SedDB is an online data management and information system for sediment geochemistry.

SedDB is based on a relational database that contains the full range of analytical values for sediment samples, primarily from marine sediment cores, including major and trace element concentrations, radiogenic and stable isotope ratios, and data for all types of material such as organic and inorganic components, leachates, and size fractions. SedDB also archives a vast array of metadata relating to the individual sample. Examples of Seddb metadata are: sample latitude and longitude; elevation below sea surface; material analyzed; analytical methodology; analytical precision and reference standard measurements. As of May, 2007 SedDB contains nearly 100,000 individual analytical data points of 20,000 samples. Contents are continuously growing.

Purpose

SedDB is being developed to complement current geological data systems (PetDB [1], EarthChem, NavDat and Georoc) with an integrated and easily accessible compilation of geochemical data of marine and continental sediments to be utilized for sedimentological, geochemical, petrological, oceanographic, and paleoclimate research, as well as for educational purposes.

Funding and management

SedDB is funded by the US National Science Foundation and is managed as part of the Geoinformatics for Geochemistry Program (GfG), under the leadership of Dr. Kerstin Lehnert. GfG is an integrated organizational structure for NSF-funded data management activities. SedDB is being built collaboratively by researchers and information technologists at the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory and the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (both at Columbia University), Oregon State University, Boston University, and Boise State University.

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