155 surficial sediment samples from Baltimore Harbor's Patapsco and Back Rivers provide data on physical properties, particularly grain size. The Maryland Geological Survey collected the samples during three field campaigns in November 1994, February 1995, and June 1996. This dataset offers a snapshot of sediment characteristics in an urban estuary.
Use Cases
- Analyze spatial patterns of sediment grain size to model erosion and deposition dynamics in the harbor.
- Correlate sediment chemistry data with historical industrial activity to assess legacy pollution levels.
- Use the sample collection dates (1994-1996) to establish a baseline for comparing modern sediment quality studies.
- Map the distribution of fine-grained sediments, which are known to adsorb contaminants, across the harbor system.
Strengths
- 155 physical samples provide a concrete material basis for analysis.
- Data collection spanned three distinct time points over a 20-month period (Nov 1994 to Jun 1996).
- Samples are georeferenced to specific locations within Baltimore Harbor and its tributaries.
Limitations
- Sample size of 155 may limit high-resolution spatial analysis across the entire harbor area.
- Data is temporally stale, representing conditions from the mid-1990s and may not reflect current status.
- The raw description does not specify the full suite of chemical analytes measured, limiting predictability of use.
Provenance
- Source
- Maryland Geological Survey (MGS), accessed via NASA Earthdata.
- Collection Method
- Field collection of surficial sediment samples.
- Time Range
- 1994-11 to 1996-06
- Freshness
- Data collection ended in June 1996; no updates are indicated.
- Geography
- Baltimore Harbor, including the Patapsco and Back Rivers, Maryland, USA.