Metadata:
  Identification_Information:
    Citation:
      Citation_Information:
        Originator: Center for Coastal & Ocean Mapping, University of New Hampshire
        Publication_Date: March 2009 
        Title: ASCII xyz Multibeam soundings Data for Sigsbee Escarpment Gulf of Mexico
    Description:
      Abstract:Abstract: Full coverage, processed multibeam a data - Data were reduced 
      for position, elevation, orientation, water-column sound-speed and refraction effects and 
      are provided in a cleaned fully integrated form in ASCII longitude, latitude, depth value.
    Purpose:The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), on behalf of the 
      United States Government, has a requirement to carry out surveys of specific regions on 
      the continental margin (slope and rise) in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico in order to obtain multibeam 
      bathymetry.  These data are required to support any potential claim for extended jurisdiction
      by the United States under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Article 76.  
      The requirement is for the collection and processing of full-coverage multibeam sonar data in 
      water depths of approximately 2000 to 5000 m in order to precisely define the location of the 
      2500-m isobath and the "foot of the slope" as defined under UNCLOS Article 76.  As part of 
      their NOAA-funded research program, University of New Hampshire (UNH) researchers oversaw data
      acquisition, processing and archiving of the data collected during the cruise.
   Supplemental_Information: Information about UNH Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping field activity are 
      online at http://www.jhc.unh.edu/unclos/html/reports.htm.
      Time_Period_of_Content:
      Time_Period_Information:
        Range_of_Dates/Times:
          Beginning_Date: 2007
          Ending_Date: 2007
    Status:
      Progress: Complete
    Spatial_Domain:
      Bounding_Coordinates:
		West_Bounding_Coordinate: -93.581070
		East_Bounding_Coordinate: -91.010071
		North_Bounding_Coordinate: 26.385992
		South_Bounding_Coordinate: 25.510992
      Bouding_Coordinate_Units: Decimal Degree
    Keywords:
      Theme:
        Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: Bathymetry
	   Theme_Keyword: Multibeam
	   Theme_Keyword: depth soundings
	   Theme_Keyword: ASCII xyz
	   Theme_Keyword: Continental Slope
	 Place:
	   Place_Keyword: Continental Margin
	   Place_Keyword: Gulf of Mexico
	   Place_Keyword: Northeast Gulf of Mexico
	   Place_Keyword: Sigsbee Escarpment
	   Place_Keyword: Foot of the Slope
    Access_Constraints: None
    Use_Constraints: Please recognize the University of New Hampshire, Center for Coastal & Ocean Mapping 
    (UNH/CCOM) as the source of this information.
    Point_of_Contact:
      Contact_Information:
        Contact_Organization_Primary:
          Contact_Organization: for Coastal & Ocean Mapping, University of New Hampshire
          Contact_Person: James V. Gardner
        Contact_Position: Research Professor
        Contact_Address: 
          Address_Type: mailing and physical address
          Address: Chase Ocean Engineering Lab, 24 Colovos Road
          City: Durham
          State_or_Province: NH
          Postal_Code: 03824
          Country: USA
        Contact_Voice_Telephone: 603-862-3473
        Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 603-862-0839
        Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: jim.gardner@unh.edu
        Hours_of_Service: 9 AM - 5 PM EST
    Security_Information:
      Security_Classification: Unclassified
  Data_Quality_Information:
    Attribute_Accuracy:
      Attribute_Accuracy_Report: A Kongsberg Simrad EM120 12-kHz multibeam sonar was used with effective 
      beam widths no greater than 1° x 2° (transmit fore-aft x receive athwart ship) at -3 dB, with swaths
      of ~7.4 times water depth in water depths between 1000 and 3400 m, with depth accuracies of the swath
      of better than ±0.3% of water depth at these depths. All data meets this specification.  Descriptions
      of the systems and offsets applied can be found within the cruise report at 
      http://ccom.unh.edu/unclos/reports.htm.  In addition to bathymetry data, full time-series 
      backscatter values were recorded across each beam footprint.  Backscatter values were corrected 
      for outgoing signal strength, receiver gains, spherical spreading, and attenuation.
