Interpretation of the seabed geologic substrates in quadrangle 5 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts based on data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey from 1993-2019

Dates

Publication Date: 2024-03-20
Start Date: 1993
End Date: 2019

Citation

Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2024, Geospatial datasets of seabed topography, sediment mobility, and the distribution of geologic substrates in quadrangle 5 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9W9BN3S.

Summary

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the National Marine Sanctuary Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has conducted seabed mapping and related research in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) region since 1993. The interpretive datasets and source information presented here are for quadrangle 5, which is one of 18 similarly sized segments of the 3,700 square kilometer (km2) SBNMS region. The seabed of the SBNMS region is a glaciated terrain that is topographically and texturally diverse. Quadrangle 5 includes the shallow, rippled, coarse-grained sandy crest and upper eastern and western flanks of southern Stellwagen Bank, its fine-grained sandy lower western flank, [...]

Summary

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the National Marine Sanctuary Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has conducted seabed mapping and related research in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) region since 1993. The interpretive datasets and source information presented here are for quadrangle 5, which is one of 18 similarly sized segments of the 3,700 square kilometer (km2) SBNMS region. The seabed of the SBNMS region is a glaciated terrain that is topographically and texturally diverse. Quadrangle 5 includes the shallow, rippled, coarse-grained sandy crest and upper eastern and western flanks of southern Stellwagen Bank, its fine-grained sandy lower western flank, and the muddy seabed in Stellwagen Basin. Water depths range from <25 m on the bank crest to ~100 m in the basin. The data presented here for quadrangle 5 are the foundation for Scientific Investigations Map 3515 (Valentine and Cross, 2024), which presents maps of seabed topography, ruggedness, backscatter intensity, distribution of geologic substrates, sediment mobility, distribution of fine- and coarse-grained sand, and substrate mud content. The maps of quadrangle 5 show the distribution of substrates across the southern part of Stellwagen Bank and the adjacent basins. Bathymetric and seabed backscatter imagery, photographs, video, and grain-size analyses were used to create the geologic interpretations presented here and have been reprocessed and released in segments to supports these interpretations. For the quadrangle 5 interpretations, data from 729 stations were analyzed, including 620 sediment samples. The seabed geology map of quadrangle 5 shows the distribution of 20 substrate types ranging from boulder ridges to mobile and rippled sand, to mud. Substrate types are defined or inferred through sediment grain-size composition, surface morphology, sediment layering, the mobility or immobility of substrate surfaces, and water depth range. Scientific Investigations Map 3515 portrays the major geological elements (substrates, topographic features, processes) of environments within quadrangle 5. It is intended to be a basis for the study of sediment transport processes that affect a shallow, offshore bank, for the study of the ecological requirements of invertebrate and vertebrate species that use these substrates, and to support seabed management in the region.

Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2024, Seabed maps showing topography, ruggedness, backscatter intensity, sediment mobility, and the distribution of geologic substrates in quadrangle 5 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3515, 8 sheets, scale 1:25,000, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3515 .

Contacts

Point of Contact :: Page C Valentine
Author :: Page C Valentine, VeeAnn A. Cross
Data Owner :: Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
USGS Program :: Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program
Distributor :: U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase
SDC Data Owner :: Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
USGS Mission Area :: Natural Hazards

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q5_substrate_interp_browse.png “Browse graphic showing the four interpretation representations.”	287.29 KB	image/png
q5_geologic_sediment_mobility.lyr “ArcGIS layer for interpretation to display sediment mobility.”	9.5 KB	application/x-tika-msoffice
q5_geologic_substrate_coarseness.lyr “ArcGIS layer for interpretation to display sediment coarseness.”	10.5 KB	application/x-tika-msoffice
q5_geologic_substrate_mud_content.lyr “ArcGIS layer for interpretation to display sediment mud content.”	11 KB	application/x-tika-msoffice

Shapefile: q5_geologic_interp.zip
q5_geologic_interp_meta.xml “CSDGM metadata.” Original FGDC Metadata	View	96.78 KB
q5_geologic_interp.cpg		5 Bytes
q5_geologic_interp.dbf		99.18 KB
q5_geologic_interp.lyr “ArcGIS layer for interpretation to display geologic substrates..”		13 KB
q5_geologic_interp.prj		167 Bytes
q5_geologic_interp.sbn		884 Bytes
q5_geologic_interp.sbx		180 Bytes
q5_geologic_interp.shp “Polygon shapefile of substrate interpretation.”		96.63 KB
q5_geologic_interp.shx		684 Bytes

Related External Resources

Type: Related Primary Publication

Valentine, P.C., and Cross, V.A., 2024, Seabed maps showing topography, ruggedness, backscatter intensity, sediment mobility, and the distribution of geologic substrates in quadrangle 5 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3515, 8 sheets, scale 1:25,000, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3515 .	https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3515

Type: Citation

Valentine, P.C., and Gallea, L.B., 2015, Seabed maps showing topography, ruggedness, backscatter intensity, sediment mobility, and the distribution of geologic substrates in quadrangle 6 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3341, 10 sheets, scale 1:25,000, and 21-p. pamphlet, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3341.	https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3341
Valentine, P.C., 2019, Sediment classification and the characterization, identification, and mapping of geologic substrates for the glaciated Gulf of Maine seabed and other terrains, providing a physical framework for ecological research and seabed management: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2019–5073, 37 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20195073.	https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20195073
Valentine, P.C., ed., 2005, Sea floor image maps showing topography, sun-illuminated topography, backscatter intensity, ruggedness, slope, and the distribution of boulder ridges and bedrock outcrops in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region off Boston, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 2840, 12 sheets, scale 1:60,000, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim2840.	https://doi.org/10.3133/sim2840

Purpose

This dataset provides comprehensive seabed interpretations of the seafloor within quadrangle 5 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. This interpretation includes the geologic substrates, sediment mobility, substrate coarseness, and substrate mud content. The geologic substrates it the primary interpretation with the remaining three representations derivatives of that.

Interpretation of the seabed geologic substrates in quadrangle 5 of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary region offshore of Boston, Massachusetts based on data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey from 1993-2019

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