ecollectionevents > Exp/Method

This tab includes information about expeditions that produced samples in the collection. Expeditions include both terrestrial and marine programs. For the latter, this tab also includes fields for identifying vessels and cruises.


Expedition Name

Field

Value

ItemPrompt

Expedition Name

ColumnName

ExpExpeditionName

DataKind

dkAtom

DataType

Text

LookupName

Expedition Name

The name of the expedition or field program during which a collecting event took place. Names are typically assigned by the sponsor of an expedition and should use their exact format when possible.

For cruises that are not part of a larger expedition, it can be useful to provide a long-form cruise identifier in this field. For example, leg 2 of cruise ABCD of the Enterprise can be entered as “Enterprise Cruise ABCD (Leg 2)”. This allows the cataloger to include a more readable version of the cruise identifier.

Usage

Omit if no appropriate data is available

Examples

  • 40th Parallel Expedition

  • CERES Expedition (CERE)


Vessel Name

Field

Value

ItemPrompt

Vessel Name

ColumnName

AquVesselName

DataKind

dkAtom

DataType

Text

LookupName

Vessel Name

The name of the ship from which a sample was collected.

Usage

Omit if no appropriate data is available

Format

If a ship-supported submersible (like Alvin) was used, include both the ship and submersible, separated by a semicolon (“Atlantis II; Alvin”). Omit the prefix “R/V” when entering a ship name in EMu.

Examples

  • Atlantis II

  • James B. Gilliss

  • Thomas Washington


Cruise Number

Field

Value

ItemPrompt

Cruise Number

ColumnName

AquCruiseNumber

DataKind

dkAtom

DataType

Text

The identifier assigned by the organization that operates a vessel to a research cruise, that is, a continuous, port-to-port voyage conducted to make observations or collect specimens. The terms “cruise” and “leg” are interchangeable for the purposes of this field.

Usage

Omit if no appropriate data is available

Format

Typically, the identifier is either a number or an alphanumeric code. Cruise number formats vary widely between or even within organizations, with different abbreviations, delimiters, or zero-padding conventions being used in different documents. There are no hard rules for formatting a cruise number, but a good practice is to search for a vessel name to see how cruise numbers for that vessel have been recorded previously.

Cruise numbers should include the leg if known, and legs should not be recorded elsewhere (for example, in notes). Many organizations already incorporate the leg into their cruise identifiers, but if not, it is acceptable to append the leg to the cruise number. For example, leg 2 of cruise ABCD can be entered as “ABCD-2”.


Start/Completion Date

Field

ExpStartDate

ExpCompletionDate

ItemPrompt

Start Date

Completion Date

ColumnName

ExpStartDate

ExpCompletionDate

DataKind

dkAtom

dkAtom

DataType

Date

Date

The start and end dates for an expedition or cruise

Usage

Omit if no appropriate data is available

Format

EMu depicts dates using the following formats:

  • Year, month, and day: 1 Jan 1970

  • Year and month: Jan 1970

  • Year: 1970

It accepts a variety of formats in addition to the display formats above, including but not limited to: * January 1, 1970 * Jan 1, 1970 * 1970-01-01 * 1970-01 * 0101970

Use the most specific date format possible.

If only a single date is available, include that date in both the start and completion date fields. For example, if a cruise took place in Jan 1970 but the exact start and end dates are not known, enter “Jan 1970” in both fields. If a cruise took place in 1970 and the exact dates are not known, enter “1970” in both fields.


Project Number

Field

Value

ItemPrompt

Project Number

ColumnName

ExpProjectNumber

DataKind

dkAtom

DataType

Text

Not used


Collection Method

Field

Value

ItemPrompt

Collection Method

ColumnName

ColCollectionMethod

DataKind

dkAtom

DataType

Text

LookupName

Collection Method

The device used to collect a specimen

Usage

Required for marine specimens and terrestrial drill cores. Omit otherwise. Specimens collected during routine field work do not need to indicate a collection method.

Format

The format of this field is under review. Historically, we have only captured three collection methods: core (sometimes given as drill core), dredge, and submersible. NOAA’s IMLGS includes a more detailed vocabulary that may be worth a look.

Examples

  • Core

  • Dredge

  • Submersible (HOV)

  • Submersible (ROV)


Area

Field

Value

ItemPrompt

Total Surface Area Value

ColumnName

MetTotalSurfaceAreaValue

DataKind

dkAtom

DataType

Float

Not used


Unit

Field

Value

ItemPrompt

Total Surface Area Unit

ColumnName

MetTotalSurfaceAreaUnit

DataKind

dkAtom

DataType

Text

LookupName

Total Surface Area Unit

Not used