dbSEABED Output File Formats

dbSEABED outputs a set of ASCII tables which can be imported into practically any GIS, Relational Database, Spreadsheet or Maths application.

• The files are comma delimited.
• A header describing the fields (columns) occupies the first line. All Header entries are in quotes ("").
• In the data section all string variables are enclosed in quotes ("") and the data in each column is either all numeric or all string.
• For numerics -99 is the usual 'Default Null'; that is, the marker for 'No Data'. For strings it is "" (no character). An exception is made for Latitudes and Longitudes; there the 'Default Null' is -999.
• Files are generated with Intel ('PC') bit arrangements.

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Output filenames are named "*_XXX.txt" where * is a prefix set by the operator to denote a study region, for example "syd" for Sydney, "cal" for California. XXX is the type of table. The tables types output by the principal dbSEABED program are as follows.

• SRC ("*_src.txt") giving some details about the source dataset
  
• EXT ("*_ext.txt") containing data items simply extracted from the data resources through data mining
• PRS ("*_prs.txt") containing the results of parsing descriptions in the data resources
• CLC ("*_clc.txt") containing results from calculating variables using empirical functions working on the results of extraction or parsing
• CMP (*_cmp.txt") giving component and feature abundances and intensities
• FAC (*_fac.txt) reporting a facies classification based on the combination of Fuzzy Set Theory memberships.

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• The EXT data is usually based on instrumental analyses (probe or laboratory) but may apply to just a subsample of the sediment (eg. no large shells).
• The PRS data is less precise because it comes from word-based descriptions, but will include information on outsized elements, consolidation that are not usually in EXT data.
• The CLC data is the most derivative and  certainly the least accurate; however, many clients appreciate that it extends the coverage of map areas with attributes, especially physical properties attributes.
  

• ONE ("*_ONE.txt") files are generated by a program that telescopes the EXT, PS and CLC results in that order of preference.
  
This is the primary form of output table that is used in GIS mappings.
 
• ALL (*_ALL.txt") files are generated by a program that concatenates the EXT, PRS and CLC files.

EXT Example:
 -2.48330, 117.60000,   40,-99,-99,"USNS Chauvanet 81-1", 1 , 2 , 2 ,1,"T ",  2, 91,  5,  2, +1.8, +2.0,"-",-99,"",  0,-99,-99,"",-99,-99,-99, -99, "2:3",-99,"-"
PRS Example:
-16.73700, 115.53500, 2189,   0.00,  62.70,"ODP 761", 3 , 11 , 280 ,1,"L ",  0, 23, 76,-99, +6.4,-99.0,"Pelagic", 77,"",-99,-99,100,"",-99,-99,-99, -99, "0:0",-99," surface view"
CLC Example:
-35.08200, 109.09500, 5435,-99,-99,"Robert Conrad RC08 055", 6 , 836 , 1135 ,1,"PR:L",-99,-99,-99,-99, +4.8, +2.1,"",-99,"M.S",-99,-99,-99,"",-99,-99, 51,1693,  "2:4",-1.5,"prominent yellow lamina"

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This is the primary form of table used in GIS mappings.

The "ONE" output tables are a telescoping of the EXT, PRS and CLC results (see above) into one table that takes the best quality data of each field, determined field-by-field.
The output format is the same as for EXT, PRS and CLC tables except for field 11, which indexes the source of the telescoped data as follows. Field 11 performs an audit function. An entry like "EEEEEEPPCExEEExCCxCC" tabulates the origins of the data using 'E' for extracted data, 'P' for parsed data, 'C' for calculated data and 'x' for no (null) data. It begins this at field 12 (gravel%) and applies to 20 attribute fields.

Example: -33.17000,+151.60001,20,-99,-99,"1537",1 ,8 ,8 ,1,EEEEEEPPCExEEExCCxCC,0,100,0,0,+3.0,+1.0,"Terrigenous",82,"S",0,-99,7,"5YR6/3",0,-99,42,1868,"2:3",-3.28 ,"_"

(Note: Field 11 in 'EXT', 'PRS' and 'CLC' tables performs the same audit function, but at a lower level in the processing of data, at the level of extracting data from the core dbSEABED data resource files.)

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"ALL" output tables are simply a sequential re-listing of the EXT, PRS and CLC file contents, under just one column-header record. The field formats are the same as for those files.

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The CMP table outputs Fuzzy Membership values (as %) for each denoted component flagged for inclusion in the dbSEABED dictionary. The list can differ between projects, for instance between Australia (biogenic) and the USA (terrigenous).
 
 

PARAMETER	UNITS, MEANING, RANGE	COMMENTS
Latitude	Degrees, WGS 84 Spheroid, 90o to -90o range	WGS 84 Spheroid is within 1m of the more recent International Earth Rotation Service  Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) (GDA for Australia)
Longitude	Degrees, WGS 84 Spheroid,  -180o to 180o range
WaterDepth	Metres	Not always tidally corrected
SampleTop	Metres below seabed surface
SampleBase	Metres below seabed surface	If Nul and Top <> Nul then equals Top
DataSetKey	Unique sequential numeric key to SRC file	For relational linking
SiteKey	Unique sequential numeric key to SRC file	For relational linking
SampleKey	Unique sequential numeric key to SRC file	For relational linking
RecordType	For audit only	Indicates data status: 1-3 samples, 8 error, 4 time series, etc.
DataTypes	For audit only	Indicates type of data contributing to output.
(i) Component Abundance or (ii) Feature Intensity	(i) Fuzzy Membership (as %) for component which must be a major synonym of components in the dbSEABED dictionary.	Repeated for each component / feature entry nominated in the dbSEABED dictionary (see below). (i) The Component Abundances are in percent and are as a proportion of the sample geologic materials. They total 100% or less. Components have no special suffix (see below). (ii) The Feature Intensities are as a percent of development measured on a scale of zero to best across all known occurrences (or the subset represented by the observer's experience). They are not constrained by a 100% total. Feaures are denoted by a "_F" suffix. (New Apr 2005)
Sample Situation	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.	Output 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. (New, May 2004)

