Surficial Sediment Character of the New York-New 

Jersey Offshore Continental Shelf Region: a GIS 

Compilation 

By S. Jeffress Williams1, Matthew A. Arsenault1, Lawrence J. Poppe1, Jane A. Reid2, Jamey M. 

Reid1, and Chris J. Jenkins3 

1U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Science Center, 384 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA 02543 

2U.S. Geological Survey, Western Coastal and Marine Geology, Pacific Science Center, 400 Natural Bridges Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 

3Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado at Boulder, 1560 30th Street, Campus Box 450, Boulder, CO 80309-0450 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006-1046 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

U.S. Geological Survey 

1
U.S. Department of the Interior 

Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Mike D. Myers, Director 

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 

2007 

For product and ordering information: 

World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod 

Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS 

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, 

its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: 

World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov 

Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS 

Suggested citation:Suggested citation: This document should be cited as: Williams, S.J., 

Arsenault, M.A., Poppe, L.J., Reid, J.A., Reid, J.M. and Jenkins, C.J., 2006, Surficial sediment 

character of the New York-New Jersey offshore Continental Shelf region; a GIS Compilation: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006-1046. Online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1046

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Government. 

Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual 

copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report. 

2
Contents 

Introduction .........................................................................................................................................................................4

Overview...........................................................................................................................................................................4

Applications.....................................................................................................................................................................6

Nomenclature................................................................................................................................................................11

Sea-Floor Photos ..............................................................................................................................................................13

Data Dictionary .................................................................................................................................................................14

Data Overview...............................................................................................................................................................14

Output files .....................................................................................................................................................................14

Data Catalog......................................................................................................................................................................28

usSEABED Data ............................................................................................................................................................28

Bathymetry.....................................................................................................................................................................29

Basemaps.......................................................................................................................................................................29

Sea-Floor Photos ..........................................................................................................................................................30

Spatial and Temporal Uncertainties..........................................................................................................................30

Browse Maps ....................................................................................................................................................................30

Overview.........................................................................................................................................................................30

Selected References .......................................................................................................................................................38

Related Websites .............................................................................................................................................................46

USGS Links.....................................................................................................................................................................46

Our Collaborators..........................................................................................................................................................46

Acknowledgments............................................................................................................................................................47

Contacts .............................................................................................................................................................................47

For Educators ....................................................................................................................................................................48

Additional Resources Available Online: ...................................................................................................................48

Presentation ..................................................................................................................................................................49

Handouts ........................................................................................................................................................................69

Disclaimers ........................................................................................................................................................................71

General ...........................................................................................................................................................................71

Accessibility ..................................................................................................................................................................72

README .............................................................................................................................................................................72

Background ...................................................................................................................................................................72

CD-ROM Contents.........................................................................................................................................................73

Downloading Files and Images ..................................................................................................................................73

Technical Notes............................................................................................................................................................74

3
Surficial Sediment Character of the New York-New 

Jersey Offshore Continental Shelf Region: a GIS 

Compilation 

By S. Jeffress Williams, Matthew A. Arsenault, Lawrence J. Poppe, Jane A. Reid, Jamey M. Reid, 

and Chris J. Jenkins 

Introduction 

Overview 

Broad continental shelf regions such as the New York Bight are the product of a 

complex geologic history and dynamic oceanographic processes, dominated by the Holocene 

marine transgression (>100 m sea-level rise) following the end of the last Pleistocene ice 

advance ~ 20,000 years ago. The area of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (U.S. EEZ) 

territory, extending 200 nautical miles seaward from the coast, is larger than the continental U.S. 

and contains submerged landforms that provide a variety of natural functions and societal 

benefits, such as: critical habitats for fisheries, ship navigation and homeland security, and 

engineering activities (i.e. oil and gas platforms, pipeline and cable routes, potential windenergy-generation sites). 

Some parts of the continental margins, particularly inner-continental shelf regions, also 

contain unconsolidated hard-mineral deposits such as sand and gravel that are regarded as 

potential aggregate resources to meet or augment needs not met by onshore deposits (Williams, 

1992). The present distribution of surficial sediment off the northeastern United States is shaped 

from the deposits left by the last glaciation and reflects the cumulative effects of sediment 

erosion, transport, sorting, and deposition by storm and tidal processes during the Holocene rise 

in sea level. As a result, the sediments on the sea floor represent both an historical record of 

former conditions and a guide to possible future sedimentary environments. 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) through the Coastal and Marine Geology Program, 

in cooperation with the University of Colorado and other partners, has compiled extant sediment 

character and textural data as well as other geologic information on the sea floor from all 

regions around the U.S. into the usSEABED data system (Reid and others, 2005; Buczkowski 

and others, 2006; Reid and others, 2006). The usSEABED system, which contains information 

on sediment grain size and lithology for more than 340,500 stations within the U.S. EEZ. has 

been developed and populated with data as part of the USGS Marine Aggregate Resources and 

Processes and the National Benthic Habitats projects in order to provide the base-line data 

needed to update the current maps of offshore surficial geologic character and sediment 

distribution. The maps are also used to characterize benthic sea floor environments important for 

marine ecosystems. 

4
U.S. Geological Survey, Data Series 118 (Reid and others, 2005), of the usSEABED 

data release series, represents the combined efforts of the USGS and several other government 

agencies to provide a unified resource for accessing and preserving records of U.S. east coast 

sea floor geologic information and sediment texture data. 

For this present report, we have chosen to focus on the New York-New Jersey region, an 

area that has been intensely studied by the USGS for many years to address many complex 

issues. 

This report illustrates the uses of the usSEABED database for GIS applications, while 

offering additional insight into the resources and data available from the USGS and its 

collaborative institutions. 

Sediment data points along the East coast of the United States 

(Reid and others, 2005, USSEABED; Atlantic coast offshore 

surficial sedient data release, U.S. Geological Survey). 

5
This report is based on data contained in U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 118 (Reid 

and others, 2005) and shows an assortment of example GIS products that are possible using 

usSEABED. All data are intended to be GIS-ready and should not require any additional 

cleanup, formatting, or renaming of fields in order to use the data in a Geographic Information 

System. This project employs the Environmental Systems Research Institute's (ESRI) 

ArcViewTM software. Many of these maps were made as part of the ongoing USGS study to 

assess marine aggregate resources offshore New York and New Jersey, but these maps can serve 

many other purposes. The marine science community, educators, students and others are 

encouraged to use these data to generate GIS products for their own purposes. 

The objectives of the Marine Aggregate Resources and Processes project are to produce 

a series of new geologic maps and reports of the sea floor that will provide scientific insights 

into the character and geologic development of U.S. continental margins and to use these maps 

and information to assess the potential availability of offshore sand and gravel resources. The 

mapping and aggregate resource assessments are being conducted on a national scale using the 

usSEABED data base as described in Williams and others (2003). Potential uses for these data 

include: (1) defining the geological variability of the sea floor in relation to benthic habitat 

diversity; (2) improving our understanding of the processes that control the distribution and 

transport of bottom sediments and benthic habitats; (3) locating aggregate resources for beach 

nourishment and industrial applications; and (4) providing a detailed geospatial framework for 

future marine science research, monitoring, and management activities. The initial assessments 

are in progress for the New York Bight and Louisiana offshore areas. 

Applications

The usSEABED dataset has many potential uses. Discussed here are three illustrated 

applications of how the data may be used. Examples of maps that may be made with the data 

included on this CD-ROM may be found in the Browse Maps section of this publication. 

6
 

 Fish Habitat Mapping 

Image courtesy of Tyler Hautaniemi. 

Since the passing of the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996, Regional Fishery 

Management councils around the U.S. have been describing and identifying essential fish 

habitat (EFH) in their respective regions to more effectively manage the Nation's fisheries. 

Congress defined EFH as "those waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, 

feeding or growth to maturity." 

Since late-2005, the New England Fishery Management Council's Habitat Plan 

Development Team, a scientific and technical body that advises the Council, has been using the 

usSEABED dataset correlate the relative abundance of 26 federally-managed fish species with 

substrate type (e.g., mud, sand, gravel, and mixtures) as a proxy for benthic habitats. 

 This map is a provisional attempt at depicting EFH's. Classification areas are designated 

over 10 minute by 10 minute squares (TMS) of latitude and longitude off the Northeast U.S. 

coast. The usSEABED database is used to identify the TMS that have sufficient amounts of 

correlated sediments in an effort to establish those areas which are potentially important for fish 

habitat (Tyler Hautaniemi, personal communication). 

7
Sand and Gravel Resouces for Beach Nourishment 

Beach nourishment, a method of dredging sand from offshore areas and pumping it 

ashore to widen and elevate beaches and dunes is often viewed as a cost-effective and 

environmentally acceptable method for use on developed coasts to mitigate erosion, 

reduce storm and flooding risk, enhance recreation, and restore degraded ecosystems. 

For beach nourishment to be viable, however, large volumes of high quality sand are 

necessary and the sand deposits must be located reasonably close to the beaches being 

nourished. Also, the sand deposits ideally should be in water depths ranging from 

approximately -10 m, an approximate “close-out depth” for nearshore sediment 

transport, to -40 m, an approximate current limit of U.S. commercial dredging. The map 

above shows the percent sand composition of usSEABED data points on the Long Island 

inner shelf in relation to the current water depth dredge limits. For beach nourishment, 

>90 % sand is optimal for best performance. 

8
Planning Sea-Floor Routes and Utilities Placement

The New York Bight shelf is the product of a complex geologic history and dynamic 

oceanographic processes, dominated by the Holocene marine transgression during the past 

20,000 years. Engineering activities (i.e., pipeline and cable routes, potential wind-energygeneration sites) are increasing within these regions as infrastructure and resource planning 

tries to keep pace with growing demand. 

9
North-south transect from Rockaway Beach, NY along the NJ coast displaying sedimentary 

features of the geologic record, important in engineering uses of the sea floor. The sandy 

inner shelf extends 20 km offshore to -32 m water depths, while the slightly elevated region 

(-28 m) farther south is in contrast to the deeply incised (-64 m) Hudson Shelf Valley that 

displays a marked asymmetry. 

10
Nomenclature

Nomenclature describing sediment texture distributions is important to geologists and 

sedimentologists because grain size is the most basic attribute of sediments. Traditionally, 

geologists have divided sediments into four size fractions that include gravel, sand, silt, and 

clay, and classified these sediments based on the dominant size fractions. Definitions of the 

fractions have long been standardized to the grade scale described by Wentworth (1922), and the 

size data compiled in this report conform to these definitions. Specifically, according to the 

Wentworth grade scale (PDF version) gravel-sized particles have a nominal diameter of 2 mm; 

sand-sized particles have nominal diameters from <2 mm to >62.5 μm; silt-sized particles have 

nominal diameters from <62.5 μm to >4 μm; and clay is < 4 μm. 

Although several classification schemes have been adopted to describe the approximate 

relationship between the size fractions, most sedimentologists use one of the systems described 

either by Shepard (1954) or Folk (1954, 1974). The original scheme devised by Shepard (1954) 

utilized a single ternary diagram with sand, silt, and clay in the corners to graphically show the 

relative proportions among these three grades within a sample. This scheme, however, does not 

allow for sediments with significant amounts of gravel. Therefore, Shepard's classification 

scheme was subsequently modified by the addition of a second ternary diagram to account for 

the gravel fraction (Schlee, 1973). The system devised by Folk (1954, 1974) is also based on 

two triangular diagrams, but it has 21 major categories, and uses the term mud (defined as silt 

plus clay). The patterns within the triangles of both systems differ, as does the emphasis placed 

on gravel. For example, in the system described by Shepard, gravelly sediments have more than 

10 percent gravel; in Folk's system, slightly gravelly sediments have as little as 0.01 percent 

gravel. Folk's classification scheme stresses gravel because its concentration is a function of the 

highest current velocity at the time of deposition, together with the maximum grain size of the 

detritus that is available; Shepard's classification scheme emphasizes the ratios of sand, silt, and 

clay because they reflect sorting and reworking (Poppe and others, 2005). 

Although most source data sets in this compilation (see the Data Catalog) contain raw 

grain-size data, several provide only verbal descriptions of the sea-floor character. Some of 

these verbal descriptions are somewhat detailed, such as in the lithologic descriptions file from 

the USGS Continental Margin Program; others are quite abbreviated, as in the one-word 

descriptors supplied with the NOAA Hydrographic Database. Furthermore, most source data 

sets contain sediment classifications that were assigned by scientists as part of the original study. 

