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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Puget Sound 1/3 arc-second MHW Coastal Digital Elevation Model

browse graphicThumbnail 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 individual coastal States as part of the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program's (NTHMP) efforts to improve community preparedness and hazard mitigation. Bathymetric, topographic, and shoreline data used in DEM compilation are obtained from various sources
including: NGDC; the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO); NOAA's Coastal Service Center; and other federal, state, and local government agencies, academic institutions, and private companies. DEMs are referenced to the vertical tidal datum of Mean High Water (MHW) and horizontal datum of World Geodetic System 1984 geographic (WGS 84). Grid spacing for the DEM is 1/3 arc-second (~10 meters).
Cite this dataset when used as a source.
  • ID not available.
gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.dem:5164
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
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
dem.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact DEM Information
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
dem.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 1894-01-01 to 2014-01-01
Spatial Reference System urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326urn:ogc:def:datum:EPSG::5868
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -123.18
East: -122.16
South: 47.01
North: 48.19
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2014-06-24
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 National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation 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 Centers for Environmental Information. 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
Collaborators
  • National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP)
Custodians
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
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
  • 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
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean
  • Ocean > Pacific Ocean > North Pacific Ocean
  • Vertical Location > Land Surface
  • Vertical Location > Sea Floor
Puget Sound
  • Puget Sound
  • Washington
  • Seattle
  • Tacoma
  • Everett
  • Port Angeles
  • Port Townsend
  • Bainbridge Island
  • Whidbey Island
  • Bremerton
  • Vashon Island
  • Olympia
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
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Processing Steps
  • 2014-04-09T00:00:00 - All datasets obtained by NGDC were converted to common horizontal and vertical datums of WGS 84 geographic and NAVD 88, respectively, using VDatum. They were also converted to common file format for visualization and inspection.
  • 2014-04-23T00:00:00 - Datasets were visually inspected with ArcGIS for identification and editing of data anomalies. Datasets were then compared with overlapping datasets to ensure data consistency.
  • 2014-05-13T00:00:00 - xyz files of the bathymetric data were surfaced using GMT's 'surface' tool onto a 1/3 arc-second grid that interpolated to fill empty cells. Points extracted every 5 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.
  • 2014-05-20T00:00:00 - 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.
  • 2014-06-10T00:00:00 - The DEM was quantitatively evaluated by comparing with source datasets.
  • 2014-06-13T00:00:00 - A conversion grid based on VDatum was added to the NAVD 88 DEM to generate a 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
  • 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
    • Time Instant: 1999-01-01
  • 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
    • Temporal extent used: 1894-01-01 to 2011-01-01
  • Puget Sound Lidar Consortium
    • PSLC lidar (download)
      PSLC topographic and bathymetric/topographic lidar data
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: lidar data
    • Temporal extent used: 1996-01-01 to 2012-01-01
  • Hydrographic sounding data of select Puget Sound Harbors
    • Condition survey data of select Puget Sound Harbors (download)
      Hydrographic Sounding at intervals, along Project design lines spaced at specific intervals.
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: hydrographic sounding data
    • Temporal extent used: 2008-01-01 to 2014-01-01
  • VDatum software v. 3.2
    • VDatum (download)
      Vertical Datum Transformation tool
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: vertical datum transformation tool ; Source Type: online
    • Time Instant: 2009-09-30
  • VDatum software v. 3.2
    • VDatum (download)
      Vertical Datum Transformation tool
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: vertical datum transformation tool ; Source Type: online
    • Time Instant: 2012-03-15
  • VDatum software v. 3.2
    • VDatum (download)
      Vertical Datum Transformation tool
    • Description of Source: Source Contribution: vertical datum transformation tool ; Source Type: online
    • Time Instant: 2009-09-30
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.
Last Modified: 2022-03-25
For questions about the information on this page, please email: dem.info@noaa.gov