BATHYC.SHP - Gulf of Mexico Bathymetry Contours

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title: BATHYC.SHP - Gulf of Mexico Bathymetry Contours
Abstract:
This GIS overlay is a component of the U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Science Center's, Gulf of Mexico GIS database. The Gulf of Mexico GIS database is intended to organize and display USGS held data and provide on-line (WWW) access to the data and/or metadata.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Paskevich, Valerie, 19981007, BATHYC.SHP - Gulf of Mexico Bathymetry Contours: Open-File Report 2005-1071, 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.

    D.C., Twichell, V.A., Cross, Paskevich, V.F., Hutchinson, D.R., Winters, W.J., and Hart, P.E., 2005, GIS of selected geophysical and core data in the northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope collected by the U.S. Geological Survey: Open-File Report 2005-1071, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole 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: -97.4162
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -79.5000
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 29.8168
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 22.5

  3. What does it look like?

    <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1071/data/background/bathy_contours/bathyc.gif> (GIF)
    Image showing the extent and coverage of the data layer.

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

    Calendar_Date: 01-Dec-1998
    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):

      • Complete chain (2)

    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 .005. Longitudes are given to the nearest .005. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1927.
      The ellipsoid used is Clarke 1866.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378206.4.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/294.98.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    bathyc.dbf
    Shapefile Attribute Table (Source: None)

    FID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    FNODE_
    From-node identifier of linear feature (Source: Software computed)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:7

    TNODE_
    To-node identifier of linear feature (Source: Software computed)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:9

    LPOLY_
    Internal number of polygon to left of arc. LPOLY_ is an ArcInfo internal control parameter and has no applicable relevance to the use of the data. (Source: Software computed)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:0

    RPOLY_
    Internal number of polygon to right of arc. RPOLY_ is an ArcInfo internal control parameter and has no applicable relevance to the use of the data. (Source: Software computed)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:0

    LENGTH
    Length of line (Source: Software computed)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.117
    Maximum:23.407

    BATHYC_
    Value from ARC assigned BATHYC# from bathyc.dbf table. Generally has no meaning in ArcView shapefile. (Source: User Defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:23

    BATHYC_ID
    Value from ARC assigned BATHYC-ID from bathyc.dbf table. Generally has no meaning in ArcView shapefile. (Source: User Defined)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:18

    DEPTH
    Depth contour value, in meters (Source: User Defined)

    Frequency of measurement: Irregular

    Range of values
    Minimum:200
    Maximum:3000
    Units:meters
    Resolution:100

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?

    Kim Klitgord did the digitizing of these contours in 1982.

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    U.S. Geological Survey
    c/o Valerie Paskevich
    Information Specialist / GIS Coordinator
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    (508) 548-8700 x2281 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    vpaskevich@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

This shapefile data layer is intended as an illustrative overlay to the Gulf of Mexico. It contains the bathymetric contour lines, in meters, (200, 1000, 2000 and 300) for the Gulf of Mexico area in a polyline format.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    OFR75-140 (source 1 of 2)
    F.S. Sorensen, (comp.), Snodgrass(comp.), L.W., Rebman(comp.), J.H., Murchison(comp.), R.R., Jones(comp.), C.R., and Martin(comp.), Ray G. , 19751230, Bathymetric Map of Gulf of Mexico Region: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 75-140, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 2500000
    Source_Contribution:
    Kim Klitgord did the digitizing of the map. The ASCII data set was later converted to the MAPGEN coast format.

    caribmap (source 2 of 2)
    Case(comp.), J.E., and Holcombe(comp.), T.L., 19801230, Geologic-Tectonic Map of the Caribbean Region: U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 2500000
    Source_Contribution:
    Kim Klitgord did the digitizing of the map. The ASCII data set was later converted to the MAPGEN coast format.