These word-based data sets have been related to numeric values for inclusion in the usSEABED 

data sets. Users are encouraged to review the Data Dictionary section and the usSEABED Web 

site for a thorough explanation. 

Most of the samples compiled in this report were collected using some type of grab 

sampler, but some were obtained by coring of dredging. When core samples are included, or 

when changes in the sediment type with depth are present in a grab sample, only the analysis 

from the uppermost sediment type was used when mapping surficial sediment distributions. 

Similarly, samples collected with chain dredges are probably texturally biased and care must be 

taken with the use of this data. 

The USGS has traditionally defined surficial samples as those sediments collected from 

the interval 0-2 cm below the sediment/water interface. Although many of the samples in this 

compilation conform to this standard, some of the studies did not define this interval or reported 

intervals with slightly greater bottom depths (e.g. 0-5 cm). Concerned users should consult the 

original source references or the metadata files provided in this report. 

11
Plotting routines (Matlab based) for the Shepard and Schlee classifications mentioned 

above, are available in the For Educators section of this publication. These routines allow users 

to plot their own ternary diagrams. 

 

Wentworth Grade Scale 

12
Shepard’s classification system 

Folk’s classification 

Sea-Floor Photos 

The New York and New Jersey region has been heavily studied by the US Geological 

survey, owing to its importance as one of the major recreational and industrial areas on the 

Atlantic seaboard. An abundance of reports on the geologic, geochemical and geophysical 

nature of this region are available, many of which are listed in the references section of this 

publication. 

Much of this data is complimentary, that is to say, individual datasets and reports can be 

used together to present a more complete and comprehensive overview of a given area. Seafloor images are a good example of this, as good quality high-resolution photographs can aid in 

interpreting the geologic character of the sea floor and serve as ground truth data when used in 

conjunction with remotely sensed data such as sidescan sonar and multibeam hydrographic data. 

The interactive image below highlights a few of the available sea-floor photos from the 

New York-New Jersey region, and is provided as an example of additional data that may be 

obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey. These photographs are from Paskevich and others 

(2001) OFR 2001-154, and complete photos and metadata may be downloaded from the original 

report (a link is provided in the data catalog). Additional imagery beyond this region is available 

in Butman and others (2003), OFR 2001-470. 

13
Data Dictionary 

Data Overview 

Geologic sedimentary character data included within this Open-File Report were 

previously released as USGS DS-118 (Reid and others, 2005) the first release from the 

usSEABED database. The database contains data and information that forms the scientific 

foundation for the sediment characterization found within this publication. Below you will find a 

description of the categories, themes and units held within the dataset. 

Output files

This publication provides five usSEABED output data files for the New York-New 

Jersey region, and a sixth file of source data. This is only a small subset of the originally released 

data from USGS DS-118. 

14
usSEABED Output files 

NYB_EXT Extracted (numeric, lab-based) 

NYB_PRS Parsed (word-based) 

NYB_CLC Calculated (calculated variables)

NYB_CMP Computed (content and features) 

NYB_FAC Facies (components only) 

ATL_SRC Source File for entire Atlantic 

These files are downloadable from the Data Catalog. 

usSEABED information is categorized into 12 data themes. A list of data themes is given 

in Table A. The thematic basis of the values found in the outputs can be found in field 11 

("DataType")(Table B) of the extracted (_EXT), parsed (_PRS), and calculated (_CLC) output 

files. Information on contribution of each source report is in the accompanying metadata files. 

Table A. Key to data themes in usSEABED output files

Acronym Meaning 

ACU Acoustic properties 

BIO Biota 

CMP Sediment composition analyses 

COL Color 

GRZ Grain size analysis results 

GTC Geotechnic properties 

LTH Lithology 

MSL Multisensor core logger 

PET Grain petrology 

SFT Seafloor type descriptions 

TXG Graphical texture statistics 

TXR Texture statistics 

Relational keys 

 The usSEABED data file types are linked relationally by the foreign keys: DataSetKey 

(for individual data sets), SiteKey (for individual sites), and the SampleKey (for individual 

analyses). The DataSetKey field gives the relationship of the data to the original source. The 

tables can be loaded into a relational database (RDB), relationships may be constructed, and the 

tables may be joined using the keys. 

15
Source data (_SRC) 

 Information about the original data are in the source (_SRC) file, including links to 

metadata about the original data. Each of the output data files discussed below is linked to the 

_SRC file by the DataSetKey field. 

Textural and other basic information (_EXT, _PRS, _CLC) 

 Textural, statistical, geochemical, geophysical, dominant component, and color 

information are held in three separate, but similar, data files, based on the type of data: _EXT, 

_PRS, _CLC. The three data file types have the same fields (Table B) and can be combined for 

more extensive coverage of the sea floor. It is important for users to understand the inherent 

limitations of each type of file in order to choose the best data file, or combination of data files 

appropriate for a particular use. 

Extracted data (_EXT) 

The data file with the _EXT tag is the extracted data: those data from strictly performed, 

lab-based, numeric analyses. Most data in this file are listed as reported by the source data 

report; only minor unit changes are performed or assumptions made about the thickness of the 

sediment analyzed based on the sampler type. Typical data themes include textural classes and 

statistics (TXR: gravel, sand, silt, clay, mud, and various statistics), phi grain-size classes 

(GRZ), chemical composition (CMP), acoustic measurements (ACU), color (COL), and 

geotechnical parameters (GTC). The _EXT file is based on rigorous lab-determined values and 

forms the most reliable data sets. Limitations, however, exist due to the uncertainty of the 

sample tested. For example, were the analyses performed on whole samples or only on the 

matrix, possibly with larger particles ignored? 

Parsed data (_PRS) 

Numeric data obtained from verbal logs from core descriptions, shipboard notes, and (or) 

photographic descriptions are held in the parsed data set (_PRS). The input data are maintained 

using the terms employed by the original researchers and are coded using phonetically sensible 

terms for easier processing by dbSEABED. Longer descriptions may have the data divided by 

theme (Table A). The descriptions often include information on associated biota, sea floor 

features, and structure. Typical data themes for the parsed data set are lithologic descriptions 

(LTH), biology (BIO), color (COL), and (or) sea floor type (SFT, descriptions from photos or 

videos). The values in the parsed data file are calculated using the dbSEABED parser that 

assigns field values based on the form and content of a description. See the original DS-118

publication for additional information on the processing and fuzzy set theory. 

The parsing process has been tested and calibrated by comparing the outputs against 

analytical results for the same samples. Due to the nature of visual descriptions by observers and 

the use of fuzzy set theory in the parser, the output data show the degree of representation in the 

sample, or percent abundance values. An assumption in the process is that the output degrees of 

representation reflect absolute abundances to some degree of accuracy. The calibrations provide 

information on that accuracy. Although at first sight the descriptive results in the parsed file may 

seem less accurate than measured values in the extracted file, they are frequently more 

16
representative of the sample and seabed as a whole, as they include description of objects such 

as shells, stones, algae, and other objects (Table C) that are a textural component of the seabed 

and which are often left out of laboratory analyses, particularly when a machine analysis is 

employed. 

Calculated data (_CLC)

For the extracted and parsed data, some values are not reported by the original source, 

but can be calculated directly or estimated by standard derivative equations using assumptions 

about the conditions or variables. These values are reported in the calculated ( _CLC) data files. 

Although the calculated ( _CLC) data can be combined with the extracted and the parsed (Table 

B), they are the least reliable of the three data file types and should be used with caution. 

Component/feature and facies data (_CMP, _FAC)

Two usSEABED data files contain information about the presence of certain sea floor 

features, compositional content, biota, and sediment structure. These use major synonyms 

defined by the thesaurus in the dbSEABED parsing software, which clusters comparable 

descriptive terms together (granite represents granite, aplite, granodiorite, pegmatite, while 

laminated represents laminated, laminations, or lamina). Individual components and features 

(terms like feldspar, phosphorite, bivalves, seagrass, and wood) are held in the _CMP data file 

(Table D). Appropriately combined components are held in the facies (_FAC) data files 

(Table E). As with the parsed data files, the values held within the _CMP and _FAC files are 

the results of filters based on fuzzy set membership to chosen sets, and represent a measure of 

truth about the attribute, not percentages or defined values. These files only indicate presence, 

not absence, of material; it is rare that a report might state, "no bivalves" or "no phosphorite." 

The _CMP file contains information about compositional content (individual minerals, 

rocks), genesis (terrigenous, carbonate), and certain biota. These components are internally 

evaluated and the value for each attribute is based solely on the relationships of attributes within 

the original description. The flora and fauna included in the compositional components are those 

that may have an effect on textural determinations in the _PRS data file, such as halimeda, 

bivalves, or foraminifera (Table C). The values within these attribute fields range between 0 

(no membership, probably due to no information), to 100 (complete membership, shell hash = 

100 to the shell debris set). 

The _CMP file also includes information on sea floor features such as bedforms, 

fissures, internal structure (bedding, bioturbation), and other flora and fauna. Unlike the 

compositional content information, which is construed as an abundance within the sample, these 

attributes are an intensity of development or density of occurrence relative to scales of 

development or density of occurrence observed elsewhere. The flora and fauna included in the 

feature category are soft-bodied, for example, those that do not have an input on the textural 

determination within the _PRS data files, such as kelp, ophiuroids, or annelids. Values within 

the attribute fields range from 0 (no membership, possibly due to no information) up to 100% 

(maximum development). In contrast to the situation with component abundances, the sum of 

feature intensities in a sample is allowed to exceed 100%. 

The 100 most common components in the U.S. EEZ are given in the _CMP file, and 

those attributes with "_F" denote features. Table D lists the components and gives basic forms 

17
of descriptive terms that may trigger membership for each. Included in this file are 27 

components that are included in the facies (_FAC) file only. 

The second file, the facies file (_FAC), is created from components only, similar to the 

_CMP file. This file configures multiple components into appropriate groups or facies, such as 

igneous, metamorphic, ooze, foraminifera, and others. The dbSEABED processing software is 

restricted to a maximum of six components per facies. Table E lists the facies type and the 

components that comprise each facies group. 

Again, these files only indicate presence, not absence, of material; it is rare that a report 

might state, "no bivalves" or "no phosphorite". The values within this attribute field range 

between 0 (no membership, probably due to no information), to 100 (complete membership, for 

example, schist = 100 to the metamorphic set). 

Relationship between the _PRS and _CMP outputs 

The dbSEABED processing software recognizes that many skeletonized biota, such as halimeda, 

rhodoliths, shells (broken and unbroken), and others often comprise a sediment sample. Such 

biological terms are included in the parsing of the textural values. To see the selected biota with 

textural implications, see Table C . When using the parsed data, it may be important to crosscheck with the component file using the relational foreign keys (SiteKey, SampleKey) to 

determine if biota are to be included in the textural outputs. 

Within the _PRS file, the "seabed class" and "class membership" fields indicate the 

dominant compositional class and the fuzzy set membership of a sample to that class. Other 

components and mined information may also be listed for that sample in the _CMP file, linked 

by the relational keys. 

Table B. Field parameters, format, units, range, meaning, and comments for _EXT, _PRS, _CLC data 

files 

Field Name Parameter Data Format Units, Range, 

Meaning 

Comment 

Latitude Latitude Decimal 

00.00000 

Decimal 

degrees, 90° to -

90° range 

WGS 84 Spheroid. 

Longitude Longitude Decimal 

000.00000 

Decimal 

degrees, -180° 

to 180° range 

WGS 84 Spheroid. 

WaterDepth Water depth Integer 

00000 

Meters Not always tidally correct. 

SampleTop Sample top Decimal 

000.00 

Meters below 

seabed surface 

Sample top as noted in source 

report. 

SampleBase Sample base Decimal 

000.00 

Meters below 

seabed surface 

Sample bottom as noted in 

source report. 

SiteName Site name Character 

XXX: XXX 

Survey or 

laboratory code 

for the sampling 

site 

Not unique; site name as given 

in report; sometimes linked to 

cruise name or other information 

to decrease site name overlap. 

DataSetKey Dataset 

number key 

Integer 000 For audit only Relational key to _SRC file; 

_SRC file contains links to 

18
source metadata. 

