How to use SedDB

The SedDB search page presents the user with two panels. In the left panel, queries are based on geospatial/geographical/name criteria. Multiple criteria can be combined to narrow a query. The right panel provides global searches by core name, lithology, age, data availability, material, reference, and analytical parameter.

• LATITUDE/LONGITUDE

o    Enter latitude and/or longitude of the geographical area you are interested in. Enter the Northern and Southern bounding latitudes (latitudes on the southern hemisphere need to be entered as negative values, e.g. 9.6°S = -9.6) and the Western and Eastern longitudes (Western longitudes need to be entered as negative values, e.g. 112°W = -112). You can also select cores/samples collected at a minimum or maximum depth or a specific depth range. All depth below sea level must be entered as negative values. Note that many publications lack depth information.
o    Use the interactive map. Open the map icon, position the cursor to define northwest corner of the bounding box and click once, then click on the marker and drag towards the southeast until the desired box had been created. Release the marker. Lat/Long boxes will automatically populated with the defined area. Click "Select Lat/Long".

• FOCUS AREA
  Three radio-buttons can be used to choose one of the MARGINS Focus Sites. These sites have preferentially been populated with data based on their general interest to the communities of low-temperature geochemistry, paleoceanography, and arc magmatism. Default is set to "none".

• TECTONIC SETTING
  Use this criterion if you are interested in cores/samples from one or more specific tectonic settings such as 'Ocean Basin', 'Convergent Margin', or 'Passive Margin'. NB that publications often lack this information, if so tectonic setting is assigned by SedDB staff based on information from complimentary sources.

• GEOGRAPHICAL NAME
  Use geographical names to define a specific geographical area for your sample selection. Geographical names are used on various regional scales ranging from the name of an ocean to the name of a seamount or a fan. A pull-down list shows all the names currently in the database.  In the current version of SedDB only one name can be chosen from the list at a time. The text box can be used to manually enter a search term. Typing "trench" will yield many sites all of which contain the word "trench. However, if you only want data from a specific trench, choose the name from the pull-down list or type the full name into the text box.

• EXPEDITION
  This option allows you to access data for samples collected on a specific cruise/expedition. Use the pull-down menu to view and select a cruise/expedition names. Most expeditions are listed as: Common Name>Ship>SedDB Alphanumeric Name.

SEACHING BY OTHER SEARCH OPTIONS

• ODP/DSDP LEG/HOLE/CORES
  Since they are so numerous DSDP/ODP cores have their own search pathway. Choose this search if you are interested in data from specific ODP/DSDP legs. A succession of three windows will open allowing you to view/select legs/holes/cores. NB: some publications lack the complete string of hierarchical names, thus not all data from DSDP/ODP will be returned using this search. Instead they can be found using the "EXPEDITION" query.

• SELECT BY CORE TYPE
  This query can be used as a global search of the database for every sample that is associated with a core (note that not all samples are). The list of core names is by the alphanumeric name assigned by SedDB, not by the name in the publication, as many such names in are non-unique.
  The core selection list also has a link via IGSN number to the SESAR system and latitude/longitude and elevation information.
  Age model data can also be found under this rubric by choosing 'Filter by Sampling Device and/or Age Model'. At the bottom of the sampling device list there is a checkbox for age models. After filtering, any core with an age model will be listed. Click on the core name and the Core Profile Page will open with the option to look at age model data in table format. Note that most age models lack tie-point table and are simply the numerical age after application of an age model. Age models ages (if available) are included in data down loads.

• SELECT BY SAMPLE LITHOLOGY, AGE OR DATA AVAILABILITY
  Under this section you can find all samples in the database. Searches can be refined by sediment type (lithology), and/or age, and/or type of data (majors, traces, isotopes etc.).  Again, users should be aware that some publications lack lithologic descriptions and many lack age determinations.  Age models can be searched for by selecting the time period of interest and clicking the box for 'Assigned Sample Age' under 'Age Methods'. Age model data will be included in the download. Most age model data is in the form of numeric ages without specific tie-points (also see SELECT BY CORE TYPE above for instructions).

