NOAA/NOS and USCGS Seabed Descriptions from Hydrographic Surveys
The NOAA/NOS and USCGS Seabed Descriptions from Hydrographic Surveys database is a
compilation of surficial sediment composition from multiple sources for over 200,000
seafloor sediment samples primarily around U.S. coastal areas. The descriptions were
abstracted from unpublished data reports and Bottom Type "M" log sheets, and digitized
from survey smooth sheets produced by the NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS) and its
predecessor, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USCGS). Prior to August 2001, many
physical sediment samples were routinely sent to the Smithsonian Institution Museum
of Natural History (NMNH) for archive with accompanying "M" log forms from which bottom
type and other information were coded into the NMNH sediment database. In 2001, NMNH
sent a copy of the database to NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center (now part of
the National Centers for Environmental Information) to be incorporated into the Index
to Marine and Lacustrine Geological Samples database, and for distribution to data
users needing access to the bottom type information in the files. With support from
NOS, NGDC digitized several thousand additional bottom type observations from historic
NOS Hydrographic Survey smooth sheets and added them to the database. NOS is coding
thousands more bottom type observations for entry into the database from survey Data
Reports, or DRs. In 2011, NOS began adding standardized digital bottom type descriptions
to the database using the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) SF57 standard
"NATSUR" (nature of surface) and "NATQUA" (nature of surface qualifier) coding scheme,
transferring the data to NCEI in KML form for archive and upload to the geospatially-enabled
database. Hydrographic Technical Directive (HTD)2011-6 contains the official new directive.
Data are free for online search and download.
- Cite as: National Ocean Service (2013): NOAA/NOS and USCGS Seabed Descriptions from Hydrographic Surveys. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5BG2KWG [date of access]
- doi:10.7289/V5BG2KWG
- NCEI Metadata ID: gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.geology:G10163
gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.geology:G10163
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Ordering Instructions | Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions. |
Distributor | NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov |
Dataset Point of Contact | NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov |
Dataset Point of Contact | Marine Geology Data Manager NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information geology.info@noaa.gov |
Coverage Description | Primarily nearshore continental shelf areas of the U.S. including Hawaii and Alaska |
Time Period | 1837-01-01 to 2013-11-21 |
Spatial Reference System | urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG:4326 |
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates |
West:-175.34972
East:-64.43167
South:14.27444
North:72.609314
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Spatial Coverage Map |
General Documentation |
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Publication Dates |
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Data Presentation Form | Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed,
especially in columns |
Dataset Progress Status | ongoing Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility |
Data Update Frequency | Irregular - This dataset is updated as new files are received from ongoing NOS Hydrographic Surveys. |
Supplemental Information |
Historic data include survey id, sample number, latitude/longitude, original datum,
and a brief description. Data for samples taken or coded after 2011, include the International
Hydrographic Organization IHO S-57 descriptive attributes as described in the NOAA
Office of the Coast Survey Specifications and Deliverables (see Appendix 10).
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Purpose | Seabed characteristics for hydrographic maps and charts |
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Theme keywords | Library of Congress Subject Headings
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Data Center keywords | Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
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Platform keywords | Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
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Instrument keywords | Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
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Place keywords | Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
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Project keywords | Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
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Other Constraints | Cite as: National Ocean Service (2013): NOAA/NOS and USCGS Seabed Descriptions from Hydrographic Surveys. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5BG2KWG [date of access] |
Fees |
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Lineage Statement | Lineage varies by contributor, see supplemental information. |
Processing Environment | Native Dataset Environment: ASCII text |
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Last Modified: 2020-04-21
For questions about the information on this page, please email:ncei.info@noaa.gov