SiteKey Site number 

key 

Integer 

0000000 

For audit only Relational key to other data files. 

Each site counted sequentially as 

total output; core data may have 

more than one sample per site. 

SampleKey Sample 

number key 

Integer 

0000000 

For audit only Relational key to other data files. 

Each site counted sequentially as 

total output; Multiple samples 

may be at each site (i.e., in core). 

Sampler Sampler type Character 

Xxxxxxxx.... 

Type of 

sampling device 

As given in source report; 

recovery (rcvy) or penetration 

(‘pen') length appended if given 

in source report. For more 

complete information on 

sampler, see source metadata. 

DataType Data types Character 

XXX: XXX 

For audit 

principally 

Source data types (Table A). 

Gravel Gravel Integer 000 Gravel grain 

size fraction, % 

Textural class. 

Sand Sand Integer 000 Sand grain size 

fraction, % 

Textural class. 

Mud Mud Integer 000 Mud grain size 

fraction, % 

Textural class. 

Clay Clay Integer 000 Clay grain size 

fraction, % 

Textural class; output for '_EXT' 

only, as clay value can be 

determined only by analysis. 

Grain size Grain size Decimal 

00.00 

Phi 

characteristic 

grain size 

Consensus of mean and median 

grain sizes. 

Sorting Sorting Decimal 0.00 Phi grain size 

dispersion 

Standard deviation, sorting only. 

SeafloorClass Seafloor class Character 

Xxxxx... 

That class (or ' 

facies ' ) with the 

maximum fuzzy 

membership, if 

above 30% 

Output for '_PRS' table only. 

ClassMbrshp Class 

membership 

Decimal 000 Fuzzy 

membership (%) 

of the class (or 

'facies'), noted 

above 

Output for '_PRS' table only. 

Folk 

classification; 

Shepard 

classification 

Folk 

classification; 

Shepard 

classification 

Character 

xx.XX... 

 

RockMbrshp Rock index Integer 000 Fuzzy 

membership (%) 

Membership of sample to ‘rock 

fuzzy set'; reported only in _PRS 

data. 

WeedMbrshp Weed index Integer 000 Fuzzy Membership of sample to 'weed 

19
membership (%) fuzzy set'; reported only in _PRS 

data. 

Carbonate Carbonate Integer 000 %; may be 

Fuzzy 

membership 

(_PRS). 

 

MunsellCode Munsell color 

code 

Character 

XXXXX 

Standard 

alphanumeric 

coding of color 

partitioned into 

Hue, Value, and 

Chroma 

Ex: '5YR 6/4', See Rock-Color 

Chart (Geological Society of 

America, 1991). 

OrganicCarbon Organic 

carbon 

Integer 000 % Minimum value from 

descriptions (PRS tables) is 

0.1%. 

ShearStrength Log shear 

strength 

Decimal 00.0 kiloPascals, 

undrained, 

unconfined 

From a variety of 

instrumentation. 

Porosity Porosity Decimal 

00.00 

% 

P-waveVelocity P-wave 

velocity 

Decimal 00.0 m/sec Usually not corrected for P/T 

effects. 

Bottom 

roughness 

Roughness Decimal 

0000.00 

Coded to 

express the 

height and 

length of the 

bottom feature 

with greatest 

aspect ratio 

In a coding that expresses the 

height and length of the bottom 

feature with greatest aspect ratio; 

a coded output representing the 

V:H of the roughness element 

with greatest aspect ratio, values 

expressed as (rounded) integer 

log2. 

Critical shear 

stress 

Log critical 

shear stress 

Decimal 

0000.00 

Log10 of Tau in 

kPa, 

Log 10 of Tau in kPa, being the 

shear stress required to initiate 

easily observable erosion and 

transport, whether by traction or 

suspension; taken from a 

compilation of published 

relationships ranging from large 

boulder to muds, through a range 

of grain shapes (eg. shell). 

Sample phase Where in 

sample the 

data are from 

Character 

Xxxxx.... 

Where sample is 

from 

Records whether the results are 

for the whole, bulk sediment, or 

just to some special part like: 

inside a nodule, burrow-infill, 

the sand fraction, porewater 

(chemistry), a layer in the core, a 

gradient observed in the core, 

badly preserved, a layer that is 

not properly located, or sample 

with questionable location; also 

may report a type of analysis or 

observation if that is special or 

potentially unrepresentative (for 

20
example, XRD, smear slide). 

Output is as a word-based 

description that may involve 

numerics. This field will need to 

be selected against when GIS 

mappings of the bulk sedient 

characters are being mapped. 

Only blank entries should be 

included in such a mapping. 

Table C. Most frequently occurring biological components that may have textural implications (U.S. 

waters only) 

barnacles coralline algae fish debris_F pteropods serpulids 

bivalves corals forams radiolaria shells 

brachiopods crabs halimeda razor clams sponges_F

bryozoa crustaceans molluscs reefs worm tubes_F

calcareous algae diatoms nannofossils scaphopods 

clypeasts echinoids 

Table D. Components (features*) processed within usSEABED 

Only the descriptive terms found in source reports are defined in the dbSEABED thesaurus. 

Conversely, as usSEABED uses the same thesaurus as its sister data compilations (auSEABED, 

goSEABED), some terms listed below may not occur within U.S. waters. Only one of possible 

variations are listed below, for example, laminated (laminae, lamination); mollusc (mollusk, 

mollusca), etc.

Major 

synonym Triggering words (word variations not included) 

andest andesite, augite andesite, benmoreite, trachyandesite 

anmne_F anemone, tube anemone, cerinth, cerianthid, coryanactid 

annld_F annelid, arenicola, beachworm, bloodworm, bristleworm, funnelworm, nereid worm, 

polychaete, polynoid 

aren_frm arenaceous foraminfera, agglutinated foramifera, ammobaculite, ammodiscus, 

textularid foraminfera 

artif_F artificial, soot, anchor, brass, cinder, coal, contaminated, lumber, obstruction, 

petroleum, oil-gas, rubber band, snag, tar, wood chip, wreck 

asterd_F asteroid, basket star, briseaster, sea star, starfish 

barit barite (-concretion -vein) 

baslt basalt, diorite, metabasalt, scoria, trap rock, trachybasalt 

bioturb bioturbation 

bitumn bitumin 

biv bivalve, arctica, astarte, cardium, chama, chione, chlmys, clam (-shell -flat material -

21
hash -valves), cockle (-anadara -shell), donax, glycymeris, katalysia, lamellibranch, 

macoma, mercenaria, mulinia, mussel (-bed -bank -shell), mya, mytilus, nucula, 

pelecypod, quahog, rangia, seep mytilid, slipper shells, surf clam, tellina, tellinid, 

venerid, venus clams, vesicomyid, yoldia 

bluschst blue schist, crossite-albite schist, crossite-quartz schist, glaucophane, quartz crossite 

schist, quartz glaucophane schist 

bnth_frm 

benthic foraminfera, archaias, bolivina, bulimina, coralline forams, discorbis, 

eponides, homotrema, hyaline, lenticulina, loxostema, miliolid, nodosirid, nonien, 

notosirid, peneroplis, porcellanous, rotaiid, uvigerina 

borng_F boring, bioeroded 

brach brachiopod, lingula 

brncl barnacle 

bryz bryozoa, polyzoa 

burw_F burrow, chondrite, clam siphon, crab hole, lebensspurren, Thalassinoides 

c_alg calcareous algae, purple algae, red algae 

calc_ooz calcareous ooze, nannofossil -mud -ooze, pteropod -mud -ooze, foraminiferal -marl -

ooze -mud, globigerina -mud -ooze 

calcrst calcareous crust, tufa 

calct calcite (-cement -core -filling -veinlets) 

carb allogenic grain, authigenic carbonate, biogenic, calcareous, calcilutite, calcarenite, 

calcirudite, calcareous biogenic, carbonate, limey, marl, skeletal micrite 

chrcoal_F charcoal, fire debris 

chrt chert, flint, porcellanite 

claymin clay mineral, bentonite, chlorite, collophane, illite, kaolinite 

clypeast clypeasteriod, sand dollar 

coal coal, lignite, bituminous 

coralgl algal coral, coralgal 

crab crab, hermit crab, sand crab, spider crab, swimming crab 

crinod_F crinoid, basket star 

crl coral, Acropora palmata, brain coral, Dendrophyllia, Madrepore, Manicina, Porite, 

sea twig 

crl_dbr coral debris 

crlrf coral reef, coral heads, shingle bank, reefal shoal 

crnalg coralline algae, calcareous algae, lithothamnion 

crustac crustacea, decapods, lobster, shrimp shell 

defrmn_F deformation, convolute, flame structure, flow structure, load -cast -structure, pull 

22
apart 

diat diatom, diatomite/diatomaceous 

dolmt dolomite, ankerite, molar magnesium carbonate 

echnd echinoid, heart urchin, keyhole urchin, sea urchin, spiny urchin 

echndrm_F echinoderm 

fault_F fault 

fces feces, coprolite 

ferug ferruginous, iron fragment, iron (-cement -streak -flake -stain), iron stone, laterite, 

limonite 

flasr_bed_F flaser bed 

fld feldspar, albite, andesine, anorthorite, K-feldspar, labradorite, orthoclase, plagioclase 

frm calcareous foramifera, foraminifera, globigerina bit, planktonic 

gas foamy, gas 

gbbro gabbro, diabase, diorite, dolerite, meta-dolerite, monzodiorite, monzonite, quartz 

diorite 

glacl glacial, diamicton, erratic, moraine, till 

glauc glauconite, greensand 

gniss gneiss, diorite gneiss, granite gneiss 

gradd_F coarsening upward, fining upward, increasing grain size, normally graded, reverse 

graded 

granit granite, aplite, granodiorite, pegmatite 

grnschst greenschist 

gstrpd gastropod, cerithium, conch, turitella, snail, nassarius, olivella, tenebrae, turitella 

h2s hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen sulfide -odor -smell, sulfur odor 

halmda halimeda, Peyssonnelia 

holoth holothurian, sea cucumber 

hvy_min 

heavy mineral, anatase, andalusite, apatite, black sand, brookite, cassiterite, 

clinozoisite, corundum, dumortierite, epidote, garnet, ilmenite, jadeite, kyanite, 

leucoxene, magnetite, monazite, ore mineral, piedmontite, rutile, sillimanite, sphene, 

spinel, staurolite, titanomagnetite, titanite, tourmaline, topaz, zircon, zoisite 

hydrt hydrate, gas hydrate 

ign_rck 

igneous rock, acidic rock, alkali basinite, augite plagioclase porphyry, augite 

porphyry, basic rock, dacite, felsite, olivine plagioclase clinopyroxene, olivine 

plagioclase phyric, plagioclase andesite porphyry, plagioclase augite porphyry, 

plagioclase porphyry, plutonic rock, porphyry, rhyolite, syenite, trachyte 

klp_F kelp, brown algae, ecklonia, M. vertebralis, red brown algae 

23
lamintd_F laminated 

lenticlr_bed lenticular bed, lenticular mass 

limstn 

limestone, beach rock, bioclastic -floatstone -grainstone -limestone -rudstone, 

boundstone, bryozoan -floatstone -grainstone -rudstone, calcareous -chip -rubble -rock, 

coral limestone, floatstone, grainstone, packstone, rudstone, wackestone 

lmp_F lump, aggregate, ball, cast, clump, compact clot, intraclast, pellet, pisolitic, peloid 

lrg_frm large foram, foraminferal gravel, amphistegina, heterostegina, macro foraminifera, 

marginopora 

maf 

mafic, actinolite, aegirite, amphibole, augite, (brown- green- basaltic-) hornblende, 

bronzite, clinopyroxene, ferromagnesian, hypersthene, olivine, orthopyroxene, 

oxyhornblende, pyroxene, titanaugite, titaniferous, tremolite 

met metamorphic, calcsilicate, granitized, mylonite, porphyroblast, saussurite 

methne methane 

metlif metalliferous 

mica mica, biotite, chlorite, muscovite, sericite, talc 

mlsc mollusc 

mn_crst manganese crust, manganese iron oxide crust, manganese nodule, manganese 

pavement, manganese phosphate material 

mn_nod manganese nodule, iron manganese nodule, manganese concretion, micronodule 

