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CC_ENVIRON.SHP: Sedimentary Environments of the Sea Floor off Eastern Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Metadata also available as: OUTLINE | TEXT

Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
CC_ENVIRON.SHP: Sedimentary Environments of the Sea Floor off Eastern Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Abstract:
This data set includes the sedimentary environments for the sea floor offshore of northern and eastern Cape Cod, Massachusetts. This interpretation is based on data collected with a multibeam sea floor mapping system during USGS survey 98015, conducted November 9 - 25, 1998 and on data collected with a bottom sampling and photographic system during USGS survey 04011, conducted during May and June, 2004.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    U.S. Geological Survey, 2006, CC_ENVIRON.SHP: Sedimentary Environments 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:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Poppe, L.J., Paskevich, P.V., Butman, B., Ackerman, S.D., Danforth, W.W., Foster, D.S., and Blackwood, D.S., 2006, 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: -70.301563
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -69.930637
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.112872
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.966725

  3. What does it look like?

    <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1048/data/geology/environ/cc_environ-thumb.gif> (GIF)
    Thumbnail image showing the extent and coverage of the seafloor environment interpretation off of Eastern Cape Cod, MA
    <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1048/data/geology/environ/cc_environ.gif> (GIF)
    Image map showing the extent and coverage of the seafloor environment interpretation off of Eastern Cape Cod, MA

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

    Calendar_Date: 2004
    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 (17)

    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 0.000000. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000000. 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?

    cc_environ

    FID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    AREA
    Area of polygon in native units (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:.00000
    Maximum:0.00511
    Units:Decimal Degrees

    PERIMETER
    Distance around polygon in native units (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00298
    Maximum:1.29729
    Units:Decimal Degrees

    SEDENVIRON
    Sedimentary processes characterizing benthic environment (Source: USGS)

    ValueDefinition
    Erosion or Nondeposition 
    Coarse Bedload Transport 
    Sorting or Reworking 
    Deposition 

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

Why was the data set created?

To release a digital map derived from multibeam observations, samples, and bottom photographs that shows the distribution of sea floor sedimentary environments off northern and northeastern Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

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, multibeam imagery; DVD-ROM, bottom photos; CD-ROM, texture data
    Source_Contribution:
    Multibeam imagery produced from the bathymetric data acquired with a Simrad EM 1000 echosounder during USGS cruise 98015 aboard the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Frederick G. Creed; and the bottom photos and sediment analyses from USGS cruise 04011 aboard the R/V Rafael.

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

    Date: 2004 (process 1 of 5)
    The distribution of sedimentary environments off northern and northeastern Cape Cod were interpreted from the backscatter mosaics. Lines and polygons were drawn in ArcView to define the various environments.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    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

    Data sources used in this process:
    • capenorthpseudo_geo4m_wgs84.tif
    • capenorthmos_geo4m_wgs84.tif
    • rafa04011_botphotos.shp
    • rafa04011_seddata.shp

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • capenorth_env.dbf
    • capenorth_env.shp
    • capenorth_env.shx

    Date: 2004 (process 2 of 5)
    The distribution of sedimentary environments off eastern Cape Cod were interpreted from the backscatter mosaics. Lines and polygons were drawn in ArcView to define the various environments.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    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

    Data sources used in this process:
    • capesouthpseudo_geo4m_wgs84.tif
    • capesouthmos_geo4m_wgs84.tif
    • rafa04011_botphotos.shp
    • rafa04011_seddata.shp

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • capesouth_env.dbf
    • capesouth_env.shp
    • capesouth_env.shx

    Date: 2005 (process 3 of 5)
    The resultant line shapefile was converted into a polygon shapefile using ArcInfo.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Valerie F. Paskevich
    U.S. Geological Survey
    GIS Coordinator
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

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

    Data sources used in this process:
    • capenorth_env.shp
    • capesouth_env.shp

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • capenorth_env.shp
    • capesouth_env.shp

    Date: 2005 (process 4 of 5)
    The sedenviron field was added to the shapefiles table and each polygons was subsequently assigned a sedimentary environment in ArcView.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    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

    Data sources used in this process:
    • capenorth_env.shp
    • capesouth_env.shp

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • capenorth_env.shp
    • capesouth_env.shp

    Date: 19-Mar-2006 (process 5 of 5)
    The north and south environment interpretations were combined to create a single environment interpretation of the multibeam backscatter for USGS cruise 98015.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Valerie Paskevich
    U.S. Geological Survey
    GIS Coordinator
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

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

    Data sources used in this process:
    • capenorth_env.shp
    • capesouth_env.shp

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • cc_environ.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?

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    Navigation was by differential GPS; positional accuracy and therefore accuracy of the interpretations are to less than 10 m

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

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

    Interpretations of sedimentary environments are based on tonal changes in the backscatter data and all available textural data and bottom photography.

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

    All polygons were constructed in a consistent manner. 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 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)

    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?

  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: 19-Mar-2006
Metadata author:
Lawrence J. Poppe
U.S. Geological Survey
Geologist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA

(508) 548-8700 x2281 (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 17:29:36 2006