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NOAA/NOS and USCGS Seabed Descriptions from Hydrographic Surveys

Published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Metadata Last Checked: January 27, 2026 | Last Modified: 2013-11-21T00:00:00.000+00:00
The NOAA/NOS and USCGS Seabed Descriptions from Hydrographic Surveys database is a compilation of surficial sediment composition from multiple sources for over 200,000 seafloor sediment samples primarily around U.S. coastal areas. The descriptions were abstracted from unpublished data reports and Bottom Type "M" log sheets, and digitized from survey smooth sheets produced by the NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS) and its predecessor, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USCGS). Prior to August 2001, many physical sediment samples were routinely sent to the Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History (NMNH) for archive with accompanying "M" log forms from which bottom type and other information were coded into the NMNH sediment database. In 2001, NMNH sent a copy of the database to NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center (now part of the National Centers for Environmental Information) to be incorporated into the Index to Marine and Lacustrine Geological Samples database, and for distribution to data users needing access to the bottom type information in the files. With support from NOS, NGDC digitized several thousand additional bottom type observations from historic NOS Hydrographic Survey smooth sheets and added them to the database. NOS is coding thousands more bottom type observations for entry into the database from survey Data Reports, or DRs. In 2011, NOS began adding standardized digital bottom type descriptions to the database using the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) SF57 standard "NATSUR" (nature of surface) and "NATQUA" (nature of surface qualifier) coding scheme, transferring the data to NCEI in KML form for archive and upload to the geospatially-enabled database. Hydrographic Technical Directive (HTD)2011-6 contains the official new directive. Data are free for online search and download.

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Unknown ICSU-WDS > International Council for Science - World Data System Scientific archives Electronic records Oceanography Ocean bottom Geology Submarine geology Marine sediments Marine geology Sea-floor characteristics Earth Science > Oceans > Marine Sediments Earth Science > Paleoclimate > Ocean/Lake Records > Sediments Earth Science > Oceans > Marine Sediments > Sediment Composition Earth Science > Oceans > Marine Sediments > Sedimentary Textures In Situ Ocean-based Platforms > Ships In Situ/Laboratory Instruments > Samplers > Grabbers/Traps/Collectors > Grab Samplers DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Vertical Location >Sea Floor Ocean > Atlantic Ocean Ocean > Pacific Ocean

Complete Metadata
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description The NOAA/NOS and USCGS Seabed Descriptions from Hydrographic Surveys database is a compilation of surficial sediment composition from multiple sources for over 200,000 seafloor sediment samples primarily around U.S. coastal areas. The descriptions were abstracted from unpublished data reports and Bottom Type "M" log sheets, and digitized from survey smooth sheets produced by the NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS) and its predecessor, the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (USCGS). Prior to August 2001, many physical sediment samples were routinely sent to the Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History (NMNH) for archive with accompanying "M" log forms from which bottom type and other information were coded into the NMNH sediment database. In 2001, NMNH sent a copy of the database to NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center (now part of the National Centers for Environmental Information) to be incorporated into the Index to Marine and Lacustrine Geological Samples database, and for distribution to data users needing access to the bottom type information in the files. With support from NOS, NGDC digitized several thousand additional bottom type observations from historic NOS Hydrographic Survey smooth sheets and added them to the database. NOS is coding thousands more bottom type observations for entry into the database from survey Data Reports, or DRs. In 2011, NOS began adding standardized digital bottom type descriptions to the database using the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) SF57 standard "NATSUR" (nature of surface) and "NATQUA" (nature of surface qualifier) coding scheme, transferring the data to NCEI in KML form for archive and upload to the geospatially-enabled database. Hydrographic Technical Directive (HTD)2011-6 contains the official new directive. Data are free for online search and download.
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identifier gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.geology:G10163
isPartOf NOS Hydrographic Surveys Collection
issued 2013-11-21T00:00:00.000+00:00
keyword 
                                            [
  "Unknown",
  "ICSU-WDS > International Council for Science - World Data System",
  "Scientific archives",
  "Electronic records",
  "Oceanography",
  "Ocean bottom",
  "Geology",
  "Submarine geology",
  "Marine sediments",
  "Marine geology",
  "Sea-floor characteristics",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Marine Sediments",
  "Earth Science > Paleoclimate > Ocean/Lake Records > Sediments",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Marine Sediments > Sediment Composition",
  "Earth Science > Oceans > Marine Sediments > Sedimentary Textures",
  "In Situ Ocean-based Platforms > Ships",
  "In Situ/Laboratory Instruments > Samplers > Grabbers/Traps/Collectors > Grab Samplers",
  "DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce",
  "Vertical Location >Sea Floor",
  "Ocean > Atlantic Ocean",
  "Ocean > Pacific Ocean"
]
language 
                                            []
license https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
modified 2013-11-21T00:00:00.000+00:00
publisher 
                                            {
  "name": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
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references 
                                            [
  "https://data.noaa.gov/metaview/page?xml=NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC/Collection/iso/xml/NOS_Hydrographic_Survey_Collection.xml&view=getDataView&header=none",
  "https://data.noaa.gov/waf/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC/MGG/Geology/iso/"
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rights otherRestrictions, otherRestrictions, unclassified
spatial -64.43167,14.27444,-175.34972,72.609314
temporal 1837-01-01T00:00:00+00:00/2013-11-21T00:00:00+00:00
title NOAA/NOS and USCGS Seabed Descriptions from Hydrographic Surveys

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