ON-LINE DATABASES FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL PLAIN AMINOSTRATIGRAPHIC DATA

On-line databases have the ability to make available large quantities of data that may take decades to appear in hard copy literature. To facilitate collaboration and discussion, several data repositories are now in active construction (Wehmiller and Pellerito, 2015). One, hosted by the Delaware Geological Survey (DGS), consists of an MS-Access database (with supporting documentation) for all amino acid racemization (AAR) data for the US Atlantic coastal plain (and elsewhere). This site is refreshed periodically as new information is added. The second consists of a series of static data compilations, mostly from published literature, maintained by the AAR community at the NOAA World Data Center for Paleoclimate Database. The third consists of on-line maps at ArcGIS.com. These maps represent syntheses of the raw data that are found in the DGS database, including summaries of data, age interpretations, and references. Numerous sample collections are represented, including onshore and offshore cores, outcrops, and beach samples. Because analytical methods have evolved substantially, some notes are included related to the comparability of results that may have been obtained by different methods and at different times. The two approaches are complementary, but the ArcGIS maps are particularly useful to identify specific sites or regions where AAR data might be available. The map files are being revised periodically as new interpretations or data summaries are prepared. Although the vast majority of the data in these syntheses is from the University of Delaware AAR lab, results from several other laboratories over the past 40 years are also included where appropriate.