MD_CORES.SHP - MARION DUFRESNE cruise 02018 cores collected in the Gulf of Mexico

Metadata also available as - [Outline] - [Parseable text]

Frequently-anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
MD_CORES.SHP - MARION DUFRESNE cruise 02018 cores collected in the Gulf of Mexico
Abstract:
Since 1982 the, U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) has collected a large amount of surficial and shallow subsurface geologic information in the deep parts of the Gulf of Mexico. These data include digital sidescan sonar imagery, digital seismic-reflection data, and descriptions and analyses of piston and gravity cores. The data were collected during several different projects that addressed surficial and shallow subsurface geologic processes. Some of these data sets have already been published, but the growing interest in the occurrence and distribution of gas hydrates in the Gulf of Mexico warrants integrating these existing data and associated interpretations into a GIS to provide regional background information for ongoing and future gas hydrate research.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    USGS/WHSC, Unpublished Material, MD_CORES.SHP - MARION DUFRESNE cruise 02018 cores collected in the Gulf of Mexico: Open-File Report 2005-1071, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and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.

    Twichell, D.C., Cross, V.A., 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:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -92.255650
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -89.020070
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 28.243610
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 27.183400

  3. What does it look like?

    <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1071/data/cores/md/md_cores-thumb.gif> (GIF)
    Thumbnail image showing the extent and coverage of the data layer.
    <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1071/data/cores/md/md_cores.gif> (GIF)
    Image showing the extent and coverage of the data layer.

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

    Beginning_Date: 01-Jul-2002
    Ending_Date: 10-Jul-2002
    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 (32)

    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?

    md_cores
    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.

    CORE_ID
    Unique identifier assigned to core (Source: USGS)

    Character string

    LATITUDE
    Latitude of core location in decimal degrees (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:27.18340
    Maximum:28.24361
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:.00001

    LONGITUDE
    Longitude in decimal degrees of core location (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-92.25565
    Maximum:-89.02007
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:.00001

    SITE_NAME
    Name of general location of core site (Source: USGS)

    Character string describing the core site

    WATER_DEPT
    Water depth, in meters, of the location where the core was collected. (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:579
    Maximum:2259
    Units:meters
    Resolution:1

    CORE_LENGT
    Length of core in meters (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.10
    Maximum:37.84
    Units:meters
    Resolution:.01

    CORER
    Description of the type of coring system used. (Source: USGS)

    ValueDefinition
    Piston core 
    Gravity core 
    Gravity/flux coreGravity/flux corer which was a gravity corer with heat flow probes on it
    Giant box core 

    Character string defining the type of coring system used.

    DESCRIPTIO
    indicates if core description exists (Source: USGS)

    ValueDefinition
    yesCores were opened and described.
    noCores were not opened so they have no descriptions.
    no-bentcore bent and not opened
    no-no recovno core recovered

    Character string.

    HOTLINK
    environment label and path to link core image (Source: USGS)

    Character string.


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?

    VeeAnn A. Cross
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Marine Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    (508) 548-8700 x2251 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    vatnipp@usgs.gov


Why was the data set created?

This shapefile shows the locations of cores collected aboard the MARION DUFRESNE in 2002 and were split and visually described while at sea. Further information on this cruise and a preliminary data analysis is provided in Winters and others (2004).


How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    (source 1 of 1)
    staff, USGS, Unpublished Material, Cruise Summary R/V Marion Dufresne, Northern Gulf of Mexico, July 1-18, 2002.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: Microsoft Excel spread sheet

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

    (process 1 of 2)
    Core locations were entered into an excel spreadsheet while in the field. This spreadsheet was exported as a comma delimited text file and imported to ArcView 3.3, created an event theme, and then converted that to a shapefile. ArcToolbox was then used to define the projection.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    VeeAnn Cross
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Marine Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x 2251 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    vatnipp@usgs.gov

    Data sources produced in this process:
    • md_cores.shp

    (process 2 of 2)
    The attributes of the shapefile were edited and a field labeled hotlink was added which includes the path to descriptions of the cores.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    David Twichell
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Oceanographer
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x 2266 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    dtwichell@usgs.gov

    Data sources used in this process:
    • md_cores.shp

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • md_cores.shp

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

    Winters, W.J., Lorenson, T.D., and Paull, C.K., 2004, Initial report of the IMAGES VIII/PAGE 127 gas hydrate and paleoclimate cruise on the RV Marion Dufresne in the Gulf of Mexico, 2-18 July, 2002: Open-File Report 2004-1358, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:


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?

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

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

    Core sample information includes only those cores that were described during the MARION DUFRESNE cruise.

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

    No additional checks for topological consistency were performed on this data set.


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 1)

    Deborah Hutchinson
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x 2263 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    dhutchinson@usgs.gov

    Hours_of_Service: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, Eastern Standard Time
  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 dataset has been used by the U.S. Geological Survey, 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. Reference made to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof

  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 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: 31-Oct-2005
Last Reviewed: 17-Feb-2004
Metadata author:
David Twichell
U.S. Geological Survey
Oceanographer
384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA

(508) 548-8700 x2266 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
dtwichell@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 Mon Dec 12 12:48:10 2005