USGS OFR 00-427: Western Massachusetts Bay

Frequently-anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  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?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

Title: USGS OFR 00-427: Western Massachusetts Bay

Abstract:

This CD-ROM contains photographs and sediment sample analyses of the sea floor obtained at 142 sites in western Massachusetts Bay during a research cruise (USGS cruise ISBL99024) aboard the Fishing Vessel (FV) Isabel S. conducted July 18-21, 1999. These photographs and samples provide critical ground truth information for the interpretation of shaded relief and backscatter intensity maps created using data collected with a multibeam echo sounder system (Butman and others, in press, a, b, c; Valentine and others, in press, a, b, c). Collection of these photographs and samples was undertaken in support of a large project whose overall objective is to map and describe the sea floor of Massachusetts Bay.

1. How should this data set be cited?

   Butman, Brad, 2002, USGS OFR 00-427: Western Massachusetts Bay: Open-File Report 00-427, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/of00-427/mbaygis/mb_pages/isblseds.htm>
   • <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/of00-427/mbaygis/mb_pages/isblseds.xls>

   This is part of the following larger work.

   Gutierrez, Benjamin T. , Butman, Bradford, and Blackwood, Dann S. , 2002, Photographs of the Sea Floor in Western Massachusetts Bay, Offshore of Boston, Massachusetts, July, 1999: Open-File Report 00-427, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/of00-427>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.839040

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.394520

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.518750

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.231970

3. What does it look like?

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

   Calendar_Date: 2000

   Currentness_Reference: publication date

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

   Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular 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 (98)

   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 North American Datum of 1927.
      The ellipsoid used is Clarke 1866.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378206.400000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/294.978698.
      

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   00427

   FID

   Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

   Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

   Shape

   Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

   Coordinates defining the features.

   LATITUDE

   LONGITUDE

   SITENAME

   DATASETKEY

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   The following fields were entered into usSEABED:

   SFS data: Station:Latitude N:Longitude W:Depth (m):Sample Weight (g) TXR data: % Gravel:% Sand:% Silt:% Clay::Median Phi:Mean Phi:Standard Deviation:M1PHI [M1FRQ]: M2PHI [M2FRQ]; M3PHI [M3FRQ]:Skewness:Kurtosis

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Brad Butman

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

   Bradford Butman
   U.S. Geological Survey
   384 Woods Hole Road
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

   508-548-8700 x2212 (voice)
   508-457-2310 (FAX)
   bbutman@usgs.gov
   

To provide critical ground truth information for the interpretation of shaded relief and backscatter intensity maps created using data collected with a multibeam echo sounder system

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

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

   (process 1 of 3)

   Data were downloaded from the online publication.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Chris Jenkins
   Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research (INSTAAR) Univeristy of Colorado at Boulder
   1560 30th Street
   Boulder, CO 80309-0450
   USA
   

   (303) 735-5250 (voice)
   (303) 492-6388 (FAX)
   chris.jenkins@colorado.edu
   

   (process 2 of 3)

   Digital data were checked, formatted to dbSEABED input format, then processed using dbSEABED software to produce a range of output formats. The processing contained quality checking that may have declined to pass faulty or suspect data to outputs.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Chris Jenkins
   Institute of Arctic & Alpine Research (INSTAAR) Univeristy of Colorado at Boulder
   1560 30th Street
   Boulder, CO 80309-0450
   USA
   

   (303) 735-5250 (voice)
   (303) 492-6388 (FAX)
   chris.jenkins@colorado.edu
   

   (process 3 of 3)

   Corrections were made to phi-size classes as they were held in the usSEABED data resource files.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Polly Hastings
   U.S. Geological Survey
   Oceanographic Data Specialist
   384 Woods Hole Rd.
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   USA
   

   (508) 548-8700x2289 (voice)
   5084572310 (FAX)
   phastings@usgs.gov
   

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

   Gutierrez, Benjamin T. , Butman, Bradfor, and Blackwood, Dann S. , 2000, Photographs of the Sea Floor Western Massachusetts Bay, Offshore of Boston, Massachusetts, July 1999: Open-File Report 00-427, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

   Online Links:

   • <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/of00-427/>

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?

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

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, Coastal and Marine Geology Program
   Woods Hole Science Center
   Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
   

   (508) 548-8700 (voice)
   5084572310 (FAX)
   

2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

   USGS OFR 00-427: Western Massachusetts Bay

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   Although this data set has 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.

   Trade, firm, or product names and other references to non-USGS products and services are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement or warranty, express or implied, by the USGS, USDOI, or U.S. Government, as to their suitability, content, usefulness, functioning, completeness, or accuracy.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	Size: 0.026

   • Cost to order the data:

Dates:

Last modified: 25-May-2005
Last Reviewed: 04-May-2005

Metadata author:

Jamey Reid
U.S. Geological Survey
IT Specialist (Data Management)
384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598

(508) 548-8700x2204 (voice)
(508) 457-2310 (FAX)
jreid@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Metadata extensions used:

• <http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html>