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RAFA04011_SEDDATA.SHP: Surficial Sediment Data Collected during USGS Cruise R/V RAFAEL 04011 off of Eastern Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Metadata also available as: OUTLINE | TEXT

Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
RAFA04011_SEDDATA.SHP: Surficial Sediment Data Collected during USGS Cruise R/V RAFAEL 04011 off of Eastern Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Abstract:
This data set includes the locations, identifiers, grain-size data and(or) textural descriptions of surficial sediments collected at 89 stations on topographic and backscatter data of the sea floor offshore east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The sediments were collected with a modified Van Veen grab (small SEABOSS) during USGS survey 04011, conducted May 25- June 4, 2004.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Poppe, L.J., 2005, RAFA04011_SEDDATA.SHP: Surficial Sediment Data Collected during USGS Cruise R/V RAFAEL 04011 off of Eastern Cape Cod, Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2005-1048, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Poppe, L.J., Paskevich, V.F., Butman, B., Ackerman, S.D., Danforth, W.W., Foster, D.S., and Blackwood, D.S., 2005, Geological Interpretation of Bathymetric and Backscatter Imagery of the Sea Floor off Eastern Cape Cod, Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2005-1048, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.125650
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -69.848580
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.089150
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.623450

  3. What does it look like?

    <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1048/data/seddata/rafa04011_seddata-thumb.gif> (GIF)
    Thumbnail image showing the location and extent of sediment data collected during R/V RAFAEL cruise 04011 off of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
    <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1048/data/seddata/rafa04011_seddata.gif> (GIF)
    Image showing the location and extent of sediment data collected during R/V RAFAEL cruise 04011 off of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

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

    Beginning_Date: 25-May-2004
    Ending_Date: 04-Jun-2004
    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):

      • Entity point (88)

    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 0.00001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.00001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378206.400000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/294.978698.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    rafa04011_seddata
    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.

    LABNO
    USGS unique identifier consisting of two characters and three numerics (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    String of width 5

    STATIONID
    Sample name assigned in the field (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    String of width 5

    PROJECTID
    Project under which the samples were taken (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    CRUISEID
    Name or number of cruise during which the samples were collected (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    PRINCIPAL
    Name (initial and last name ) of the principal investigator (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    MONTH
    Calendar month sample was analyzed (Source: USGS)

    DAY
    Day sample was analyzed (Source: USGS)

    YEAR
    Year sample was analyzed (Source: USGS)

    LATITUDE
    Latitude coordinate of sample location (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:41.62345
    Maximum:42.08915
    Units:Decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.00001

    LONGITUDE
    Longitude coordinate of sample location (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-70.12565
    Maximum:-69.84858
    Units:Decimal degrees
    Resolution:0.00001

    DEVICE
    Device used to collect sample (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    SMALL SEABOSS

    AREA
    General geographic area (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    CAPE COD

    DEPTH_M
    Depth or sounding in meters (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:18.2
    Maximum:99.9
    Units:meters
    Resolution:0.1

    T_DEPTH
    Top depth of the sample below sediment-water interface in centimeters (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    ValueDefinition
    0Depth in cm

    B_DEPTH
    Bottom depth of the sample below sediment-water interface in centimeters (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    ValueDefinition
    2Depth in sediment in cm

    WEIGHT
    Weight of dry sample in grams (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:14.3623
    Maximum:513.73
    Units:grams
    Resolution:0.0001

    ZGRAVEL
    Gravel content in percent dry weight (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:65.59
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    ZSAND
    Sand content in percent dry weight (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:27.88
    Maximum:99.98
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    ZSILT
    Silt content in percent dry weight (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:29.14
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    ZCLAY
    Clay content in percent dry weight (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:42.98
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    SEDCLASS
    Sediment description based on a rigorous definition (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    See Shepard (1954)

    MEDIAN
    Middle point in the grain-size distribution in phi units (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-3.41
    Maximum:7.58
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.01

