Surficial Sediment Data Collected During RV Rafael cruise 2010-033-FA and RV Connecticut cruise 2010-005-FA Offshore of Gay Head Massachusetts in Eastern Rhode Island Sound (2010_033_SEDDATA.SHP, Geographic, WGS84)

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is producing detailed geologic maps of the coastal sea floor. Bathymetry, originally collected by NOAA for charting purposes, provides a fundamental framework for research and management activities off southern New England, shows the composition and terrain of the seabed, and provides information on sediment transport and benthic habitat. During July-August 2008 NOAA completed hydrographic survey H11922 west of Gay Head, Massachusetts, in Rhode Island Sound and during July and September 2010 bottom photographs and surficial sediment data were acquired as part of ground-truth reconnaissance surveys of this area. Interpretations were derived from the multibeam echo-sounder data and the ground-truth data used to verify them. For more information on the ground-truth surveys see http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/2010/10033/ and http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/2010/10005/美国地质调查局（U.S. Geological Survey, USGS）与美国国家海洋和大气管理局（National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA）合作，正编制新英格兰南部近岸海域的高精度海底地质图。海底地形测量（Bathymetry）最初由NOAA为海图绘制工作采集，可为该区域的科研与管理活动提供基础框架，既能反映海底的物质组成与地形特征，还可提供沉积物运移及底栖栖息地的相关信息。2008年7月至8月，NOAA在马萨诸塞州盖特海德以西、罗德岛湾海域完成了编号为H11922的水文测量作业；2010年7月及9月，研究团队针对该区域开展地面验证勘察，并采集了海底照片与表层沉积物数据。本次解译工作基于多波束测深声呐（multibeam echo-sounder）数据开展，并通过上述实地验证数据对解译结果进行了核验。如需了解本次地面验证勘察的更多详情，可访问以下链接：http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/2010/10033/ 及 http://quashnet.er.usgs.gov/data/2010/10005/