track intervals prior to export from the seismic interpretation package.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    All chirp and boomer seismic-reflection data collected during USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center field activities 2009-002-FA, 2010-003-FA, 2010-004-FA, 2010-047-FA, 2010-100-FA, 2011-004-FA , and 2011-013-FA were used to interpret the subsurface geologic units.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    Chirp seismic-reflection data collected during USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center field activities 2009-002-FA, 2010-003-FA, 2010-004-FA, 2011-004-FA, and 2011-047-FA and boomer seismic-reflection data during USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center field activities 2010-047-FA and 2010-100-FA were used to interpret the geologic framework of Buzzards Bay

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:
Not to be used for navigation. 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)
    David S. Foster
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2271 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    dfoster@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 U.S. Geological Survey 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 GeoTiff contained in the zip file is available as an Esri GeoTIFF. To utilize this data, the user must have a GIS software package capable of reading GeoTIFF.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 13-May-2016
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
Attn: David S. Foster
Geologist
384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole, MA
USA

508-548-8700 x2271 (voice)
508-457-2310 (FAX)
dfoster@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
Generated by mp version 2.9.33 on Wed Jun 08 14:06:00 2016