H11043_SSSGEO1M_WGS84.TIF: Enhanced Sidescan-Sonar Image of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Survey H11043 off Branford, Connecticut (Geographic)

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Frequently-anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
H11043_SSSGEO1M_WGS84.TIF: Enhanced Sidescan-Sonar Image of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Survey H11043 off Branford, Connecticut (Geographic)
Abstract:
The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, has produced detailed geologic maps of the sea floor in Long Island Sound. These studies have built upon cooperative research with the State of Connecticut that was initiated in 1982. This research program is currently studying sea-floor sediment distribution, processes that control sediment distribution, nearshore environmental concerns, and the relation of benthic community structures to the sea-floor geology.

Detailed maps of the sea floor are needed to aid in interpretation of the sea-floor geology. Therefore, sidescan-sonar data have been collected in areas of interest. Although these mosaics from NOAA surveys H11043, H11044, and H11045 in north-central Long Island Sound have been interpreted in prior reports, we have enhanced these three mosaics in order to minimize tonal artifacts created by the mismatching of backscatter in adjacent track lines. The enhanced mosaics provide a clearer image of the sea-floor geology.

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    U.S. Geological Survey, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2008, H11043_SSSGEO1M_WGS84.TIF: Enhanced Sidescan-Sonar Image of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Survey H11043 off Branford, Connecticut (Geographic): Open-File Report 2008-1174, 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.

    McMullen, K.Y., Poppe, L.J., Schattgen, P.T., and Doran, E.F., 2008, Enhanced Sidescan-Sonar Imagery, North-Central Long Island Sound: Open-File Report 2008-1174, 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: -72.869912
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -72.776520
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.237205
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.149660

  3. What does it look like?

    <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1174/data/sidescan/h11043/h11043_sssgeo1m_wgs84.gif> (GIF)
    Overview of the enhanced digital sidescan-sonar mosaic of NOAA survey H11043 in geographic

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

    Beginning_Date: 11-Apr-2001
    Ending_Date: 12-Nov-2001
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: remote-sensing image

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Raster data set. It contains the following raster data types:

      • Dimensions 9524 x 8076 x 1, type Pixel

    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 0.000012. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000009. 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?


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?

    Katherine McMullen
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Sediment Lab Technician
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    USA

    (508) 548-8700 x2277 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    kmcmullen@usgs.gov


Why was the data set created?

This GIS overlay is a component of the H11043 survey GIS database in north-central Long Island Sound off Branford, Connecticut. This image represents the completed enhanced sidescan-sonar mosaic for the study area. Light tones represent relatively harder returns, higher backscatter, and generally coarser sediments. Dark tones represent relatively softer returns, lower backscatter, and generally finer grained sediments. This mosaic covers 41.1 square km of the sea floor.


How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    h11043_geo_wgs84_enhan.tif (source 1 of 1)
    Poppe, L.J., Paskevich, V.F., Moser, M.S., DiGiacomo-Cohen, M.L., and Christman, E.B., 2004, Sidescan Sonar Imagery and Surficial Geologic Interpretation of the Sea Floor off Branford, Connecticut: Open-File Report 2004-1003, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: DVD-ROM
    Source_Contribution:
    Original sidescan-sonar image of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) survey H11043.

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

    Date: 2008 (process 1 of 2)
    Tonal artifacts were minimized in a previously published sidescan-sonar mosaic. The tonal range of individual sonar lines was adjusted by tracing the perimeter of the line with the Polygon Lasso Tool and then matching tones to the adjacent lines with the shadow, midtone, and highlight input sliders in the Levels dialog box of Adobe Photoshop CS2. The Spot Healing Brush Tool was used in several places to eliminate small artifacts within a sonar line.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Katherine McMullen
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Sediment Lab Technician
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    USA

    (508) 548-8700 x2277 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    kmcmullen@usgs.gov

    Data sources used in this process:
    • h11043_geo_wgs84_enhan.tif
    • h11043_geo_wgs84_enhan.tfw

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • h11043_sssgeo1m_wgs84.tif
    • h11043_sssgeo1m_wgs84.tfw

    Date: 2008 (process 2 of 2)
    The enhanced TIFF image was reunited with its world file and converted back to a GeoTIFF with the program GeoTiffExamine.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Katherine McMullen
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Sediment Lab Technician
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    USA

    (508) 540-8700 x2277 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    kmcmullen@usgs.gov

    Data sources used in this process:
    • h11043_sssgeo1m_wgs84.tif
    • h11043_sssgeo1m_wgs84.tfw

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • h11043_sssgeo1m_wgs84.tif

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

    Poppe, L.J., Paskevich, V.F., Moser, M.S., DiGiacomo-Cohen, M.L., and Christman, E.B., 2004, Sidescan Sonar Imagery and Surficial Geologic Interpretation of the Sea Floor off Branford, Connecticut: Open-File Report 2004-1003, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    McMullen, K.Y., Poppe, L.J., Paskevich, V.F., Doran, E.F., Moser, M.S., Christman, E.B., and Beaver, A.L., 2005, Surficial Geologic Interpretation and Sidescan Sonar Imagery of the Sea Floor in West-Central Long Island Sound: Open-File Report 2005-1018, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Beaulieu, E., Poppe, L.J., Paskevich, V.F., Doran, E.F., Chauveau, B.E., Crocker, J.M., Beaver, A.L., and Schattgen, P.T., 2005, Sidescan Sonar Imagery and Surficial Geologic Interpretation of the Sea Floor off Bridgeport, Connecticut: Open-File Report 2005-1162, 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?

    There are no attributes associated with a GeoTIFF image.

  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 collected data were processed and used to generate the digital mosaic.

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


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) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as the originators of this dataset.

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

    Lawrence Poppe
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA 02543
    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: 1-m sidescan-sonar image of survey h11043.

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Although this dataset has been subjected to rigorous review and is substantially complete, the USGS reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the United States Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or unauthorized use. 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?

    This image is available as a GeoTIFF image with an accompanying world file. To utilize this data, the user must have an image viewer, image processing, or GIS software package capable of importing a GeoTIFF image.


Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 23-Jul-2008
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
c/o Katherine McMullen
Sediment Lab Technician
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA 02543
USA

(508) 548-8700 x2277 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
kmcmullen@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 23 11:07:09 2008