    MEAN
    Average value in the grain-size distribution in phi units (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-2.8
    Maximum:6.64
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.01

    STDDEV
    Standard deviation of the grain size distribution (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.48
    Maximum:3.09
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.01

    SKEWNESS
    Deviation from symmetrical form of the grain-size distribution (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.61
    Maximum:2.86
    Resolution:0.01

    KURTOSIS
    Degree of curvature near the mode of the grain-size distribution (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-1.49
    Maximum:74.84
    Resolution:0.01

    MODE_1_CLA
    First mode in phi units (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-5.5
    Maximum:9.5
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.5

    MODE_1_FRE
    Frequency percent of the first mode (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:17.38
    Maximum:75.19
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    MODE_2_CLA
    Second mode in phi units (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-4.5
    Maximum:7.5
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.5

    MODE_2_FRE
    Frequency percent of the second mode (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-4.5
    Maximum:7.5
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.5

    MODE_3_CLA
    Third mode in phi units (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:2.5
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.5

    MODE_3_FRE
    Frequency percent of the third mode (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:2.5
    Units:phi
    Resolution:0.5

    NMODES
    Number of modes (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:3
    Units:modes
    Resolution:1

    PHI_11
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the 11 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:99.93
    Maximum:100.02
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    PHI_10
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the 10 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:90.08
    Maximum:100.02
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    PHI_9
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the 9 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:72.69
    Maximum:100.02
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    PHI_8
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the 8 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:57.02
    Maximum:100.02
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    PHI_7
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the 7 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:40.47
    Maximum:100.02
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    PHI_6
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the 6 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:30.27
    Maximum:100.02
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    PHI_5
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the 5 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:28.14
    Maximum:100.02
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    PHI_4
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the 4 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:27.88
    Maximum:100.02
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    PHI_3
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the 3 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:22.87
    Maximum:100.0
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    PHI_2
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the 2 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:11.77
    Maximum:99.85
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    PHI_1
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the 1 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.99
    Maximum:97.2
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    PHI_0
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the 0 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.07
    Maximum:81.54
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    PHIM1
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the -1 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:65.59
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    PHIM2
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the -2 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:54.38
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    PHIM3
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the -3 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:52.22
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    PHIM4
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the -4 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:46.81
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

    PHIM5
    Cumulative weight percent of the sample in the -5 phi fraction (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:33.27
    Units:percent
    Resolution:0.01

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?

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

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

Why was the data set created?

This data set was produced to ground-truth (verify) topography and backscatter intensity of the sea floor offshore of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. These acoustic data were collected with a multibeam sea floor mapping system during USGS survey 98015, conducted November 9 - 25, 1998.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    (source 1 of 1)

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

    (process 1 of 1)
    Samples were collected by grab sampler and analyzed in the laboratory. Coarse fraction determined by sieve; fine fraction determined by Coulter Counter. Visual descriptions were used for rocky/bouldery stations where samples could not be collected. The shapefile was created in Arc View from the ASCII comma-delimited files created by the laboratories software. See Poppe and Polloni (2000) for analytical specifics.

    Person who carried out this activity:

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

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

    Data sources used in this process:
    • rafa04011_seddata.txt

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • rafa04011_seddata.shp

  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 checked in a consistent manner

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    Navigation was by differential GPS; positional accuracy to less than 10 m

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

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

    All available grain-size data collected during the RV Rafael cruise 04011 are included in this data set.

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

    No additional checks 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:
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 3)

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

    (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?

    Although all data have been used by the 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.

    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 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.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 2 of 3)

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

    (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?

    Although all data have been used by the 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.

    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?

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 3 of 3)

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

    (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?

    Although all data have been used by the 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.

    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?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 07-Feb-2007
Metadata author:
L.J. Poppe
U.S. Geological Survey
Geologist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA

(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 2.8.18 on Wed Mar 22 18:08:19 2006