RAF06005_SEDDATA.SHP: Surficial Sediment Data Collected During U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cruise R/V RAFAEL 06005 in Great Round Shoal Channel, Offshore Massachusetts

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Frequently-anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
RAF06005_SEDDATA.SHP: Surficial Sediment Data Collected During U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cruise R/V RAFAEL 06005 in Great Round Shoal Channel, Offshore Massachusetts
Abstract:
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (MA CZM), is producing detailed geologic maps of the coastal sea floor. Imagery, originally collected by NOAA for charting purposes, provide a fundamental framework for research and management activities along this part of the Massachusetts coastline, show the composition and terrain of the seabed, and provide information on sediment transport and benthic habitat. Interpretive data layers were derived from multibeam echo-sounder and sidescan sonar data collected in Great Round Shoal Channel, a passage through the shoals at the eastern entrance to Nantucket Sound, off Cape Cod, Massachusetts. In June 2006, bottom photographs and surficial sediment data were acquired as part of a ground-truth reconaissance survey.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Poppe, L.J., 2007, RAF06005_SEDDATA.SHP: Surficial Sediment Data Collected During U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cruise R/V RAFAEL 06005 in Great Round Shoal Channel, Offshore Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2007-1138, 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., Ackerman, S.D., Foster, D.S., Blackwood, D.S., Williams, S.J., Moser, M.S., Stewart, H.F., and Glomb, K.A., 2007, Sea-Floor Character and Sedimentary Processes of Great Round Shoal Channel, Offshore Massachusetts: Open-File Report 2007-1138, 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: -70.018330
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -69.835000
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.448000
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.402500

  3. What does it look like?

    <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1138/data/sediment/raf06005_seddata.gif> (GIF)
    Thumbnail image showing the location and extent of sediment data collected during R/V RAFAEL cruise 06005 in Great Round Shoal Channel, offshore Massachusetts.

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

    Calendar_Date: 26-Jun-2006
    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 0.000001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS84.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    raf06005_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
    Unique identifier consisting of two characters and three numerics assigned during lab analysis (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Character String of width 5

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

    Character String of width 5

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

    GREAT ROUND SHOAL CHANNEL

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

    RAFAEL06005

    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: 41.402500
    Maximum: 41.448000
    Units: Decimal degrees
    Resolution: 0.0000001

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

    Range of values
    Minimum: -70.018330
    Maximum: -69.835000
    Units: Decimal degrees
    Resolution: 0.000001

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

    SMALL SEABOSS GRAB

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

    QUICKS HOLE

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

    Range of values
    Minimum: 9.1
    Maximum: 34.5
    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)

    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 1
    Units: centimeters
    Resolution: 1

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

    Value Definition
    2 Depth in sediment in cm

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

    Range of values
    Minimum: 36.4805
    Maximum: 183.9
    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: 43.31
    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: 56.47
    Maximum: 99.76
    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: 0.04
    Maximum: 1.19
    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: 0.01
    Maximum: 0.29
    Units: percent
    Resolution: 0.01

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

    Value Definition
    SAND Sediment whose main phase is <2 mm, but >0.062 mm
    SILTY SAND Sediment whose main phase is sand, but with significan silt
    GRAVEL Sediment whose main phase (usually >50%) is >2 mm
    GRAVELLY SAND Sediment whose main phase (usually <50%) is >2 mm, but with significant sand
    SAND SILT CLAY Sediment with sand, silt, and clay concentrations all >20%
    CLAYEY SILT Sediment whose main phase is silt (usually >50%), but with significant clay

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

    Range of values
    Minimum: -0.15
    Maximum: 2.55
    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: -1.04
    Maximum: 2.62
    Units: phi
    Resolution: 0.01

    STDEV
    Standard Deviation of the grain-size distribution in phi units (Source: USGS East Coast Sediment Texture Database data dictionary)

    Range of values
    Minimum: 0.55
    Maximum: 2.73
    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: -0.62
    Maximum: 3.84
    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: -1.55
    Maximum: 81.89
    Resolution: 0.01

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

    Value Definition
    100 percent

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

    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 0.11
    Units: percent
    Resolution: 0.01

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

    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 0.14
    Units: percent
    Resolution: 0.01

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

    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 0.19
    Units: percent
    Resolution: 0.01

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

    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 0.20
    Units: percent
    Resolution: 0.01

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

    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 0.25
    Units: percent
    Resolution: 0.01

    PHI_5
    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: 0.55
    Units: percent
    Resolution: 0.01

    PHI_4
    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: 9.54
    Units: percent
    Resolution: 0.01

    PHI_3
    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: 86.00
    Units: percent
    Resolution: 0.01

    PHI_2
    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: 68.35
    Units: percent
    Resolution: 0.01

    PHI_1
    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: 53.71
    Units: percent
    Resolution: 0.01

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

    Range of values
    Minimum: 0
    Maximum: 26.28
    Units: percent
    Resolution: 0.01

    PHIM1
    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: 8.57
    Units: percent
    Resolution: 0.01

    PHIM2
    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: 6.68
    Units: percent
    Resolution: 0.01

    PHIM3
    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: 12.85
    Units: percent
    Resolution: 0.01

    PHIM4
    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: 26.66
    Units: percent
    Resolution: 0.01

    PHIM5
    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: 0
    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 includes the locations, identifiers, grain-size data and(or) textural descriptions of surficial sediments collected at 32 stations on topographic and backscatter data of the sea floor in Great Round Shoal Channel, offshore Massachusetts. The sediments were collected with a modified Van Veen grab (small SEABOSS) during USGS survey 06005, conducted June 26, 2006. This data set was acquired to ground-truth (verify) topography and backscatter intensity of the sea floor in Great Round Shoal Channel. These acoustic data were collected with multibeam sea floor mapping systems during NOAA survey H11079, conducted during 2004.


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)
    Twenty-six 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 (6) where samples could not be collected. The shapefile was created in Arc View from the ASCII comma-delimited files created by the laboratory's software. See Poppe, Williams, and Paskevich (2005) 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:
    • raf06005_seddata.txt

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • raf06005_seddata.shp
    • raf06005_seddata.shx
    • raf06005_seddata.dbf

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

    Poppe, L.J., Williams, S.J., and Paskevich, V.F., 2005, USGS East-Coast Sediment Analysis: Procedures, Database, and GIS Data: Open-File Report 2005-1001, 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?

    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 06005 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 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.

    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)

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

    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 Microsoft Excel spreadsheet format. The user must have software capable of reading or importing the Excel-formatted data file.


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

    U.S. Geological Survey
    c/o Larry Poppe
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598

    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 as a generic ASCII formatted data file. The user must have a software program capable of reading the comma-delimited data file.


Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 25-Jul-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 2.8.6 on Wed Jul 25 07:17:12 2007