GRABS - Grab Sample Locations & Surficial Sediment Texture collected by the U.S. Geological Survey 1999-2003 offshore of the Grand Strand, South Carolina region (Point)

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
GRABS - Grab Sample Locations & Surficial Sediment Texture collected by the U.S. Geological Survey 1999-2003 offshore of the Grand Strand, South Carolina region (Point)
Abstract:
In 1999, the USGS, in partnership with the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, began a study to investigate processes affecting shoreline change along the northern coast of South Carolina, focusing on the Grand Strand region. Previous work along the U.S. Atlantic coast shows that the structure and composition of older geologic strata located seaward of the coast heavily influences the coastal behavior of areas with limited sediment supply, such as the Grand Strand. By defining this geologic framework and identifying the transport pathways and sinks of sediment, geoscientists are developing conceptual models of the present-day physical processes shaping the South Carolina coast. The primary objectives of this research effort are: 1) to provide a regional synthesis of the shallow geologic framework underlying the coastal upland, shoreface and inner continental shelf, and define its role in coastal evolution and modern beach behavior; 2) to identify and model the physical processes affecting coastal ocean circulation and sediment transport, and to define their role in shaping the modern shoreline; and 3) to identify sediment sources and transport pathways; leading to construction of a regional sediment budget.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    U.S. Geological Survey, 2007, GRABS - Grab Sample Locations & Surficial Sediment Texture collected by the U.S. Geological Survey 1999-2003 offshore of the Grand Strand, South Carolina region (Point): Open-File Report 2005-1346, 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.

    Baldwin, W.E., Denny, J.F., Schwab, W.C., Gayes, P.T., Morton, R.A., and Driscoll, N.W., 2007, Geologic Framework Studies of South Carolina's Long Bay from Little River Inlet to Winyah Bay, 1999-2003; geospatial data release: Open-File Report 2005-1346, 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: -79.132438
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -78.521504
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 33.827336
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 33.300439

  3. What does it look like?

    <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1346/images/grabs.jpg> (JPEG)
    Locations of surficial grab samples collected in 2000 and 2001

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

    Beginning_Date: 1999
    Ending_Date: 2003
    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 Point data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • Entity point (722)

    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 0.000008. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000008. 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?

    grabs
    ESRI point shapefile (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.

    DATE_
    Date of collection recorded as mm/dd/yyyy (Source: Coastal Carolina University)

    Character string

    GEARTYPE
    Equipment Used for Collection (Source: USGS)

    ValueDefinition
    Shipeck GrabGrab sample equipment

    AGENCY
    Collection Agency (Source: USGS)

    ValueDefinition
    Coastal Carolina Univ.Collection Agency

    SAMPLE
    Assigned Sample Number (Source: USGS)

    Character String

    GRAVEL
    Percent Gravel (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-1
    Maximum:66
    Units:percent
    Resolution:1

    SAND
    Percent Sand (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:99.85
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    SILT
    Percent Silt (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.00
    Maximum:5.23
    Units:percent
    Resolution:.01

    CLAY
    Percent Clay (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:8
    Units:percent
    Resolution:1

    MEAN_MM
    Mean Grain Size in millimeters (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.0443
    Maximum:2.0562
    Units:millimeters
    Resolution:.0001

    MEAN_PHI
    Mean Grain Size Phi Units (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-1.0400
    Maximum:4.4961
    Units:phi
    Resolution:.0001

    SORTING
    Sorting of Sediment (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.39
    Maximum:2.94
    Units:phi
    Resolution:.01

    SKEWNESS
    Skewness of sample (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-3
    Maximum:5
    Units:integer count
    Resolution:1

    KURTOSIS
    Kurtosis (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-1
    Maximum:186
    Units:phi
    Resolution:1

    LONGITUDE
    Longitude coordinate of sample location (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-79.132438
    Maximum:-78.521504
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:.000001

    LATITUDE
    Latitude coordinate of sample location (Source: USGS)

    Range of values
    Minimum:33.300439
    Maximum:33.827336
    Units:decimal degrees
    Resolution:.000001

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?

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

    508-548-8700 x2311 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    jdenny@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

This data set contains locations and textural information of surface grab samples collected within the 1999 - 2003 survey area, offshore of the Grand Strand, SC.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

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

    Date: 2000 (process 1 of 2)
    The grab samples were acquired with a shipek grab sampler by Coastal Carolina University. Surface sediments were sub sampled for textural analysis. Textural analyses were conducted by Coastal Carolina University and the USGS.

    Person who carried out this activity:

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

    508-548-8700 x2311 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    jdenny@usgs.gov

    Date: 2002 (process 2 of 2)
    Sample locations and textural information were used to generate a point shapefile.

    Person who carried out this activity:

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

    508-548-8700 x2311 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    jdenny@usgs.gov

    Data sources produced in this process:
    • grabs.dbf
    • grabs.shp
    • grabs.shx

  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?

    The textural analyses were conducted by Coastal Carolina University and the USGS. Consistent and standard methodologies were used.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    DGPS is assumed to be accurate within 1-2 meters. Standard GPS is assumed accurate within 5-10 meters. Unless noted, all GPS/DGPS data is referenced to WGS84 (NAD83). Accuracy of sample locations is assumed to be comparable to DGPS accuracy (+ 2 m).

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

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

    All of the surface grab samples collected were processed for textural analysis. All textural information is included.

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

    No additional checks for topologic consistency were conducted.

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)

    U.S. Geological Survey
    c/o Jane Denny
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2311 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)

  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: 23-Jan-2007
Metadata author:
Jane Denny
U.S. Geological Survey
Geologist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA

508-548-8700 x2311 (voice)
508-457-2310 (FAX)
jdenny@usgs.gov

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

Generated by mp version 2.9.2 on Tue Mar 06 15:04:52 2007