mnoxd manganese oxide, iron-manganese (-coat -stain -veneer), iron-manganese oxide 

motl_F mottle, chickwire mottle 

mudlmp_F 

mud lump, armored mud ball, silty lump, clay (-aggregate -ball -chip -clast -gall -

lump -mass -pod), mud (-aggregate -ball -chunk -clump -clot -clast -lump -pebble -

pellet, claystone -chip -gall), sandstone fragment, soft pebble, shale (-fragment -

concretion) 

mudstn mudstone, calcareous (-mudstone- siltstone), clay (-rock -shale -stone), marlstone, 

mud (-rock -stone), pelite, shale, siliceous shale, siltstone 

nan nannofossil coccolith, nannofossil (-coccolith -ooze), silicoflagellate 

nod_F nodule, concretion 

odr odor, anoxic, fetid, foul, fishy, organic, sewage, smell 

oil oil, oil glob, oil sheen 

ool oolite, sporbo 

ooz ooze 

ophiurd_F ophiuroid, brittle star, ophiomusium 

orgcbn organic carbon, carbonaceous, organic (-streak -detritus -matter -mud -content -

enriched -material -part -paricle -rich -rimmed), sapropel 

oyst oyster, jingle shell 

peat peat, lignite 

24
pelag pelagic, hemipelagic, planktic, planktonic 

phspht phosphate, phosphorite 

pit_F pit, crater, feeding depression, hole, pockmark, mound, resting trace 

planr_bed_F planar bed 

plnk_frm planktonic foramifera, globerina, globorotalid, planktic foraminfera 

plnt_F plant, mangrove, root, vegetation, weed, root 

ptr pteropod 

pumc pumice, ash 

pyrt pyrite, marcasite 

qtz 

quartz, arkosic sand, calcareous quartz sand, milky vein quartz, quartz (-content -

fragment -grain -granule -groundmass -mass -rich -vein -veinlet -crystal), quartzose, 

quartzite (-cobble -gravel -pebble), sandstone (-chunk -fragment), silica 

rad radiolaria 

ripl ripple, bedform 

rlct_F relict 

root_struct root structure, root clast, root trace 

rzr_clm razor clam, ensis, pinna, pteria, pelecypod 

schst 

schist, -albite -chlorite -epidote, -albite -chlorite, -albite -mica, -albite -quartz -

chlorite, -biotite -quartz, -chlorite -albite, -chlorite -quartz -albite, -chlorite, -

phyllitic, -quartz -albite, -quartz -albite -chlorite, -quartz -biotite, -quartz -chlorite 

scllp scallop, astropecten, pecten, placopecten 

scour scour, crag and tail, erosional, lag deposit 

scphpd scaphopod, dentalium 

seagrs_F 

seagrass, acetabularia, amphibolis, batophora, eel grass, grass, halophila, 

heterozostera, phyllospadix, posidonia, sargassum, strap grass, syringodium, 

manatee grass, thallassia, zostera 

sft_alg_F soft algae, algal (-scum -filament -mush -strand), Bossea, green algae, macrophytic, 

red algae 

sftcrl_F soft coral, alcynacian, ascidian, coelentrate, gorgonian, hydrozoa 

shl shell, shell (-bed -bank -carpet -fraction -content -material), shellfish, valves 

shl_dbr shell debris, shell hash, coquina, shell (-bit -conglomerate -fragments -festoon -grit -

lag -mash -material -piece -particle) 

shrmp_F shrimp, amphipod, ampelisca, copepod, isopod, tanid 

sidrt siderite, siderite nodule 

sil_ooz siliceous ooze, siliceous mud 

25
slte slate, phyllite, quartzite, metamorphic rock 

sndstn sandstone, gritstone, graywacke, labile sandstone, sandstone reef, wacke 

sol_crl solitary coral, cup coral, disc coral, horn coral, lophelia coral 

spng_F sponge, calcareous sponge, glass sponge, hard sponge, hexactinellid sponge, 

porifera, Thalassodendron sponge 

spoil_F spoil, brick, coke, dumped sediment 

srpul serpulid, serpulid tube, serpulid worm tube 

sulf sulfide, chalcopyrite 

trail_F trail, trace (animal), track 

trrg terrigenous, lithic, inorganic 

umafic 

ultramafic, amphibolite, anorthosite, dunite, greenstone, harzburgite, lherzolite, 

norite, orthopyroxenite, periodotite, picrite, pyroxenite, serpentinite, troctolite, 

wehrlite 

vol_rck volcanic rock, volcanic (-cobble -pebble) 

volgls volcanic glass, obsidian, hyaloclastite, pyroclastic, quenched, vitric, subvitreous 

volrck volcanic rock, welded tuff 

volsed volcanic sediment, ash, tuff, lapilli 

wood wood, bark, twig 

wrm_F worm, chordate, echiurid, fan -flat (-glob -juicy -long -sand -tube worm), maldanid, 

pogonophora, priapulida, sliverfish, siphunculid, tunicate 

wrm_tbe_F 

worm tube, agglutinated worm tube, amphipod tube, annelid worm tube, arenicola, 

chitinous worm tube, diopatra worm tube, polychaete worm tube, pogonophoran 

tube worm, vestimentiform tube worm 

wavy_bed_F wavy bed 

Table E. Facies and their component makeup

Facies values are determined by a combination of components and their mined values from wordbased descriptions. Numeric textural, geochemical, and geophysical information held in _PRS data 

files. Values represent memberships to fuzzy sets, given as percents. A minimum of 30% 

component presence is required to trip a given facies, and a component may trip more than one 

facies. See _FAC files for actual data, and table C for component information. Facies notes presence 

only, not absence. 

Field name Parameter Data format, 

units 

Information/triggering components 

Latitude* Latitude Decimal 

00.00000 

Decimal degrees, 90° to -90° range 

Longitude* Longitude Decimal 

000.00000 

Decimal degrees, -180° to 180° range 

26
WaterDepth* Water depth Integer 

00000 

Meters 

SampleTop* Sample top Decimal 

000.00 

Meters below seabed surface 

SampleBase* Sample base Decimal 

000.00 

Meters below seabed surface 

SiteName* Site name Character 

XXX: XXX 

Survey or laboratory code for the sampling site 

DataSetKey* Dataset number 

key 

Integer 000 Relational key to _SRC file; _SRC file contains 

links to source metadata 

SiteKey* Site number key Integer 

0000000 

Relational key to other data files. Each site 

counted sequentially as total output; core data 

may have more than one sample per site. 

SampleKey* Sample number 

key 

Integer 

0000000 

Relational key to other data files. Each site 

counted sequentially as total output; Multiple 

samples may be at each site (i.e., in core). 

Terrigenous Terrigenous (%) Fld, hvy_min, maf, mica, qtz, trrg 

Carbonate Carbonate (%) Calcrst, calct, carb, dolmt, limstn, sidrt 

Igneous Igneous (%) Andest, baslt, gbbro, granit, ign_rck, umafic 

Volcanic Volcanic (%) Baslt, pumc, vol_rck, volgls, volrck, volsed 

Metamorphic Metamorphic (%) Bluschst, gniss, grnschst, met, schst, slte 

Mineralized Mineralized (%) Barit, metlif, phspht, pyrt, sulf 

AuthFeMn Authigenic Fe 

Mn 

(%) Mn_crust, mn_nod, mnoxd, ferug 

Ooze Ooze (%) Ooz, calc_ooz, sil_ooz 

Carbon Carbon (%) Coal, bitumn, orgcbn, peat 

GeochemSignal Geochemical 

signal 

(%) Gas, h2s, hydrt, methne, odr, oil 

Forams Forams (%) Aren_frm, bnth_frm, frm, lrg_frm, plnk_frm 

OtherCalcPelag Other 

calcareous 

pelagics 

(%) Nan, ptr, calc_ooz 

SilcPelag Siliceous 

pelagics 

(%) Diat, rad, sil_ooz 

Shell Shell (%) Shl, shl_dbr 

Coral Coral (%) Crl, crl_dbr, crlrf, sol_crl 

HardPlant Hard plants (%) C_alg, coralgl, crnalg, halmda 

27
Data Catalog 

Data provided in this publication are located using geographic coordinates for integration 

into a Geographic Information System (GIS). A GIS is defined as a system of hardware and 

software to support the display, manipulation, and analysis of spatial data for mapping and 

complex data solving. This integrated package provides researchers the ability to integrate, 

analyze, and map the various data sets as an aid to scientific research, and policy-making 

decisions tied to the environment. 

The sediment/sea-floor layers contained in five shapefiles as parsed, exracted, calculated, 

facies and computed data. The five individual sediment/sea-floor data layers basemap data have 

been compiled into an ArcView TM project file (nynj.apr) at the top-level directory of this 

publication. This project file is intended to be opened and the data viewed with the 

Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) ArcViewTM or ArcGISTM software. The 

project file reflects relative paths to the archived data as organized within this publication. To 

open the supplied project file and view the datasets, the user must start the GIS software, 

navigate to the top-level of this publication and open the project file (nynj.apr). 

For those who don't have the ESRI software or a compatible GIS data browser available 

on their computer, a free viewer, ArcExplorerTM, is available from ESRI. Please note that the 

ArcExplorerTM software is limited to the Microsoft Windows operating system. 

Each GIS data layer from this publication is cataloged in the table below for easy access. 

The individual data layers are described and include the shapefile name (e.g. _EXT is extracted 

data ) which is linked to a browse graphic showing the data layer extent and coverage. 

Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) metadata for the individual data layers is 

provided in three versions (HTML, FAQ, and text). Selecting associated metadata files from the 

table below will open the information in a new browser window. 

A 'zip' compressed, downloadable archive file containing the ArcViewTM shapefile for 

each data layer is also provided. Compressed downloadable files were created using the 

Windows program WINZIP v8.0. For those users who do not have software capable of 

uncompressing the archived zip files, they may obtain a free version of the software from 

Winzip Computing, Inc. or Pkware, Inc. In addition to the ArcViewTM shapefile, the sediment 

data layers are available in an ASCII text format and a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet format. The 

first record of the ASCII file and Excel spreadsheet contains the name of the data fields for that 

file. 

usSEABED Data 

Directory: data/usseabed

Data Layer Name 

and Description Metadata Files

NYNJ_PRS - usSEABED parsed (word-based) data for the New 

York-New Jersey region. An explanation of the individual data 

sets may be found in the Data Dictionary section. 

HTML

FAQ

text

zip

Excel 

text

NYNJ_EXT - usSEABED extracted data for the New York-New 

Jersey region . An explanation of the individual data sets may be 

found in the Data Dictionary section. 

HTML

FAQ

text

zip

Excel

text

28
NYNJ_CLC - usSEABED calculated data for the New YorkNew Jersey region. An explanation of the individual data sets 

may be found in the Data Dictionary section. 

HTML

FAQ

text

zip

Excel

text

NYNJ_FAC - usSEABED facies data for the New York-New 

Jersey region. An explanation of the individual data sets may be 

found in the Data Dictionary section. 

HTML

FAQ

text

zip

Excel

text

NYNJ_CMP - usSEABED computed data for the New YorkNew Jersey region. An explanation of the individual data sets 

may be found in the Data Dictionary section. 

HTML

FAQ

text

zip

Excel

text

ATL_SRC - usSEABED source data for the Atlantic Coast. An 

explanation of the individual data sets may be found in the Data 

Dictionary section. 

Online

text

Online

html

Bathymetry

Directory: data/bathymetry

Data Layer Name 

and Description Metadata Files

atl_grd - New York-New Jersey regional bathymetric data, 

converted to 'hillshaded' to show bathymetry features. 

HTML

FAQ

text

zip

Basemaps

Directory: data/basemaps

Data Layer Name 

and Description Metadata Files

eez - Boundaries of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (US 

EEZ) of the New York-New Jersey project area, extending 200 

nautical miles offshore.

HTML

FAQ

text

zip

3nm Federal - The 3 nautical mile boundary between state 

and federal waters . 

