Explanation of Column Headings on the Tow Table
Site identifier 1. A code used to characterize a sample by the cruise when it was collected and by its depth and disturbance classification. The first five characters of the site identifier refer to the cruise code. The sixth and seventh characters respectively refer to depth and disturbance classifications. For example, the site identifier "94-11DM" would be used to identify a sample collected during cruise 94-11 from a deep station with a medium level of bottom fishing disturbance.
Cruise. Code describing the research cruise on which the data were collected. The first two digits of the cruise code represent the year when the cruise took place.
Date. The date when a Naturalist dredge sample was collected. Dates are written in a month/day/year format.
Station. During each research cruise, a unique station number is given to each location where a sample was collected. Stations are generally numbered in consecutive order and are in no way related to study sites. At each study site, three replicate samples are typically collected each year. Each of these replicates are given a different station number.
SSA. Code identifying the study site from which a sample was collected.
Disturbance. The level of bottom fishing disturbance at a particular station has been classified using a one-letter code. U is used to label stations that are largely undisturbed by bottom fishing. M is used to label stations with an intermediate level of disturbance. D is used to label stations that are heavily fished.
Depth. The depth of a station in meters.
Depth code. Deep stations (generally >60 m) are labeled with a "D". Shallow stations (generally <60 m) are labeled with a "S".
start_lat_deg. The geographic position of the research vessel at the start of a tow of the Naturalist dredge was recorded using degrees-minutes-seconds. Data in this column refer to the degrees latitude at the beginning of a tow.
start_lat_min. Number of minutes latitude at the start of a tow of the Naturalist dredge.
start_lon_deg. Degrees longitude at the start of a tow of the Naturalist dredge.
start_long_min. Number of minutes longitude at the start of a tow of the Naturalist dredge.
Buckets. Number of 9-liter buckets into which the sediment collected at a particular station was shoveled. This information was used to determine the volume of sediment collected at each station.
Subsample. Number of 9-liter buckets whose contents were sieved through a 5-mm screen in order to obtain a subsample.
Volume. Volume of sediment in liters collected at a particular station.