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Seismotectonic maps in the vicinity of the lower Wabash Valley, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky - Digital Spatial Database: Paleoliquefaction locations observed in 1995 in Illinois

Metadata also available as - [Outline] - [Parseable text] - [DIF]

Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Seismotectonic maps in the vicinity of the lower Wabash Valley, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky - Digital Spatial Database: Paleoliquefaction locations observed in 1995 in Illinois
Abstract:
The northern part of the map area and large adjacent regions have been severely shaken by one or more moderate to large prehistoric earthquakes. The evidence of these takes the form of paleoliquefaction features, including shaking-induced sandblows and dikes that fed them.
Over several summer field seasons from 1990 through 1994, several workers searched ditches and river banks for evidence of liquefaction. They found numerous dikes and sandblows. This database includes the locations and descriptions of dikes they observed and measured.
The most widespread paleoliquefaction is attributed to a mid-Holocene earthquake near what is now Vicennes, IN, with an estimated moment- magnitude of about 7.5. Stratigraphic, geomorphological, pedological, archealogical, and geochronologic evidence indicates that probably some of the paleoliquefaction was caused by several additional, smaller earthquakes during the Holocene and late Pleistocene.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Rhea, Susan, 1997, Seismotectonic maps in the vicinity of the lower Wabash Valley, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky - Digital Spatial Database: Paleoliquefaction locations observed in 1995 in Illinois: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-0681, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -89
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -87
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 39
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.5

  3. What does it look like?

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date: 1995
    Ending_Date: 1995

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Point data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • Point (6)
      • String (0)
      • GT-polygon composed of chains (0)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest .001. Longitudes are given to the nearest .001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal Degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is Unknown.
      The ellipsoid used is Clarke 1866.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378206.4.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/294.98.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    LIQ95PTS.PAT
    description anc location of dikes caused by earthquake shaking (Source: Obermeier)

    SITE
    code for site location (Source: James Oliver)

    ValueDefinition
    LD 
    SH 
    T1 
    T2 
    T10 
    T11 

    DIKECLASS
    size class (Source: Oliver)

    ValueDefinition
    1maximum dike width 0-4 cm
    2maximum dike width 5-14 cm

    LONG
    longitude of dike location (Source: Obermeier)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-88.948
    Maximum:-88.149

    LAT
    latitude of dike location (Source: Obermeier)

    Range of values
    Minimum:37.060
    Maximum:37.681

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    James Oliver

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Susan Rhea
    US Geological Survey
    Geophysicist
    MS966, Box 25046, Federal Center
    Denver, CO 80225
    USA

    303-273-8639 (voice)
    303-273-8600 (FAX)
    rhea@usgs.gov

    Contact_Instructions: email is the best way to make contact

Why was the data set created?

The data was generated to help in understanding the seismotectonic hazards in the vicinity of the lower Wabash Valley. This data complements similar data collected in the vicinity of New Madrid, MO (US Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-0574, available via ftp at <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1995/ofr-95-0574/>)

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    (source 1 of 4)
    James Oliver, Martia Tuttle, 1996, written communication.

    (source 2 of 4)
    Tuttle, M.P., Lafferty, R.H., Cande, R.F., Ch, 1996, Evidence of earthquake-induced liquefaction north of the New Madrid seismic zone, central United States: Seismological Society of America.

    Other_Citation_Details: abs, p.58

    (source 3 of 4)
    Hajic, E.R., Obermeier, S.F., Wiant, M.D., a, 1996, Timing of prehistoric earthquake liquefaction in southeastern and central Illinois: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs vol 28, no 6, Geol. Soc. America.

    Other_Citation_Details: pg 42

    (source 4 of 4)
    Obermeier, Garniewicz, R.C., and Munson, P.J., 1996, Seismically induced paleoliquefaction features in southern half of Illinois [abs]: Seismological Research Letters vol 67, no 2, Seismological Society of America.

    Other_Citation_Details: p. 49
    Type_of_Source_Media: electronic
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 250000
    Source_Contribution: coordinates of locations

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: 16-May-1996 (process 1 of 1)
    Digital listing received via email and converted to ARC/INFO coverage.

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

    Rhea, Susan, and Wheeler, R.L., 1996, Map showing seismicity in the vicinity of the lower Wabash Valley, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-2583-A, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver.

    Other_Citation_Details: pamphlet accompanies map

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    The attribute accuracy is described, where present, with each attribute defined in the Entity and Attribute Section.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    as reported by sources

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    all data received from cooperator is included

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    Point features present.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: none
Use_Constraints: none

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    Susan Rhea
    US Geological Survey
    Geophysicist
    USGS Mail Stop 966
    Box 25046, Federal Center
    Denver, CO 80225-0046
    USA

    303-273-8639 (voice)
    303-273-8600 (FAX)
    rhea@usgs.gov

    Contact_Instructions: Email is the best way to make contact.
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    USGS Open-File Report 97-0681

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards and stratigraphic nomenclature. Any use of trade names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the USGS.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

    ARC/INFO version 7.0.3 or later or ArcView 3.0 or later

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 06-May-1998
Metadata author:
Susan Rhea
US Geological Survey
Geophysicist
MS966, Box 25046, Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225
USA

303-273-8639 (voice)
303-273-8600 (FAX)
rhea@usgs.gov

Contact_Instructions: email is the best way to make contact
Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

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