HTML

FAQ

text

zip

state_bounds - Internal US state boundaries

HTML

FAQ

text

zip

nos80k - US states map

HTML

FAQ

text

zip

29
Sea-Floor Photos 

 Directory: Online

Data Layer Name 

and Description Metadata Files

seafloor - Sea-Floor photos, previously included in USGS 

Open-File Report 2001-154 (Paskevich and others, 

2001) 

Online Online

Spatial and Temporal Uncertainties 

Users of usSEABED data are reminded that many sea-floor regions are, by their nature, 

dynamic environments subject to a variety of physical processes, such as erosion, winnowing, 

reworking, and sedimentation or accretion that vary on different spatial and temporal scales, and 

sea-floor samples may represent a only moment in time. Although usSEABED is comprised of 

samples collected, described, and analyzed by many different organizations and individuals over 

a span of years, metadata are provided for each source report. In cases where original metadata 

are not available from the data source, metadata were created based on available information 

accompanying the data. Of particular importance, site locations are as given in the original 

sources, with uncertainties due to navigational techniques and datums ignored in the usSEABED 

compilation. As many reports are decades old, users of usSEABED should use their own criteria 

to determine the appropriateness of data from each source report for their particular purpose and 

scale of interest.

In addition, there are uncertainties in data quality associated with both the extracted data 

(analytical analyses) and parsed data (word-based descriptions). It may be that grain-size 

analyses are done solely on the sand fraction, excluding coarser material, such as shell 

fragments and gravel, while word descriptions of sediment samples may emphasize or deemphasize the proportion of fine or coarse sediment fraction or disregard other important 

textural or biological components. Detailed information about issues such as these are noted in 

the source metadata files, and known incomplete data are decommissioned in usSEABED. 

Users are encouraged to view the entire document before downloading the data files and 

should refer to the metadata files for information about individual sources, limitations, date of 

collection, and other information. As issues about the data or the data processing may be 

discovered, errata will be posted on the usSEABED Web site. Corrections will be included in the 

next version of the publication. 

Browse Maps 

Overview 

Several examples of the maps and data products are shown below. For this publication 

we have chosen to focus on the Extracted and Parsed data within the dataset. The data are in 

no way limited to these few displays, and users are encouraged to review the definitions of the 

data files in the Data Dictionary (data_dictionary.htm). 

The images and maps in this Open-File Report serve as examples of products that may 

be generated using the usSEABED data provided in the Data Catalog section. A wide array 

of additional gridded maps and plots of sea floor sediment texture, character, and related 

30
geologic attributes from the New York-New Jersey offshore region can be constructed from the 

usSEABED data using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications (e.g. ArcViewTM, 

ArcExplorerTM, MapInfoTM). 

Data at a Glance

Scatter plots of mean grain size (x-axis) vs. sorting (y-axis) for the Extracted data (top 

figure) and the Parsed data along the Atlantic coastal margin of the United States from USGS 

Data Series 118, Reid and others, 2005. Based on the sediment texture and character the samples 

are grouped into three primary facies: (A) Relict Cretaceous/ Pleistocene sediments, (B) Modern 

sand and gravel derived and reworked from older formations, and (C) Muds and muddy fine 

sands associated with estuarine outcrops on the shelf and the Hudson Shelf Valley. 

31
Scatter plots of mean grain size (x-axis) vs. sorting (y-axis) for the Extracted 

data. 

Parsed data along the Atlantic coastal margin of the United States from 

USGS Data Series 118, Reid and others, 2005. 

32
Mean Grain Size 

The map above of mean grain size is based on the extracted and parsed data from the 

usSEABED dataset (Reid and others, 2005). A larger version of the map may be viewed 

by selecting this link: main map. A precursory look at the map shows overall trends in 

sediment distribution. Long Island inner shelf regions (detail map) trend towards fine to 

medium sands (1-3 phi), while regions off northern New Jersey at the head of the 

Hudson Shelf Valley and down the thalweg tend toward finer grained sediments 

(>3phi) (detailed map). A predominance of fine grained sediments (muddy fine sand, mud) 

is also true of regions of Delaware Bay (detailed map) and outer edges of continental 

shelf (detailed map). Detailed maps of the areas below may be viewed by selecting the 

area within the red boxes. 

Images are best viewed at full size. The images included in this publication are designed 

to be printed on 8.5" x 11" sheets of paper, and therefor are best viewed on screen at full 

resolution. 

33
.

Within the usSEABED dataset, mean grain 

size represents the calculated average phi 

size from standard lab-based sample 

methods (extracted data) and word-based 

(parsed data) observational data. 

Color coding is used to illustrate the surficial 

sediment texture and distribution 

documented by the point coverages. Samples 

for which mean grain size data are available 

were assigned a modified Wentworth 

classification, shown to the left. This is based 

on phi value divisions Wentworth, 1922. 

A Few Example Maps of Sediment Texture 

Map of the primary 

sedimentary provinces 

based on the underlying 

framework geology and 

sedimentary features 

comprising the sea floor. 

 

34
Map of Shepard sediment 

classification based on 

extracted (numeric) data 

only. 

 

Map of Shepard sediment 

classification based on 

parsed (word-based) data 

only. The parsed dataset 

greatly increases the 

amount of available data , 

and overall geographical 

coverage. 

35
Map of gravel-sand-mud 

percentages. Map view 

symbols represent the 

parsed data, while oblique 

view symbols represent 

the extracted data. This 

type of a display offers 

more insight into the 

overall sediment 

composition than the 

simplified view of mean 

grain size. This is often the 

case for fish habitat 

studies, where sea floor 

composition is more 

important than 

generalized, or averaged, 

information. 

 

Example of shore-normal 

transects for Long Island 

and New Jersey, where 

usSEABED data may be 

examined superimposed 

on high resolution NOAA 

bathymetry. Click the 

image for a larger view, 

from which you will be 

able to click the line to 

bring up the transect 

details. 

36
Map of mean grain size 

based on both extracted 

and parsed data in 

usSEABED. This is the 

same shown above, with 

the detail boxes in red. 

 

Map of sediment sorting of 

extracted and parsed data 

(over 29,000 samples for 

the New York-New Jersey 

region). 

37
Selected References

The following references contain basic textural data, discuss sea-floor sediment 

distribution, or relate to sediment classification schemes in the New York-New Jersey offshore 

region. 

Allen-Lafayette, Z., Uptegrove, J., Waldner, J.S., Hall, D.W., Smith, P.C., Ashley, G.M., 

Sheridan, R.E., Goss, M.C., Muller, F.L., and Keller, E., 1998, Identified potential beach 

replenishment sand sources, onshore and offshore New Jersey, in Digital Mapping Techniques 

'98, Champaign, IL, 1998, Proceedings: Champaign, Ill., p. 104-105, 

Alpine Geophysical Associates, 1969, Final report on data reduction for CERC New Jersey 

Offshore Sand Inventory Program: Coastal Engineering Research Center, 48 p. 

Amato, R.V., 1994, Sand and gravel maps of the Atlantic Continental Shelf with explanatory 

text, U.S. Minerals Management Service OCS Monograph MMS 93-0037, scale 1:1,000,000, 

35 p. 

Amato, R.V., 1997, Management of sand resources on the continental shelf off New Jersey 

[abs.], in Geological Society of America, Northeastern Section, Annual Meeting, 32nd, King 

of Prussia, Penn., 1997, Proceedings: Abstracts with Programs, Geological Society of 

America, p. 27. 

Anders, F.J., Bocamazo, L.M., Tanski, J., and Davies, D.S., 1995, A cooperative shoreline 

erosion monitoring program, Atlantic Coast of New York [abs.], in Coastal Zone '95, Tampa, 

Fla.: American Society of Civil Engineers, p. 496-497. 

Baldwin, S.M., Mecray, E.L., Koopmans, D.J., and Buchholtz ten Brink, M.R., The distribution 

of sewage sludge, traced by elevated Silver and copper concentrations, along the Hudson 

Shelf Valley [abs.]: Geological Society of America, Northeastern and Southeastern Sections 

Joint Meeting, Tysons Corner , Va. , March 25-27, 2004. 

Bishop, K.J., 2000, Assessment of offshore sediments in Area C (offshore Barnegat Inlet) from 

the New Jersey Continental Shelf for potential use in beach replenishment: Lawrenceville, NJ, 

Rider University, Senior Thesis Project, 36 p. 

Bocamazo, L.M., 1991, Sea Bright to Manasquan, New Jersey, beach erosion control projects: 

Shore & Beach, v. 59, no. 3, p. 37-42. 

Bokuniewicz, H.J., and Fray, C.T., 1979, The volume of sand and gravel resources in the lower 

bay of New York Harbor: Marine Sciences Research Center, State University of New York 

Special Report No. 32, 34 p. 

Bokuniewicz, H.J., 1988, The study of subaqueous sand mining in New York Harbor: Marine 

Mining, v. 7, no. 1, p. 7-18. 

Buchholtz ten Brink, M.R., Bothner, M.H., and Mecray, E.L., 2001, Contaminated coastal 

sediments in the northeastern United States; changing sources over time [abs.]: American 

Geophysical Union, Eos, Transactions, v. 82, no. 20, p. S230. 

Buczkowski, B.J., Reid, J.A., Jenkins, C.J., Reid, J.M., Williams, S.J., and Flocks, J.G., 2006, 

usSEABED: Gulf of Mexico and Carribbean (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands) Offshore 

Surficial Sediment Data Release: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 146, Version 1.0, CDROM. 

Butman, B., Noble, M., and Folger, D., 1979, Long term observations of bottom current and 

bottom sediment movement on the middle Atlantic continental shelf: Journal of Geophysical 

Research, v. 84, p. 1187-1205. 

38
Butman, B., Danforth, W.W., Schwab, W.C. and Buchholtz ten Brink, M.R.,1998, Multibeam 

bathymetric and backscatter maps of the Upper Hudson Shelf Valley and adjacent shelf, 

offshore of New York: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-616, 4 sheets, scale 

1:125,000. 

Butman, B., 1998, Mapping the sea floor geology offshore of the New York - New Jersey 

metropolitan region: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet, FS 133-98, 2 p. 

Butman, B., Alexander, P.S., Harris, C.K., Traykovski, P.A., Buchholtz ten Brink , M.R., 

Lightsom, F.S., and Martini, M.A., 2003, Oceanographic observations in the Hudson Shelf 

Valley, December 1999 - April 2000: data report: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

02-217, DVD-ROM. 

Butman, B., Middleton, T.J., Thieler, E.R., and Schwab, W.C.,2003, Topography, shaded relief, 

and backscatter intensity of the Hudson Shelf Valley, offshore of New York: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File-Report 03-372, DVD-ROM. 

Butman, B., Gutierrez, B.T., Buchholtz ten Brink, M.R., Schwab, W.C., Blackwood, D.S., and 

Middleton, T.J., 2003, Photographs of the sea floor offshore of New York and New Jersey: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File-Report 01-470, DVD-ROM. 

Byrnes, M.R., Hammer, R.M., Vittor, B.A., Ramsey, J.S., Snyder, D.B., Wood, J.D., Bosma, 

K.F., Thibaut, T.D., and Philips, N.W., 2001, Environmental survey of potential sand resource 

sites: offshore New Jersey. Volume I: Main Text, Volume II: Appendices: U.S. Department of 

the Interior, Minerals Management Service, International Activities and Marine Minerals 

Division (INTERMAR), OCS Report MMS 2000-052, 664 p. 

Carlisle, D., and Wallace, W.A., 1978, Sand and gravel in the greater New York area: what kind 

and how much?: New York Sea Grant Series, 68 p. 

de Figueiredo, A.G., Jr., 1984, Submarine sand ridges: geology and development, New Jersey, 

USA: Coral Gables, Florida, University of Miami, Ph.D. Thesis, 524 p. 

Duane, D.B., 1969, A study of New Jersey and northern New England coastal waters: Shore and 

Beach, v. 37, no. 2, p. 12 - 16. 

Duane, D.B., 1969, Sand and gravel deposits in the nearshore continental shelf, Sandy Hook to 

Cape May, New Jersey [abs.]: Geological Society of America Meeting, Abstracts with 

Programs, v. Part 7, p. 53-54. 

Emery, K.O., and Milliman, J.D., 1979, Quaternary sediments of the Atlantic continental shelf 

off the United States: Quaternaria, v. 12, p. 3-18. 

Emery, K.O., and Uchupi, E., 1984, The Geology of the Atlantic Ocean: New York, NY, 

Springer-Verlag, 1050 p. 