CMP Example:
-16.14500,110.29900, 5702,  46.35,  47.55, 2 , 5 , 98 ,3,"P ",,,  1,,,,,,,,,,  0,,,,,,,,,,,, 26,,,, 72,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"snd"

Components and features currently output (November 2000 auSEABED settings):

fld - feldspar qtz - quartz sulf - sulfide maf - mafics metlif - metalliferous hvy_min- heavy minerals mica - mica claymin - mineral clay silca - hydrous silica gyps - gypsum zeol - zeolites glauc - glauconite rck_frg - rock fragments umafic - ultramafics baslt - basalt gls - glass vol - volcanicsd pumc -pumice trrg - terrigenous phspht - phosphate fe_nod - ferrugineous nodules coal - coal

dolmt - dolomite frm - forams lrg_frm - 'large foraminifera' (e.g. Marginopora) bfrm - benthic forams plnk_frm - planktic forams nan - nannofossils (coccoliths) ptr - pteropods diat - diatoms rad - radiolaria spng - sponges sil_spic - siliceous spicules shl - shells (mollusc & brachiopod) shl_dbr - shell debris / material alg - algae (hard) halmda - Halimeda rhodl - rhodoliths crnalg - coralline algae srpul - serpulids

octcor - octocorals and octocoral material sftcrl - soft corals (living) crl - coral crl_dbr - coral debris / material sol_crl - solitary corals biv - bivalves oyst - oysters pinna - Pinna (razor clams) pectn - pectens gstrpd - gastropods brach - brachiopods bryz - bryozoans crustac - crustaceans ostr - ostracods brncl - barnacles crinod - crinoids ophiurd - ophiuroids echnd - echinoids weed - 'weed' seagrs - seagrass

klp - kelp wood - wood orgcbn - organic carbon ool - ooliths and ooids ploid - peloids lmp - lumps cal_nod - calcareous nodules clst - clasts rlct- - relict materials burw - burrows bioturb - all bioturbation borng - borings trail - trails fces - faeces

To Dictionary

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The FAC table outputs Fuzzy Membership values for each denominated seabed class (facies) for each sample where word-based descriptions are sufficient to support the analysis.
The facies are denoted in the setup table "db8_fac.txt" and can be set differently between projects, for instance between Australia (biogenic) and the USA (terrigenous).
 

PARAMETER	UNITS, MEANING, RANGE	COMMENTS
Latitude	Degrees, WGS 84 Spheroid, 90o to -90o range	WGS 84 Spheroid is within 1m of the more recent International Earth Rotation Service  Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) (GDA for Australia)
Longitude	Degrees, WGS 84 Spheroid,  -180o to 180o range
WaterDepth	Metres	Not always tidally corrected
SampleTop	Metres below seabed surface
SampleBase	Metres below seabed surface	If Nul and Top <> Nul then equals Top
DataSetKey	Unique sequential numeric key to SRC file	For relational linking
SiteKey	Unique sequential numeric key to SRC file	For relational linking
SampleKey	Unique sequential numeric key to SRC file	For relational linking
RecordType	For audit only	Indicates data status: 1-3 samples, 8 error, 4 time series, etc.
DataTypes	For audit only	Indicates type of data contributing to output.
Facies	Fuzzy Membership (/ 1.0) for each type of seabed.	Repeated for each nominated facies as listed in "db8_fac.txt" setup file (see below).
Sample Situation	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.	Output 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. (New, May 2004)

FAC Example:
-12.947 , 117.893 , 5667 ,  97.67,  98.00, 2 , 6 , 169 ,,,,,,,0.51,,,,,,,0.04,0.08,0.09,,,,,,,,,,,"csefxn"

Facies currently output (November 2000 auSEABED settings):

Facies Name

Defining Components / Features (Senior Synonyms)

CarbMud CarbSand CalcCrust/Nods Oolite Peloid Terrigenous Volcanic 'Coral' 'Shell' CoralReef Sponge Bryozoan CalcPelag SilcPelag Pelagic Phosphate Glauc/Relict Seagrass Plants LargeFrm Rhodolith CorallnAlga Halimeda MnNodule Bioturbated

cal_mud mcrt ooz cal_ooz cal_snd skl_dbr limstn calcret carb_nod calcrst ool oolt ooltc ploid trrg hvy_min qtz fld maf vol baslt pumc maf tuff crl octcor srpul crl_dbr crlrf shl mlsc biv gstrpd scph brach crlrf lthmnn spng bryz ooz plnk_frm nan ptr cal_ooz sil_ooz rad silf diat ooz plnk_frm nan ptr rad cal_ooz phspht glauc rlct- seagrs plnt weed seawd seagrs klp lrg_frm mrgnpra rhodl algl_nod lthmnn crnalg rhodl halmda mn_nod mn_crst mn_stnd mnoxd mn_mnod burw pit trail fces

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SRC example:
1 ,"Reynolds++Tagru-Makassar","NGDC","Purchased via Carla Moore","confidential","17-12-1980","??-??-1981"

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