Other_Citation_Details: U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Online_Linkage: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/of99-589/
Description:
Abstract:
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric AdministrationΓÇÖs (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and Florida State University (FSU), collected the data presented here as part of a larger study of seafloor habitats on the shelf edge of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. It is a pilot study, carried out to demonstrate the utility of geologic mapping to fisheries management issues. This report contains sidescan-sonar mosaics, seismic-reflection profiles, texture and calcium carbonate content of sediment samples and interpretative maps of the seafloor morphology, sediments, and benthic habitats of the study area.
The study area is an approximately 150-km2 area along the shelf edge in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. The site is on the eastern side of the DeSoto Canyon and 75 km due south of Cape San Blas on the Florida panhandle. Water depth ranges from about 50 meters (m) to 120 m. It was chosen because reports from fishermen suggested that high-relief rocky outcrops, which are preferred by gag grouper as spawning aggregation sites, would be abundant. The geologic maps help the fisheries biologists select station locations for ongoing monitoring studies and provide a basis for siting of future reserves.
Sediment data:
In 1997, four surficial sediment grab samples were collected by C. Koenig during a cruise of the NOAA R/V Chapman. In 1998, an additional 51 sediment grab samples were collected by C. Gledhill during a cruise of the R/V Chapman and 3 by G. Fitzhugh during a cruise of the R/V Carretta. All samples were collected using a van Veen grab sampler. All samples (except those that were made up of chunks of coral or coral rubble) were analyzed for particle size and carbonate content in the sedimentology laboratory of the U.S.G.S. at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Texture terminology used in this report is according to Folk (1974). The percent of calcium carbonate material was determined by weight loss of 15 grams of bulk material after digestion with 10 percent hydrochloric acid. Details of the laboratory techniques can be found in Appendix I: Sediment Texture Analysis Techniques. The data are presented in Appendix II: Table of Sediment Analyses.
Purpose: The purpose of this data layer is to create a digital version of the sedimentary characteristics published by Briere and others (1999) for inclusion in the usSEABED data collection.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Single_Date/Time:
Calendar_Date: 1999
Currentness_Reference: publication date
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned
Spatial_Domain:
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -86.2407
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -82.586
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 29.6327
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.8273
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: General
Theme_Keyword: sediment
Theme_Keyword: sediment characteristics
Theme_Keyword: physical properties
Theme_Keyword: side-scan data
Theme_Keyword: side-scan sonar
Theme_Keyword: habitats
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: General
Place_Keyword: Gulf of Mexico
Place_Keyword: Eastern Gulf of Mexico
Place_Keyword: Florida
Place_Keyword: Florida Panhandle
Place_Keyword: Florida Pan Handle
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints: None except that acknowledgement must be made in publications and reports of (i) the original data source, and (ii) the data integration by USGS and dbSEABED project at the University of Colorado.
Browse_Graphic_File_Description: Image showing geographic extent of data layer coverage
Data_Set_Credit: Please review the cross reference information for the original data set credit to Briere and others (1999), and Jamey Reid for digitizing samples locations and entering the data from the source report.
Native_Data_Set_Environment: Microsoft Windows 2000 Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 8.3.0.800
Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report: All attributes were entered and checked in a consistent manner.
Logical_Consistency_Report: No additional check for topological consistency were performed on this data.
Completeness_Report: Sedimentary descriptions and locations are provided for 78 samples.
Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Navigational accuracy is unknown.
Lineage:
Process_Step:
Process_Description: Digital data were hand formatted into dbSEABED data entry structure, then filtered and data-mined through dbSEABED software (version: db9_MNEx.bas)
Process_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Jane Reid
Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
Contact_Position: Geologist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 400 Natural Bridges Drive
City: Santa Cruz
State_or_Province: CA
Postal_Code: 95060
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: (831) 427-4727
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (831) 427-4748
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: jareid@usgs.gov
Contact_Instructions: email preferred
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
SDTS_Terms_Description:
SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Entity point
Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 78
Spatial_Reference_Information:
Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Geographic:
Latitude_Resolution: 0.1234
Longitude_Resolution: 0.1234
Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees
Distribution_Information:
Resource_Description: Briere and others, 1999
Distribution_Liability: 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.