Esker, D., 1993, Synthetic seismograms from vibracores; a tool for correlating the seismic 

record to the sediment record of Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey: New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers, 

The State University, New Brunswick, Master's Thesis, 198 p. 

Esker, D., Sheridan, R.E., Ashley, G.M., Waldner, J.S., and Hall, D.W., 1996, Synthetic 

seismograms from vibracores; a case study in correlating the late Quaternary seismic 

stratigraphy of the New Jersey inner continental shelf: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 

66, no. 6, p. 1156-1168. 

Folk, R.L., 1954. The distinction between grain size and mineral composition in sedimentary 

rock nomenclature. Journal of Geology 62 (4), 344-359. 

Folk, R.L., 1974, The petrology of sedimentary rocks: Austin, Tex., Hemphill Publishing Co., 

182 p. 

Foster, D.S., Swift, B.A. and Schwab, W.C., 1999, Stratigraphic Framework Maps of the 

Nearshore Area of Southern Long Island from Fire Island to Montauk Point, New York: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-559. 

39
Freeland, G.L., and Swift, D.J.P., 1978, MESA New York Bight Atlas Monograph 10: New 

York Sea Grant Institute, 93 p. 

Garrison, L.E., and McMaster, R.L., 1966, Sediments and geomorphology of the continental 

shelf off southern New England: Marine Geology, v. 4, p. 273-289. 

Gaswirth, S.B., 1999, The late Pleistocene to Holocene glacial history of Raritan Bay, New 

Jersey: New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, 

M.S. Thesis, 157 

Harris, C.K., Butman, B., and Traykovski, P., 2003, Winter-time circulation and sediment 

transport in the Hudson Shelf Valley: Continental Shelf Research, v. 23, no. 8. 

Hastings M.E., Poppe, L.J., and Hathaway, J.C., 2000, Surficial sediment database, in: Poppe, 

L.J., and Polloni, C.F. (eds.) USGS East-Coast Sediment Analysis: Procedures, Database, and 

Georeferenced Displays, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-358, CD-ROM. 

Hathaway, J.C., 1971, Data File-Continental Margin Program, Atlantic Coast of the United 

States: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Reference No. 71-15, 496 p. 

Kastens, K.A., Fray, C.T., and Schubel, J.R., 1978, Environmental effects of sand mining in the 

lower bay of New York Harbor; phase 1: Marine Sciences Research Center, State University 

of New York Special Report no. 15, 139 p. 

Knebel, H.J., Signell, R.P., Rendigs, R.R., Poppe, L.J., and List, J.H., 1998, Maps and 

illustrations showing the acoustic and textural characteristics and the distribution of bottom 

sedimentary environments, Long Island Sound, Connecticut-New York in Long Island Sound 

Environmental Studies (L.J. Poppe and C. Polloni, editors): U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 98-502, Chapter 1, CD-ROM, 14 p. 

Knebel, H.J., Signell, R.P., Rendigs, R.R., Poppe, L.J., and List, J.H., 1999, Sea-floor 

environments in the Long Island Sound estuarine system: Marine Geology, v. 155, no. 3-4, p. 

277-318. 

Knebel, H.J., Lewis, R.S., and Varekamp, J.C., 2000, Regional processes, conditions, and 

characteristics of the Long Island Sound sea floor: Journal of Coastal Research, v. 16, no. 3, p. 

519-521. 

Knebel, H.J., and Poppe, L.J., 2000, Sea-floor environments within Long Island sound--A 

regional overview: Journal of Coastal Research, Special Thematic Section, v. 16, no. 3, p. 

535-550. 

Lewis, R.S., and Neff, N.F., 1992, Continental margins program - years five and six: 

stratigraphic and depositional history of Long Island Sound [abs.]: Program and abstracts from 

the Third Symposium on Studies Related to Continental Margins: a summary of year-five and 

year-six Activities, p. 32. 

Lewis, R.S., Robinson, A.C., McHone, N., DiGiacomo-Cohen, M.L., Poppe, L.J., and Polloni, 

C., 1998, Long Island Sound bibliographic database, in Poppe, L.J., and Polloni, C., eds., 

Long Island Sound Environmental Studies: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-502, 

Chapter 7, CD-ROM. 

Lubchansky, B.J., 1999, Stratigraphic relationships of nine core samples collected from offshore shoals located in federal waters off Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1999 Assateague Shelf 

and Shore Workshop, 25th: Lewes, Del., University of Delaware, unpaginated. 

Lubchansky, B.J., 1999, Stratigraphic relationships of nine core samples collected from offshore shoals located in federal waters off Atlantic City, New Jersey: Lawrenceville, NJ, Rider 

University, Senior Thesis Project, with appendix. 

Marine Resources Development Corporation, 1979, The feasibility of offshore mining of 

construction minerals in the Greater New York Metropolitan Area: A technical survey: Report 

to U.S. Geological Survey by MRDC, 131 p. 

40
Mauriello, M.N., 1991, Beach nourishment and dredging; New Jersey's policies: Shore & 

Beach, v. 59, no. 3, p. 25-28. 

Mecray, E.L., Buchholtz ten Brink, M.R. and Butman, B., 1999, Contaminants and marine 

geology in the New York Bight: modern sediment dynamics and a legacy for the future: U.S. 

Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS-114-99, May 1999. 

Mecray, E.L., Reid, J.M., Hastings, M.E., and Buchholtz ten Brink, M.R., 2003, Contaminated 

Sediments Database for Long Island Sound and the New York Bight : U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 03-241. 

McKinney, T.F., and Friedmann, G.M., 1970, Continental shelf sediments of Long Island, New 

York: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 40, no. 1, p. 213-248. 

Meisburger, E.P., and Williams, S.J., 1980, Sand resources on the inner Continental Shelf of the 

Cape May region, New Jersey: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Coastal Engineering Research 

Center Miscellaneous Report MR 80-4, 40 p. 

Meisburger, E.P., and Williams, S.J., 1981, Use of vibratory coring samples for sediment 

surveys: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Coastal Engineering Research Center Technical Aid 

81-9, 18 p. 

Meisburger, E.P., and Williams, S.J., 1982, Sand resources on the inner continental shelf off the 

central New Jersey coast: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Coastal Engineering Research 

Center Miscellaneous Report MR 82-10, 48 p. 

Milliman, J.D., 1972, Atlantic continental shelf and slope of the United States; petrology of the 

sand fraction of sediments, northern New Jersey to southern Florida: U.S. Geological Survey 

Professional Paper 529-J, p. J1 - J40. 

Muessig, K.W., Uptegrove, J., Waldner, J.S., Mullikin, L.G., Hall, D.W., Gilroy, J., and Muller, 

F.J., 1994, New Jersey's cooperative study of offshore sand resources in Federal waters for 

beach replenishment [abs.]: Geologic Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 26, no. 

3, p. 64. 

Mugler, M.W., 1981, Beach nourishment with dredged material: U.S. Army Engineer Institute 

for Water Resources Policy Study 81-0110, 66 p. 

Muller, F.L., Uptegrove, J., Miller, K.G., Aubry, M.-P., Browning, J.V., Bukry, D., Burckle, 

L.D., Feigenson, M.D., Goss, M., Gwynn, D., Heibel, T., Kent, D.V., Liu, C., Mullikin, L., 

Pekar, S.F., Powars, D., Queen, D., Sugarman, P.J., and Van Fossen, M.C., 1997, Data report; 

Heavy mineral analysis of the upper Miocene(?) to Pleistocene sands, Cape May site, in 

Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results; New Jersey coastal plain; covering onshore 

boreholes as part of the New Jersey sea-level transect, Island Beach and Atlantic City sites, 

March-August 1993, Cape May site, March-April 1994: Texas A & M University, Ocean 

Drilling Program, College Station, Tex., United States, p. 75-79. 

Nevin, C.M., 1929, Sand and gravel resources of New York State: New York Geological Survey 

Bulletin 282, 180 p. 

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2001, 

Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet feasibility study: New Jersey Department of Environmental 

Protection, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Draft Feasibility Report, Integrated Environmental 

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Ocean/Seismic/Survey, 1981, Identification of potential ocean borrow sources offshore of Fire 

Island Inlet to Montauk Point, New York: New York District Corps of Engineers Contract No. 

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from the Continental Margin program - a pictorial survey of benthic character and habitats 

along the U.S. east coast: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 01-154, CD-ROM. 

41
Poppe, L.J., and Polloni, C., 1998, Long Island Sound environmental studies: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 98-502, CD-ROM. 

Poppe, L.J., and Polloni, C.F. (eds.), 2000, USGS East-Coast Sediment Analysis: Procedures, 

Database, and Georeferenced Displays, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-358, 

CD-ROM. 

Poppe, L.J., Williams, S.J., and Paskevich, V.F., Editors, (2005). “USGS East-coast sediment 

analysis: procedures, database, and GIS data”, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

2005-1001, DVD-ROM. 

Pratt, R.M., 1968, Atlantic continental shelf and slope of the United States: physiography and 

sediments of the deep-sea basin: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 529-B, 44 p. 

Pulliam, J., Austin, J.A., Jr., Luhurbudi, E.C., Saustrup, S., and Stoffa, P.L., 1996, An ultrahigh 

resolution 3-D survey of the shallow subsurface on the continental shelf of New Jersey: 

Leading Edge, v. 15, no. 7, p. 839-845. 

Reid, J.M., Reid, J.A., Jenkins, C.J., Hastings, M.E., Williams, S.J., and Poppe, L.J. 2005. 

“usSEABED: Atlantic coast offshore surficial sediment data release”, U.S. Geological Survey 

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Reid, J.A., Reid, J.M., Jenkins, C.J., Zimmermann, M., Williams, S.J., and Field, M.E., 2006, 

usSEABED: Pacific Coast (California, Oregon, Washington) Offshore Surficial-Sediment 

Data Release: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 182, version 1.0. 

Richards, H.G., 1983, Generalized structural contour maps of the New Jersey Coastal Plain: 

New Jersey Geological Survey Report 4, 38 p. 

Rine, J.M., Tillman, R.W., and Swift, D.J.P., 1986, Generation of late Holocene sand ridges on 

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Meeting, Raleigh, N.C.: Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, p. 95. 

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Ross, D.A., 1970, Atlantic continental shelf and slope of the United States: heavy minerals of 

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U.S. Geological Survey Circular 602, 9 p. 

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Schwab, W.C., Thieler, E.R., Allen, J.R., Foster, D.S., Swift, B.A., Denny, J.F., and Danforth, 

W.W., 1999, Geologic Mapping of the nearshore area offshore Fire Island, New York, in 

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42
Schwab, W.C., Thieler, E.R., Denny, J.F., Danforth, W.W. and Hill, J.C., 2000, sea floor 

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43
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OSC study MMS 99-0036, 1 CD-ROM. 

Uptegrove, J., Grosz, A., Maharaj, S.V., and Muller, F.J., 1991, Physiographic, bathymetric and 

textural controls on heavy-mineral enrichment in surficial sediments of the New Jersey shelf 

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G.P., and Cheung, T.T., 1991, Preliminary textural and mineralogic analyses of vibracore 

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Uptegrove, J., Muessig, K.W., Muller, F.L., Maharaj, S.V., and Grosz, A.E., 1992, Distribution 

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Uptegrove, J., Muller, F.J., Maharaj, S.V., Grosz, A., and Muessig, K.W., 1992, Distribution of 

heavy-minerals and gravel in offshore sediments as determined from vibracore samles from 

Barnegat to Absecon Inlets, New Jersey: Abstracts with programs, Northeastern Section, 

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Uptegrove, J., Muessig, K.W., Grosz, A., Muller, F.J., and Maharaj, S.V., 1994, Distribution of 

heavy minerals and gravel in sediments of the New Jersey shelf as determined from grab and 

vibracore samples, in Symposium on Studies Related to Continental Margins, 3rd: Austin, 

Twx., Minerals Management Service and Association of American State Geologists, p. 106-

112. 

Uptegrove, J., Mullikin, L.G., Waldner, J.S., Ashley, G.M., Sheridan, R.E., Hall, D.W., Gilroy, 

J., and Farrell, S.C., 1995, Characterization of offshore sediments in federal waters as 

potential sources of beach replenishment sand; Phase I: Minerals Management Service, U.S. 

Department of the Interior Cooperative Agreement #14-35-0001-30666, New Jersey 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-1, 150 p. 