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

    Date: 01-Dec-1998 (process 1 of 5)
    The digitized Gulf of Mexico bathymetry contour vector information has been stored in a format for use with the U.S. Geological Survey's MAPGEN program. The vector latitude/longitude coordinates were extracted from the MAPGEN file with the area coordinates of -99.5, 31.1 and -79.5, 22.5 using program getcoast.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Valerie Paskevich
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Information Specialist / GIS Coordinator
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    USA

    (508) 548-8700 x2281 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    vpaskevich@usgs.gov

    Data sources used in this process:
    • MAPGEN coast files

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • bathy.txt

    Date: 06-Oct-1998 (process 2 of 5)
    The ASCII vector file generated from the MAPGEN coast files was imported to PCI Remote Sensing Software's Imageworks program. The vector line was checked for digitizing errors using PCI's Imageworks program. Some editing was done to delete spurious nodes and correct for overshoots and undershoots in the line segments. The modified segment was saved and exported in the ARC export format as bathyc.e00 with the nodes recorded as latitude/longitude as signed decimal degrees.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Valerie Paskevich
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Information Specialist / GIS Coordinator
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    USA

    (508) 548-8700 x2281 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    vpaskevich@usgs.gov

    Data sources used in this process:
    • bathyc.txt

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • eez.e00

    Date: 01-Dec-1998 (process 3 of 5)
    The ARC export file, bathyc.e00, was imported to ARC as coverage bathyc. The arc information was verified. No problems were identified.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Valerie Paskevich
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Information Specialist / GIS Coordinator
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    USA

    (508) 548-8700 x2281 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    vpaskevich@usgs.gov

    Data sources used in this process:
    • bathyc.e00

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • bathyc.aat

    Date: 01-Dec-1998 (process 4 of 5)
    The ARC polygon coverage, bathyc.aat, was exported as an ArcView shapefile, bathyc.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Valerie Paskevich
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Information Specialist / GIS Coordinator
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    USA

    (508) 548-8700 x2281 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    vpaskevich@usgs.gov

    Data sources used in this process:
    • bathyc.aat

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • bathyc.dbf
    • bathyc.shp
    • bathyc.shx

    Date: 01-Dec-1998 (process 5 of 5)
    The ArcView shapefile, bathyc, was brought into ArcView for final viewing and verification. No further editing or changes were needed to the shape file.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Valerie Paskevich
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Information Specialist / GIS Coordinator
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    USA

    (508) 548-8700 x2281 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    vpaskevich@usgs.gov

    Data sources used in this process:
    • bathyc.dbf
    • bathyc.shp
    • bathyc.shx

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • bathyc.dbf
    • bathyc.shp
    • bathyc.shx

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

    Paskevich, Valerie, 1996, Digital mosaics of the GLORIA sidescan sonar data of the Gulf of Mexico: Open-File Report 96-657, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

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?

    unknown

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

    unknown

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

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

    No additional checks for topological consistency were performed on the 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:
Bathymetry is not to be used for navigational purposes.

These data are NOT suitable to be used for any navigational or legal purpose. The contour line data are in most cases manually digitized from a variety of published or unpublished maps. These data are accessible for making illustrations only. There is NO ASSURANCE of their accuracy, completeness, or precision.

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)

    U.S. Geological Survey
    c/o Valerie Paskevich
    Information Specialist / GIS Coordinator
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    (508) 548-8700 x2281 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    vpaskevich@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 this derived data set and it's lineage dataset have been used by the U.S. Geological Survey (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. These data are NOT suitable to be used for any navigational or legal purpose. The contour line data are in most cases manually digitized from a variety of published or unpublished maps. There is NO ASSURANCE of their accuracy, completeness, or precision.

  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.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 18-May-2000
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
c/o Valerie Paskevich
Information Specialist / GIS Coordinator
384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA

(508) 548-8700 x2281 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
vpaskevich@usgs.gov

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

Generated by mp version 2.8.6 on Fri Jan 20 11:44:15 2006