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San Francisco Bay, California 1/3 arc-second MHW Coastal Digital Elevation Model

browse graphicPerspective view of DEM
NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) is building high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) for select U.S. coastal regions. These integrated bathymetric-topographic DEMs are used to support tsunami forecasting and warning efforts at the NOAA Center for Tsunami Research, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL). The DEMs are part of the tsunami forecast system SIFT (Short-term Inundation Forecasting for Tsunamis) currently
being developed by PMEL for the NOAA Tsunami Warning Centers, and are used in the MOST (Method of Splitting Tsunami) model developed by PMEL to simulate tsunami generation, propagation, and inundation. Bathymetric, topographic, and shoreline data used in DEM compilation are obtained from various sources, including NGDC, the U.S. National Ocean Service (NOS), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), and other federal, state, and local government agencies, academic institutions, and private companies. DEMs are referenced to the vertical tidal datum of North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88) or Mean High Water (MHW) and horizontal datum of World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84). Cell size for the DEMs ranges from 1/3 arc-second (~10 meters) to 3 arc-seconds (~90 meters).
Cite this dataset when used as a source.
  • ID not available.
gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.dem:417
Full Text · XML
Search Data
  • DEM text search (search)
    Text search for locating completed and planned DEMs.
  • Bathymetric Data Viewer (search)
    The Bathymetric Data Viewer is an interactive map providing discovery, descriptions, and download capability for bathymetric survey data and digital elevation models archived at NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
Download Data
Distribution Formats
  • netCDF (Version: 4 Classic)
Distributor DEM Information
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
dem.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact DEM Information
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
dem.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 1922-01-01 to 2009-01-01
Spatial Reference System urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326urn:ogc:def:datum:EPSG::5868
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
N: 38.48
S: 37.32
E: -121.85
W: -123.30
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2010-07-20
Edition First
Data Presentation Form mapDigital
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Data Update Frequency As needed
Purpose Developed for the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL), NOAA Center for Tsunami Research program in support of NOAA's tsunami forecasting and warning efforts.
Use Limitations
  • Not to be used for navigation. Although these data are of high quality and useful for planning and modeling purposes, they are not suitable for navigation. For navigation, please refer to the NOS nautical chart series.
  • Produced by the NOAA National Geophysical Data Center. Not subject to copyright protection within the United States.
Originators
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Publishers
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Seafloor Topography
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Bathymetry
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Water Depth
  • Earth Science > Land Surface > Topography > Terrain Elevation
  • Earth Science > Land Surface > Topography > Terrain Elevation > Topographical Relief Maps
  • Earth Science > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coastal Elevation
uncontrolled
  • DTM > Digital Terrain Model
Uncontrolled
  • Coastal Relief
  • Gridded elevations
  • Integrated bathymetry and topography
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Service Keywords
  • DATA ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION > GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS > WEB-BASED GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
  • DATA MANAGEMENT/DATA HANDLING > DATA SEARCH AND RETRIEVAL
  • DATA ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION > VISUALIZATION/IMAGE PROCESSING
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Service Keywords
  • DATA ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION > GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS > WEB-BASED GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
  • DATA MANAGEMENT/DATA HANDLING > DATA SEARCH AND RETRIEVAL
  • DATA ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION > VISUALIZATION/IMAGE PROCESSING
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Service Keywords
  • DATA ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION > GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS > WEB-BASED GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
  • DATA MANAGEMENT/DATA HANDLING > DATA SEARCH AND RETRIEVAL
  • DATA ANALYSIS AND VISUALIZATION > VISUALIZATION/IMAGE PROCESSING
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Platform keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • Models/Analyses > DEM > Digital Elevation Model
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Continent > North America > United States of America > California
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > North Pacific Ocean
  • Vertical Location > Land Surface
  • Vertical Location > Sea Floor
Uncontrolled
  • San Francisco Bay
  • Oakland
  • Palo Alto
  • Bodega Bay
  • Tomalas Bay
  • San Pablo Bay
  • San Mateo
  • San Francisco County
  • Central California
Project keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • ICSU-WDS > International Council for Science - World Data System
  • NOAA OneStop Project
Data Resolution keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Horizontal Data Resolution Keywords
  • 1 meter - < 30 meters
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Vertical Data Resolution Keywords
  • < 1 meter
Use Constraints No constraint information available
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Fees Fee information not available.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processor
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Processing Steps
  • 2010-01-20T00:00:00 - All datasets obtained by NGDC were converted to common horizontal and vertical datums of WGS 84 geographic and NAVD 88, respectively, using FME and VDatum transformation tool. They were also converted to common file format, ESRI point shapefiles, for visualization and inspection.