Uptegrove, J., Waldner, J.S., Smith, P.C., Mullikin, L.G., Sheridan, R.E., Ashley, G.M., Hall, 

D.W., and Farrell, S.C., 1996, Identification of shoreline erosion areas and characterization of 

beach-replenishment sand sources for New Jersey, in Annual Meeting of the Association of 

Engineering Geologists, 39th: East Brunswick, N.J., p. 71. 

Uptegrove, J., Waldner, J.S., Hall, D.W., Smith, P.C., Ashley, G.M., Sheridan, R.E., AllenLafayette, Z., Goss, M.C., Mueller, F.L., and Keller, E., 1997, Characterization of sediments 

in federal waters offshore of New Jersey as potential sources for beach replenishment sand; 

Phase II Year 2 Final Report: U.S. Minerals Managament Service Cooperative Agreement 

#14-35-0001-30751, 29 p. 

Uptegrove, J., Hall, D.W., Waldner, J.S., Sheridan, R.E., Lubchansky, B.J., and Ashley, G.M., 

1999, Geologic framework of the New Jersey inner shelf: results from resource-based seismic 

and vibracore studies, in Puffer, J.H., ed., New Jersey beaches and coastal processes from a 

44
geologic and environmental perspectives; Newark, N.J., Geological Association of New 

Jersey, p. 45 - 64. 

Uptegrove, J., Hall, D.W., Waldner, J.S., Lubchansky, B.J., Sheridan, R.E., and Ashley, G.M., 

2000, Pleistocene/Holocene geology of the New Jersey Inner Shelf: results from resourcebased seismic and vibracore studies [abs.]: Geologic Society of America Abstracts with 

Programs, v. 32, no. 1, p. 80. 

Vincent, C.E., Swift, D.J.P., and Hillard, B., 1981, Transport in the New York bight, North 

American Atlantic shelf: Marine Geology, v. 42, no. 1-4, p. 369-398. 

Waldner, J.S., and Others, 1991, A marine seismic survey to delineate Tertiary and Quaternary 

stratigraphy of coastal plain sediments offshore to Atlantic City, New Jersey: New Jersey 

Geological Survey Report 26, 15 p. 

Waldner, J.S., Hall, D.W., Uptegrove, J., Sheridan, R.E., and Ashley, G.M., 1996, Geophysical 

search for offshore borrow-pit sites to dispose of dredge spoils in New York-New Jersey 

Harbor, in Association of Engineering Geologists Annual Meeting, 39th, East Brunswick, NJ, 

Association of Engineering Geologists, p. 72. 

Waldner, J.S., Hall, D.W., Uptegrove, J., Sheridan, R.E., Ashley, G.M., and Esker, D., 1999, 

Assessment of offshore New Jersey sources of beach replenishment sand by diversified 

application of geologic and geophysical methods [abs.]: Marine Georesources and 

Geotechnology, v. 17, no. 2-3, p. 139-140. 

Waldner, J.S., Sheridan, R.E., Uptegrove, J., Hall, D.W., and Ashley, G.M., 1999, Prospecting 

for sand, offshore New Jersey, in International Symposium on Coastal Engineering and 

Science of Coastal Sediment Processes, 4th: Hauppauge, N.Y., American Society of Civil 

Engineers, p. 2090-2101. 

Wentworth, C.K., 1922, A scale of grade and class terms for clastic sediments: Journal of 

Geology, v. 30, p. 377-392. 

Wentworth, C.K., 1929, Method of computing mechanical composition of sediments: 

Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 40, p. 771-790. 

Wellner, R.W., 1990, High-resolution seismic stratigraphy and depositional history of Barnegat 

Inlet, New Jersey and vicinity: New Brunswick, New Jersey, The State University of New 

Jersey, M.S. Thesis, 109 p. 

Williams, S.J., and Field, M.E., 1971, Sediments and shallow structures of the inner continental 

shelf off Sandy Hook, New Jersey [abs.]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with 

Programs, v. 3, no. 1, p. 62. 

Williams, S.J., 1973, The geologic framework of inner New York Bight - its influence on 

positioning offshore engineering structures [abs.]: Geological Society of America Abstracts 

with Programs, v. 5, no. 2, p. 239. 

Williams, S.J., and Duane, D.B., 1974, Geomorphology and sediments of the inner New York 

Bight continental shelf: U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers, Coastal Engineering Research 

Center, TM-45, 81 p. 

Williams, S.J., 1976, Geomorphology, shallow subbottom structure, and sediments of the 

Atlantic Inner Continental Shelf off Long Island, New York: Dept. of the Army, Coastal 

Engineering Research Center , Technical Paper TP 76-2, 123 p. 

Williams, S.J., 1976, Geologic structure, stratigraphy, and sediment distribution on the inner 

continental shelf off Long Island, New York [abs.]: Geological Society of America Abstracts 

with Programs, v. 8, no. 2, p. 301. 

Williams, S.J., 1981, Sand resources and geological character of Long Island Sound: U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers Coastal Engineering Research Center, Technical Paper TP 81-3, 65 p. 

45
Williams, S.J., and Meisburger, E.P., 1987, Sand sources for the transgressive barrier coast of 

Long Island, New York: evidence for landward transport of shelf sediments, in Specialty 

Conference on Advances in Understanding of Coastal Sediment Processes: Coastal Sediments 

'87, New Orleans, La., American Society of Civil Engineers, p. 1517-1532. 

Williams, S.J., 1992, Sand and gravel - an enormous offshore resource within the U.S. Exclusive 

Economic Zone, in DeYoung, J.H., Jr., and Hammarstrom, J.M., eds., Contributions to 

Commodity Geology Research: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1877, p. H1-H10. 

Williams, S. J., Jenkins, C., Currence, J., Penland, S., Reid, J., Flocks, J., Kindinger, J., Poppe, 

L., Kulp, M., Manheim, F., Hampton, M., Polloni, C., and Rowland, J. (2003). "New digital 

geological maps of U.S. continental margins: insights to sea floor sedimentary character, 

aggregate resources and processes, Proceedings of the International Conference on Coastal 

Sediments 2003,: Corpus Christi, Tex., World Scientific Publishing Corporation and East 

Meets West Productions, Corpus Christi, Tex., 11 p., CD-ROM. 

Williams, S.J., Reid, J., and Manheim, F. (2004). "A Bibliography of Selected References to 

U.S. Marine Sand and Gravel Mineral Resources", U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

03-300. 

Wolff, F.P., 1994, Evidence of the effects of onshore sand migration from the shoreface across 

the barrier islands of the south shore of Long Island, New York [abs.]: Geological Society of 

America Abstracts with Programs, v. 26, no. 7, p. 178-179.

Related Websites 

This report is a product of The USGS Marine Aggregate Resources and Processes 

Project, and is the first of a series of publications directed at promoting a better understanding of 

sea floor composition, texture, and character, through use of the usSEABED data series. 

The U.S. Geological Survey data and data products included in this open-file report have 

come from a collection of individuals representing their work and their research groups. Some 

of these groups and research projects can be found at the links below. 

USGS Links

• USGS Woods Hole Science Center 

• USGS Minerals Resources Program 

• usSEABED Home 

• USGS Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies

• USGS Pacific Science Center 

• USGS Studies in the New York Bight

The collaborators listed below have contributed to the usSEABED dataset, and continue 

to be involved in the future developments of the project. 

Our Collaborators

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

• NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service

• NOAA National Ocean Service

• Minerals Management Service

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

46
• New Jersey Geological Survey 

• New York State Geological Survey 

• dbSEABED at INSTAAR/University of Colorado 

Acknowledgments 

We thank Bradford Butman (USGS) and Ellen Mecray (formerly USGS, now NOAA) 

for critically reviewing this report and offering suggestions. Special acknowledgment is given to 

our colleague, Frank Manheim (USGS retired) for his leadership and hard work developing 

marine sediment data bases over much of his distinguished career, and particularly for his work 

in the New York Bight region. 

Contacts 

For information about the Marine Aggregates project:

S. Jeffress Williams, jwilliams@usgs.gov, U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Science Center, 

384 Woods Hole Rd, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598 

To contribute Atlantic Coast and/or Gulf Coast data:

Matthew A. Arsenault, U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Science Center, 384 Woods Hole 

Rd, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598, 508-547-8700. 

For questions about sediment data collection; laboratory and analysis techniques: 

Lawrence J. Poppe, lpoppe@usgs.gov, U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Science Center, 

384 Woods Hole Rd, Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598 

For information about the Benthic Habitats project and/or adding Pacific Coast, Alaska or 

Hawaii data: 

Jane A. Reid, jareid@usgs.gov,U.S. Geological Survey, Western Coastal and Marine Geology, 

Pacific Science Center, 400 Natural Bridges Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 

For questions about the dbSEABED program as well as global data: 

Chris Jenkins, chris.jenkins@colorado.edu, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University 

of Colorado at Boulder, 1560 30th Street, Campus Box 450, Boulder, CO 80309-0450 

47
For Educators 

The U.S. Geological Survey provides scientific information intended to help educate the 

public about natural resources, natural hazards, geospatial data, and issues that affect our quality 

of life. The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and 

understand the Earth; and enhance and protect our quality of life. 

The materials and Web sites below represent the combined efforts of the USGS and our 

collaborating institutions to reach the ever growing needs of the public. The products and Web 

links below are to serve as a starting point for educators to see what types of materials are 

available to assist in lesson planning, public presentations, and increasing the scientific 

understanding of our dynamic planet. 

Animated Diagrams: Animated plots from a USGS study of contaminated sediments in 

the Hudson Shelf Valley as part of a presentation: Baldwin, S.M., Mecray, E.L., Koopmans, 

D.J., and Buchholtz ten Brink, M.R., The distribution of sewage sludge, traced by elevated 

Silver and copper concentrations, along the Hudson Shelf Valley [abs.]: Geological Society of 

America, Northeastern and Southeastern Sections Joint Meeting, Tysons Corner, Va. , March 

25-27, 2004. (Silver concentrations in sediments )(Copper concentrations in sediments ) 

Presentation: A presentation summarizing results of the Marine Aggregate Resources 

and Processes project as part of the paper: Williams, S.J., 2005, Regional-scale understanding of 

the geologic character and sand resources of the Atlantic inner continental shelf, Maine to 

Virginia, Proceedings, Second Regional Conference on Dredging, Beach Nourishment, and Bird 

Conservation, 25-27 Oct 2005 (presentation). 

References: References on marine sand and gravel studies and resources can be found in 

Williams and others (2003) A bibliography of selected references to U.S. Marine Sand and 

Gravel Resources, USGS Open-File Report 03-300 (online) and can help provide background 

information on the geologic framework of continental shelf sediments and processes. 

Plotting: Plotting sediment data from the usSEABED program can be done using the 

following Matlab plot routines: (shepard.m) and (schlee.m). These scripts were written by 

members of the Woods Hole Science Center staff to help visualize the compositional 

components of sediment samples on a ternary diagram. They are available as part of the user 

contributed code library on the Mathworks Web site. 

Additional Resources Available Online: 

USGS maintains a Web page of Educational Resources, (including A Primer On Natural 

Aggregate, and Schoolyard Geology). 

USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program provides additional information and 

educational resources that are available on their Web site, searchable by the term 'Educational 

Materials'. 

The NOAA Coastal Services Center is an office within the National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration devoted to serving the nation's state and local coastal resource 

management programs. 

Minerals Management Service maintains a Kids' Pages with excellent materials on a 

number of scientific topics, including The Ocean's Sand, A Natural Resource (Adobe pdf 

format) 

48
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has an Education Center which includes lessons and 

materials in navigation, sedimentation, and many other topics tied to engineering in the coastal 

environment. 

New York State GIS Clearinghouse has an Education Outreach Web page that includes 

training events, a who's who contact list, and other resources. 

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection GIS Website has a presentations

Web page where power-point presentations can be downloaded. 

Presentation 

Slide 1. Title Image: Regional scale understanding of the geologic character and sand resources 

of the Atlantic inner continental shelf, Maine to Virginia. 

49
Slide 2. Coastal change is driven by many factors, including local geology, geomorphology, sealevel change and weather. 

50
Slide 3. Scientific knowledge and understanding of the sea floor composition and morphology is 

important in understanding coastal change. 

51
Slide 4. Population density map of the continental U.S., highlighting the proximity of large 

population and development in the coastal areas. 