• SELECT SAMPLE TYPES
  Use this search you are interested in a specific material. Choices range from pore water, bulk sediment, grain size fractions and minerals to biogenic materials such as foraminifera and diatoms.

• SELECT REFERENCES
  This option allows you to see a complete list of references currently in SedDB and to select specific publications. The list is displayed alphabetically by first author. References can also be queried for: specific authors, titles, years or by data loading interval. Data loading interval is particularly useful to check for new data since your last visit to SedDB.
  Click directly on a reference title to open a new window and to view the data tables and table titles from this reference. From here you can view any one of these tables.
  If you want to download the data (alone or together with data from any other references) click the check box(es) to the left of the reference and then 'Submit'. You can then choose chemical parameters and methods followed by download/viewing options.
  *Note: The data tables contain only original values, any referenced values can only be found in the original publication. If an original table contained data not relevant to SedDB (e.g. hard rock data) such data will also not be included. You may be able to find such data in our sister database PetDB.

• SELECT ANALYTICAL PARAMETERS
  If you would like all data for a particular chemical item(s) use this search. Parameters are grouped by: Majors, Traces, Stable and Radiogenic Isotopes, Sedimentary and Porewater Components. Any combination of parameters can be selected. Check off the box to the left of the item, then 'Submit'. The next screen will show methods used for these analyses, followed by a data summary and download options.

How to Use SedDBv0.1

Setting constraints on a core/sample selection

The database contains chemical data for a large variety of samples. When you want to query the database for chemical values, you first need to select a group of cores or samples that you are interested in. The following criteria can be used (you can use one criteria or any combination of criteria):

• LATITUDE/LONGITUDE: Enter latitude and/or longitude of the geographical area you are interested in. Enter the Northern and Southern bounding latitudes (latitudes on the southern hemisphere need to be entered as negative values, e.g. 9.6°S = -9.6) and the Western and Eastern longitudes (Western longitudes need to be entered as negative values, e.g. 112°W = -112). You can also select cores/samples collected at a minimum or maximum depth or a specific depth range. All depth below sea level have to be entered as negative values.
   
• LOCATION: Use geographical names to define a specific geographical area for your sample selection. Geographical names are used on various regional scales ranging from name of the ocean to the name of a seamount or the name of subduction zone.
   
• TECTONIC SETTING: Use this criteria if you are interested in cores/samples from one or more specific tectonic settings such as 'Ocean Basin', 'Convergent Margin', or 'Passive Margin'.
   
• SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: You can define your sample selection by lithology. It is important to note that the classification of samples into these lithologies is based on information provided in publications and is NOT done by SedDB.
   
• CRUISE/SHIP: This option allows you to get data for samples that have been collected on a specific cruise/expedition. Use a cruise name to select the samples collected on this cruise. In case you don't know the cruise name, you can use the ship name and the cruise year. You can also query by the name of the chief scientist or the name of the organizing institution. Note: Many cruises in SedDB are listed without the chief scientist or the organizing institution, so there might be only few records returned when you use these criteria.
   
• PUBLICATION INFORMATION: The option 'Set Publication Information' allows you to find specific publications in SedDB and view and download data tables from this publication* (click on 'data tables' in the list of references that is returned when you submit a query for publications by author(s), year(s), keyword(s), etc.). Once you see a list of references, you can select any of these to define the group of cores/samples for which you want data by clicking on 'APPLY'. Applying selected references to your core/sample search will allow you to find all chemical data for these cores/samples available from multiple references.
   *Note: The data tables contain only original values, any referenced values can only be found in the original publication.
   
• DATA AVAILABILITY: Use a query by data availability if you are looking for data from cores/samples for which specific data types have been published. For example, if you are interested to get data for only those cores/samples for which major elements and isotope ratios are available, you click on the appropriate check boxes here.
   
• CORE NAME: You can find cores by the name that is reported in the publication ('ALIAS'), by the SedDB unique sample identifier., or by their IGSN (International Geo Sample Number). As many names in publications are non-unique, you will often get multiple results. You need to check the core information by clicking on the core identifier to decide which core is the correct one.