Search Grain Size

Many additional data sets available through NGDC containing grain size data are not included in this database; some are in paper reports, other data are in diverse formats. For a more complete search of grain size data from the seafloor available from NGDC, search the marine geology inventory.



More Geology Data

Seafloor Sediment Grain Size Database

NGDC Data Set # 00127

Global grain size data from multiple contributors.

World Data Center for Marine Geology & Geophysics, Boulder

The NGDC grain size database contains particle size data for over 17,000 seafloor samples worldwide. The file was begun by NGDC in 1976 in response to a need by the Outer Continental Shelf Environmental Assessment Program (OCSEAP) for a detailed, digital file of textural analyses. Data are from OCSEAP studies, academic institutions, environmental baseline studies conducted under contract to the Bureau of Land Management for the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Program, and from laboratory reports generated by the US Navy.

Data include collecting institution, ship, cruise, sample id, latitude/longitude, date of collection, water depth, sampling device, method of analysis, sample weight, sampled interval, raw weight percentages of sediment, within a given phi range. Some samples also have percentages of total gravel, sand, silt, clay, and statistical measurements such as mean, median, skewness, kurtosis, and standard deviation of grain size. Most size data have been checked for gross percentage mismatches and highly questionable data sets are noted. However, statistics were generated by the originators and have not been verified by NGDC. NGDC is not responsible for errors in the data.

AVAILABILITY

The Grain Size Database is fully searchable online. Searches return data in a tab-delimited form suitable for upload into most spreadsheet and database applications. Many additional data sets available through NGDC contain grain size data that are not included in this database; some are in paper reports, other data are in diverse formats.

For a more complete search of grain size data from the seafloor available from NGDC, please search the marine geology inventory.