  • 2010-02-09T00:00:00 - Datasets were visually inspected with ArcGIS for identification and editing of data anomalies. Datasets were then compared with overlapping datasets to ensure data consistency.
  • 2010-03-22T00:00:00 - Coastline datasets were merged and adjusted to fit satellite imagery.
  • 2010-05-10T00:00:00 - xyz files of the bathymetric data were surfaced using GMT's 'surface' tool onto a 1 arc-second grid outside San Francisco Bay and 1/3 arc-second within the bay that interpolated to fill empty cells. Points extracted every 10 meters along the coastline were also included to ensure that the bathymetric grid reached zero at the coast. The resulting Arc ASCII grid was imported into ArcGIS and clipped to the coastline to remove values over land.
  • 2010-06-24T00:00:00 - xyz files for each input dataset were gridded using MB-System's 'mbgrid' tool, which utilizes a high-tension spline interpolation method to fill grid cells with no input elevation values. Preferential weighting was given to more recent, higher-accuracy datasets. Gridding was performed in quadrants, each with a 5% data buffer. The grids were imported in ArcGIS and seamlessly merged to create the final DEM.
  • 2010-07-13T00:00:00 - The NAVD 88 DEM was quantitatively evaluated by comparing with source datasets and with elevation values extracted from NGS geodetic monuments. It was visually evaluated by converting to UTM-zone coordinates (units of meters horizontally and vertically) and then creating a slope grid to identify gridding artifacts in the DEM.
  • 2010-07-16T00:00:00 - A conversion grid that models the relationship between NAVD 88 and MHW was created using data points and the VDatum transformation tool. This conversion grid was added to the NAVD 88 DEM to generate the MHW DEM.
Processing Environment Native Dataset Environment: Microsoft Windows 2000 Version 5.2 (Build 3790) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.2.4.1420
Source Datasets
  • NOS Hydrographic Surveys
    • NOS Hydrographic Survey Database (download)
      Digital database of NOS hydrographic surveys that date back to the late 19th century.
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: hydrographic surveys downloaded from web site. ; Source Type: online
    • Temporal extent used: 1922-01-01 to 2000-01-01
  • CSUMB Multibeam Swath Sonar Surveys
  • Electronic Navigational Charts
    • OCS Electronic Navigational Charts (download)
      Digital database of NOAA nautical chart information.
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: coastline and bathymetric sounding data ; Source Type: online
    • Time Instant: 2008-01-01
  • USACE Hydrographic Surveys
    • USACE San Francisco District Hydrographic Surveys (download)
      Digital database of hydrographic surveys in San Francisco District
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: Hydrographic surveys for San Francisco Bay ; Source Type: online
    • Time Instant: 2009-01-01
  • USGS NED topography
    • USGS National Elevation Dataset (download)
      Digital database of U.S. topography, in raster form (DEM)
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: topographic DEM downloaded from web site. ; Source Type: online
    • Temporal extent used: 2006-01-01 to 2008-01-01
  • GeoEarthScope Northern California lidar
    • GEON topographic lidar (download)
      Digital database topographic lidar datasets
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: topographic lidar ; Source Type: online
    • Time Instant: 2007-01-01
  • National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping lidar
    • NCALM topographic lidar (download)
      Digital database topographic lidar datasets
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: topographic lidar of Napa Watershed and Lone Tree Creek ; Source Type: online
    • Temporal extent used: 2003-01-01 to 2006-01-01
  • North and Central San Francisco Bay Lidar
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: topographic lidar ; Source Type: hard drive
    • Time Instant: 2004-01-01
  • VDatum software v. 2.2.7
    • VDatum (download)
      Vertical Datum Transformation tool
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: vertical datum transformation tool ; Source Type: online
    • Time Instant: 2009-01-01
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
    Platform
    • Digital Elevation Model
    Operation
    • Tsunami Inundation Gridding Project
    Last Modified: 2017-12-01
    For questions about the information on this page, please email: dem.info@noaa.gov