H12298SEDENV.SHP: Interpretation of Sedimentary Environments from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Survey H12298 in Block Island Sound (Geographic, WGS 84)

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
H12298SEDENV.SHP: Interpretation of Sedimentary Environments from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Survey H12298 in Block Island Sound (Geographic, WGS 84)
Abstract:
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is producing detailed geologic maps of the coastal sea floor. Bathymetric and sidescan-sonar data, originally collected by NOAA for charting purposes, provide a framework for research and management activities along western Block Island Sound, show the composition and terrain of the seabed, and provide information on sediment transport and benthic habitat. During June 2013, bottom photographs and surficial sediment data were acquired as part of a ground-truth reconnaissance survey of this area. Interpretations were derived from the multibeam-echosounder, sidescan-sonar, sedimentary, and photographic data collected in Block Island Sound. For more information on the ground-truth survey see <http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/operations/ia/public_ds_info.php?fa=2013-005-FA>.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    U.S. Geological Survey, 2015, H12298SEDENV.SHP: Interpretation of Sedimentary Environments from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Survey H12298 in Block Island Sound (Geographic, WGS 84): Open-File Report 2014-1224, 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.

    McMullen, K.Y., Poppe, L.J., Danforth, W.W., Blackwood, D.S., Winner, W.G., and Parker, C.E., 2015, Sea-floor morphology and sedimentary environments in western Block Island Sound, offshore of Fishers Island, New York: Open-File Report 2014-1224, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: DVD-ROM

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -72.001659
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -71.854627
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.288517
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.193510

  3. What does it look like?

    <https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2014/1224/data/sedenv/h12298sedenv.gif> (GIF)
    Thumbnail image showing the sedimentary environments within NOAA survey H12298

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

    Calendar_Date: 2014
    Currentness_Reference: publication date

  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 (35)

    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?

    h12298sedenv
    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)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:0

    LABEL
    Interpretation of sedimentary environments from NOAA H12298 multibeam-bathymetry and sidescan-sonar data and USGS 2013-005-FA sediment and photography data (Source: compiler)

    ValueDefinition
    cgbtCoarse-grained bedload transport: Environment within which sea-floor sand and pea-gravel sized sediments are transported
    erosionErosion or nondeposition: High-energy environment within which sea-floor sediments are either removed or do not accumulate
    sort_reworkSorting and reworking: Environment within which sea-floor sediments are being separated into different fractions according to grain size.

    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    Shapefile containing sedimentary environments of the sea floor in the Block Island Sound study area. Shapefile shows distributions of environments characterized by erosion or nondeposition, coarse-grained bedload transport, and sorting and reworking.

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 Katherine McMullen
    Field and Laboratory Technician
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598

    508-548-8700 x2277 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    kmcmullen@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

To release interpretations of sedimentary environments based on bathymetry and sidescan-sonar data collected during NOAA survey H12298 and sediment samples and bottom photography collected during USGS survey 2013-005-FA in Block Island Sound in a geographic, WGS 84 coordinate system.

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 acquired during NOAA survey H12298 aboard the NOAA ship Thomas Jefferson were collected from Aug. 31, 2011 to Nov. 16, 2011 and the sediment samples and bottom photography were collected during USGS survey 2013-005-FA between June 17-19, 2013.

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

    Date: 2014 (process 1 of 2)
    The GeoTIFF images of the multibeam and sidescan-sonar data from survey H12298 and the point data layers from bottom photography and grain-size analyses of sediments collected from this survey area were imported into the ArcMap 9.3.1. Bottom features were interpreted based on the bathymetry, sidescan, bottom photography, and textural analyses. The individually interpreted features (i.e. boulders) were outlined using the available graphic tools. This and all subsequent process steps were completed by the same person, Katherine McMullen.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Katherine McMullen
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Field and Laboratory Technician
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598

    508-548-8700 x2277 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    kmcmullen@usgs.gov

    Data sources used in this process:
    • h12298_mb2m_geo.tif
    • 2013-005_298seddata.shp
    • 2013-005_298botphotos.shp
    • h12298_1msss_utm19.tif

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • h12298interp.shp

    Date: 2014 (process 2 of 2)
    Sedimentary environments were interpreted largely based on the sea floor interpretations, although some polygons have different borders to reflect overlap or other features. The h12298interp.shp file was copied and renamed in ArcCatalog 9.3.1 and polygon labels were changed to reflect sedimentary environments. Boulders, cobbles, and glaciolacustrine sediments indicate environments of erosion or nondeposition in this study area, sand waves indicate coarse-grained bedload transport, and the remaining modern marine sediments are likely environments characterized by sorting and reworking. In areas where the interpretation polygons overlapped, the dominant feature on the sea floor was used. Polygons with overlap were intersected, clipped, and either merged with the dominant area or relabeled using the tools in ArcMap 9.3.1.
    In outlining the borders of the sedimentary environments in the H12298 area, we attempted to match those in adjacent study areas (USGS Open-File Reports 2007-1012, 2012-1005, and 2014-1160). The interpretations in OFR 2012-1005 were done using 4-m bathymetry, so some features visible in the 2-m bathymetry of overlapping and adjacent areas in this survey were not discernable. Likewise, features that overlap two adjoining surveys are often difficult to outline when the data from only one survey is available. Thus, the sedimentary environments have some minor discrepancies with adjoining study areas.

    Data sources used in this process:

    • h12298interp.shp

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • h12298sedenv.shp

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

    Poppe, L.J., Danforth, W.W., McMullen, K.Y., Blankenship, M.A., Glomb, K.A., Wright, D.B., and Smith, S.M., 2014, Sea-floor character and sedimentary processes of Block Island Sound, offshore Rhode Island: Open-File Report 2012-1005, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: DVD-ROM
    McMullen, K.Y., Poppe, L.J., Ackerman, S.D., Blackwood, D.S., Lewit, P.G., and Parker, C.E., 2013, Sea-floor geology in northeastern Block Island Sound, Rhode Island: Open-File Report 2013-1003, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: DVD-ROM
    McMullen, K.Y., Poppe, L.J., Ackerman, S.D., Blackwood, D.S., Glomb, K.A., and Wood, D.A., 2014, Sea-floor geology in northwestern Block Island Sound, Rhode Island: Open-File Report 2014-1018, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: DVD-ROM
    McMullen, K.Y., Poppe, L.J., Danforth, W.W., Blackwood, D.S., Clos, A.R., and Parker, C.E., 2014, Sea-floor morphology and sedimentary environments of western Block Island Sound, northeast of Gardiners Island, New York: Open-File Report 2014-1160, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: DVD-ROM
    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, Reston, VA.

    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 for the sediment samples, photography, sidescan-sonar, and bathymetry data, which the sedimentary environments were based on, was by differential GPS.

  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 of sedimentary environments was completed at map scales less than 1:10,000, and is not intended for use with smaller map scales. 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)

    Katherine McMullen
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Field and Laboratory Technician
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2277 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    kmcmullen@usgs.gov

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

    Downloadable Data - h12298sedenv.zip

  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 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 or NOAA 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 software capable of reading this format. A free data viewer, ArcGIS Explorer, capable of displaying the data is available from Esri at www.esri.com.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 22-Jan-2015
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
c/o Katherine McMullen
Field and Laboratory Technician
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598

508-548-8700 x2277 (voice)
508-457-2310 (FAX)
kmcmullen@usgs.gov

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

Generated by mp version 2.9.6 on Thu Jan 22 07:17:59 2015