52
Slide 5. Map showing the projected increases in population for the Northeast region.

53
Slide 6. Chart of the projected sea-level rise for the next 100 years. 

54
Slide 7. Sensitive coastal areas will feel the most dramatic effects of sea level rise in future 

decades. 

55
Slide 8. The importance and practicality of considering use of offshore sand resources for beach 

nourishment to mitigate erosion. 

56
Slide 9. The heterogeneous nature of offshore deposits makes base maps essential tools in 

management and planning for coastal areas. 

57
Slide 10. Examples of surveys done by the USGS in sea floor mapping. 

58
Slide 11. Regional studies by the USGS and Army Corps of Engineers in the New York Bight 

region. 

59
Slide 12. Multidisiplinary studies of New York Bight and coastal Long Island. 

60
Slide 13. Sea-floor sediment texture maps produced using usSEABED data.

61
Slide 14. Interpretive map of sea-floor composition in New York Bight. 

62
Slide 15. Distribution of Holocene sediments along southern Long Island, and paleobarrier island 

system. 

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Slide 16. The USGS Marine Aggregate Resources and Processes rationale and focus. 

64
Slide 17. The USGS Marine Aggregate Resources and Processes scientific and data product 

goals. 

65
Slide 18. The USGS Marine Aggregate Resources and Processes projects and targeted 

geographic regions for assessments. 

66
Slide 19. The usSEABED data coverage within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone of the 

continental United States. 

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Slide 20. Summary of coastal processes and the USGS Marine Aggregate Resources and 

Processes contribution to better understanding of these processes. 

 

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Handouts 

us SEABED : Offshore Surficial Sediment Data Releases 

An Overview of usSEABED 

The value of seafloor sedimentary data is becoming increasingly more important with 

recent prevalence in bathymetric mapping (i.e. the need for ground truthing), utlities planning 

(e.g., offshore wind and tidal turbines), and homeland security measures in place around 

America 's extensive port system. This has elevated the importance of historical data sets of 

seafloor character as new data is not only expensive, but also time consuming to collect. 

These reports provide a synthesis compilation of published and unpublished sediment 

texture and other geologic data about the seafloor from a diverse range of sources. Each report 

describes the usSEABED database and the dbSEABED system, developed to bring assorted data 

together in a unified database to provide examples of maps displaying attributes such as grain 

size and sediment color. This database contains information that is the scientific foundation for 

the USGS's Marine Aggregate Resources and Processes Assessment and Benthic Habitats 

projects, and is already proving useful to the marine science community at large. 

The usSEABED database holds data for the entire US EEZ and is an ongoing project of 

the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program of Santa Cruz, CA; Woods Hole, MA; and St. 

Petersberg, FL; and the University of Colorado . We expect to release new Data Series as 

significant new data are included in the database. 

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usSEABED 

The usSEABED database, which covers the U.S. EEZ, is built using the dbSEABED 

processing software created at the University of Sydney, Australia, and the University of 

Colorado . It has companion databases built along similar lines: auSEABED for Australia , 

balticSEABED and a global database, goSEABED. Each of these databases rely on pre-existing 

data, both published and unpublished, from a variety of sources (such as federal, state, regional, 

and local agencies and consortiums, as well as research institutions) to mine and extrapolate 

useful data about the seabed. 

The dbSEABED program allows source reports to be compiled in a standardized format, 

and extrapolates information across a series of data types and equipment, such as physical 

sampling equipment (sounding, grabs, and cores) or virtual sampling (photographs, videos, 

geophysics). These data may be numeric lab- or probe- based textural, acoustic, geochemical, 

and geophysical data and/or verbal (linguistic) descriptions of grabs, cores, or photographs, or a 

combination of any of these. 

The usSEABED database, using the dbSEABED program, differs from other US 

databases in that it incorporates both numerical and linguistic data on sediment texture, biology, 

seafloor characteristics such as hardness or sediment ripples, acoustic properties, and 

geochemical and geotechnical analyses. In the usSEABED database, most data held in reports 

are mined and extended for additional information that increases the data density over the 

seabed, allowing for more complete maps and information. 

Data Catalog and GIS Layers 

The data supplied on these publications is made available with geographic coordinates to 

allow the data to be incorporated into a Geographic Information System (GIS). Federal 

Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) metadata are included with data layers in three formats: 

HTML, FAQ, and text. Layers include those for the Extracted (EXT), Parsed (PRS), Calculated 

(CLC), Components (CMP) and Facies (FAC) output files along with basemap layers such as 

coastlines and EEZ and state boundaries compiled together in an ArcView TM project file. 

Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf Coast Publications 

The publications are broken down into geographical subsets for the entire Exclusive 

Economic Zone (EEZ) of the United States . Publications of the Atlantic coast, the Gulf Coast 

and the Pacific ( California , Oregon , Washington) Coast are available currently. Companion 

publications for Alaska and Hawaii are also expected. The following maps show the distribution 

of Parsed (PRS) and Extracted (EXT) data for each Data Series publication. The PRS outputs 

are based on descriptive (word-based) data through the application of Fuzzy Set Theory. The 

EXT outputs are based on numeric data extracted from the data resource files through data 

mining. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

The publications provide answers to many important Frequently Asked Questions 

(FAQs) such as: 

• How does dbSEABED make word data con formable with numeric data? 

• What is Fuzzy Logic and how does it work? 

70
• What is involved in importing datasets into dbSEABED? 

• What if a user doesn't want to use the word-based data for creating maps? 

• What quality control measures are in place for dbSEABED? 

• How does word-based descriptive data relate to numeric-value analytical data? 

For More Information 

We appreciate feedback on usSEABED, both in usefulness and in error detection. Please 

contact us with issues, questions and/or data to contribute to the growing usSEABED 

information system in the U.S. EEZ. 

http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/usseabed/index.html 

Matt Arsenault: for adding Atlantic Coast and/or Gulf Coast data 

U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Science Center 384 Woods Hole Road Woods Hole, MA 

02543-1598 Tel: 508-548-8700 Email: marsenault@usgs.gov 

Jane Reid: for information about the Benthic Habitats project and/or adding Pacific Coast , Alaska or 

Hawaii data 

U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Science Center 400 Natural Bridges Drive Santa Cruz, CA 

95060 Tel: 831-427-4727 Email: jareid@usgs.gov 

Jeff Williams: for information about the Marine Aggregates project 

U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Science Center 384 Woods Hole Road Woods Hole , MA 

02543-1598 Tel: 508-548-8700 Email:jwilliams@usgs.gov 

Chris Jenkins: for information and answering questions about the dbSEABED program as well as 

adding global data 

University of Colorado Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research 1560 30th Street Campus Box 

450 Boulder CO, 80309-0450 Tel: 303-735-5250 Email: chris.jenkins@colorado.edu 

Larry Poppe: for answering questions about sediment data collection; laboratory and analysis 

techniques 

U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Science Center 384 Woods Hole Road Woods Hole, MA 

02543-1598 Tel: 508-548-8700 Email: lpoppe@usgs.gov 

Disclaimers 

General 

This CD-ROM publication was prepared by an agency of the United States Government. 

Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, 

makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the 

accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process 

disclosed in this report, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. 

Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, 

trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, 

71
recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. Any 

views and opinions of authors expressed herein do no necessarily state or reflect those of the 

United States Government or any agency thereof. Although all data published on this CD-ROM 

have been used by the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the 

accuracy of the data and related materials and/or the functioning of the software. The act of 

distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the 

USGS in the use of these data, software, or related materials. 

Accessibility 

Section 508 and Accessibility at the USGS 

The USGS is committed to and is making every possible effort to ensure that all 

electronic and information technology developed, procured, maintained, or used by the USGS is 

accessible to people with disabilities, including both employees and the customers we serve. If 

you cannot fully access the information on this CD-ROM, please e-mail the contact person or 

group named in the contact information provided on this CD-ROM, and they will help you. This 

may include providing the information to you in an alternate format. 

For further information and to learn more about the regulations governing the 

accessibility of Federal electronic information products, visit the Section 508 Web pages listed 

below: 

• Section 508 home page - www.section508.gov/ 

• Access Board - www.access-board.gov/508.htm 

• Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) - www.w3.org/WAI/ 

README 

Background 

This report contains a compilation of available textural data and numeric data based on 

lithologic descriptions generated from surficial sediment samples from offshore the New York 

and New Jersey coast of the United States. These data are a subset of the usSEABED data for 

the Atlantic coast as described in Reid and others (2005). More than 340,500 samples containing 

sediment grain size and lithology have been compiled as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's

Marine Aggregate Resources and Processes and National Benthic Habitats projects. These data 

are being used to update the current maps on surficial sediment distribution for the New York 

Bight region. 

Many of these data layers were compiled using gray literature or unpublished sources 

and have not been available in digital form prior to publication of USGS DS-118. These data 

have been converted to Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) "shapefile"

format for use in the project Geographic Information System (GIS), and data are supplied with 

complete FGDC compliant metadata. Sediment data and sample identifiers are also supplied in 

flat-file format and Microsoft Excel spreadsheet files for those users who may not have GIS 

access. 

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CD-ROM Contents 

There are three top-level files and three top-level directories contained on this CD-ROM. 

The top-level files are: 

• readme.txt (the ASCII version of this file) - This file contains a description of this CDROM and may be viewed or printed by the user with any system program capable of 

opening an ASCII text file. 

• index.htm - This file is intended to be the starting point for CD-ROM access. It is 

written in the Hyper-Text Markup Language utilized by the World Wide Web (WWW) 

project and must be opened with a WWW browser. Once opened, the user may browse 

the CD-ROM's contents as they would browse pages from the WWW. 

• nynj.apr - An ArcView 3.3 project file containing the GIS data layers. This file 

facilitates the viewing of the shapefiles and related image data sets. If the user does not 

have ArcView available, they may access the shapefiles by downloading ESRI's

ArcExplorer software at no charge from the ESRI Web site 

The three main directories include: 

Directory htmldocs/

• This directory contains five directories and sub-directories used to format the HTML 

files and supporting graphics to allow the user access to the report via any World Wide 

Web browser. The major sub-directories/files include the following: 

• NYB.css/ - this file is the cascading style sheet used to format the layout of the HTML 

pages 

• files/ - this directory contains files offered in the various HTML pages 

• images/ - this directory contains images used in the HTML page layouts 

• Directory data/

• This directory contains four subdirectories that contain the various GIS data layers and 

appropriate metadata. The sub-directories including the following data: 

• basemaps/ - basemap data used in the ArcView project file. Basemap data include a 

general US land and coastline shapefile, U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and the 3 

nautical mile state and Federal boundary. 

• bathymetry/ - this directory contains the bathymetric file for the New York-New Jersey 

study region. 

• stations/ - this directory contains information on available sea floor images from the 

New York-New Jersey region. 

Downloading Files and Images 

Downloading a selected file with Microsoft Internet Explorer 

To download a data file while using Microsoft Internet Explorer, the user should select 

the desired file by placing the system pointer on the file name from the data list and pressing the 

right mouse button. This will display a pull-down menu from which the user should drag the 

mouse to highlight "Save target as ..." and release the mouse button. Internet explorer will then 

prompt the user to specify the name and location of where the selected data file should be saved. 

73
Downloading a selected file with Netscape 

To download a data file while using the Netscape browser, the user should select the 

desired file by placing the system pointer on the file name from the data list and pressing and 

holding the right mouse button. This will display a pull-down menu from Netscape. The user 

should drag the mouse to highlight "Save this link as ..." and release the mouse button. Netscape 

will then prompt the user to specify the name and location of where the selected data file should 

be saved. Different operating systems and newer versions of Netscape might work somewhat 

differently. 

Technical Notes 

This disk has been tested for use on computers having Windows 98/NT/2000/XP and 

Macintosh operating systems. 

Access to the data and information contained in this report was developed using the 

HyperText Markup Language (HTML) utilized by the World Wide Web (WWW). This allows 

the user to access the information using WWW information browsers (i.e., Microsoft Internet 

Explorer, Netscape). To start, open the file 'index.htm' at the top-level directory of this disc with 

your browser. 

There are Internet links to USGS collaborators and Web sites included in this report. 

These links are only accessible if access to the Internet is available when browsing the CDROM, and if those linked sites are operating. 

74