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How to use SedDB

Click HERE to download/view a comprehensive tutorial for the the SedDB system (2.23 MB pdf).

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.