      Positional_Accuracy:
      Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
        Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Horizontal positioning of the vessel was determined using C&C
        Technologies C-Nav Real Time Gypsy (RTG)-aided DGPS integrated into a TSS DMS-05 motion sensor. 
        Positioning is accurate to better than 0.1 meters (at 95% confidence) during all surveying. All 
        positioning is referenced to the WGS84 Datum.
    Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:
        Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: 1% of Water Depth
    Lineage:
      Process_Step:
	Process_Description: The bathymetry and backscatter data were collected and processed by the Center
	for Coastal and Ocean Mapping, University of New Hampshire.
	Process_Date: 2007
        Process_Contact:
          Contact_Information:
            Contact_Organization_Primary:
              Contact_Organization: Center for Coastal & Ocean Mapping, University of New Hampshire
              Contact_Person: James V. Gardner
            Contact_Position: Research Professor
            Contact_Address:
              Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address
              Address: Chase Ocean Engineering Lab, 24 Colovos Road 
              City: Durham
              State_or_Province: NH
              Postal_Code: 03824
              Country: USA
            Contact_Voice_Telephone: 603-862-3473
            Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 603-862-0839
            Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: jim.gardner@unh.edu
            Hours_of_Service: 9 AM - 5 PM EST
  Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
    Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Point
  Spatial_Reference_Information:
    Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
      Planar:
        Map_Projection:
          Map_Projection_Name: unprojected geographic
          Coordinate_Information:
            Abscissa_Resolution: 
            Ordinate_Resolution: 
          Planar_Distance_Units: degrees
      Geodetic_Model:
        Horizontal_Datum_Name: WGS84
        Ellipsoid_Name: WGS84
        Semi-major_Axis: 
        Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 
    Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:
      Depth_System_Definition:
        Depth_Datum_Name: Instantaneous Sea Level
        Depth_Resolution: Better than 1% of Water Depth
        Depth_Distance_Units: Meters
  Distribution_Information:
    Distributor:
      Contact_Information:
        Contact_Organization_Primary:
          Contact_Organization: Center for Coastal & Ocean Mapping, University of New Hampshire
          Contact_Person: James V. Gardner
        Contact_Position: Research Professor
        Contact_Address: Mailing and Physical Address
          Address: Chase Ocean Engineering Lab, 24 Colovos Road 
          City: Durham
          State_or_Province: NH
          Postal_Code: 03824
          Country: USA
        Contact_Voice_Telephone: 603-862-3473
        Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 603-862-0839
        Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: jim.gardner@unh.edu
        Hours_of_Service: 9 AM - 5 PM EST
    Distribution_Liability: These data not intended for navigational purposes. These data and information are provided with the understanding that they are not guaranteed to be usable, timely, accurate, or complete. Users are cautioned to consider carefully the provisional nature of these data and information before using them for decisions that concern personal or public safety or the conduct of business that involves substantial monetary or operational consequences. Conclusions drawn from, or actions undertaken on the basis of, such data and information are the sole responsibility of the user. Neither the University of New Hampshire nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, contractors, or subcontractors, make any warranty, express or implied, nor assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any data, software, information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, nor represent that its use would not infringe on privately owned rights.
    Standard_Order_Process:
      Digital_Form:
        Digital_Transfer_Information:
          Format_Name: ASCII
          File_Decompression_Technique: Winzip
          Transfer_Size: 29.88 MB compressed
  Metadata_Reference_Information:
    Metadata_Date: 2007
    Metadata_Contact:
      Contact_Information:
        Contact_Organization_Primary:
          Contact_Organization: Center for Coastal & Ocean Mapping, University of New Hampshire
          Contact_Person: James V. Gardner
        Contact_Position: Research Professor
        Contact_Address: Mailing and Physical Address
          Address: Chase Ocean Engineering Lab, 24 Colovos Road 
          City: Durham
          State_or_Province: NH
          Postal_Code: 03824
          Country: USA
        Contact_Voice_Telephone: 603-862-3473
        Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 603-862-0839
        Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: jim.gardner@unh.edu
        Hours_of_Service: 9 AM - 5 PM EST
    Metadata_Standard_Name:  FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata ("CSDGM version 2")
    Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
    Metadata_Time_Convention: Local Time
    Metadata_Security_Information:
      Metadata_Security_Classification: Unclassified