CoSMoS Whatcom County model input files

Frequently anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How might this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How might this data set be cited?
   Grossman, Eric E., vanArendonk, Nathan R., Crosby, Sean C., Tehranirad, Babak, Nederhoff, Kees, Parker, Kai A., Barnard, Patrick L., Erikson, Li, and Danielson, Jeffrey J., 20240213, CoSMoS Whatcom County model input files: data release DOI:10.5066/P9I08NS5, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, California.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/P9I08NS5

   This is part of the following larger work.
   Grossman, Eric E., vanArendonk, Nathan R., Crosby, Sean C., Tehranirad, Babak, Nederhoff, Kees, Parker, Kai A., Barnard, Patrick L., Erikson, Li, and Danielson, Jeffrey J., 2024, Coastal hazards assessment associated with sea level rise and storms along the Whatcom County, Northwest Washington State coast: data release DOI:10.5066/P9I08NS5, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/P9I08NS5

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Suggested Citation: Grossman, E.E., vanArendonk, N.R., Crosby, S.C., Tehranirad, B., Nederhoff, K., Barnard, P.L., Erikson, L., and Danielson, J.J., 2024, Coastal hazards assessment associated with sea level rise and storms along the Whatcom County, Northwest Washington State coast. U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9I08NS5.

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -123.11107
   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.47924
   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 49.04608
   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.64034
   

3. What does it look like?
4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Beginning_Date: 2019

   Ending_Date: 2023

   Currentness_Reference:

   start of project work through publication year

5. What is the general form of this data set?

   Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form:

   input and observation files in various formats including, but not limited to, shapefiles and NetCDF

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      

      Indirect_Spatial_Reference:

      The model input files for XBeach and SFINCS are for CoSMoS Tier 3 for Whatcom County, referred to as County Domain 1 (D1) of Washington State. Setup included is for validation of the December 20, 2018, storm event in Birch Bay and the full range of storms for 0 m SLR.

   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      

      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:

      UTM_Zone_Number: 10
      Transverse_Mercator:

      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.9996
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -123.00000
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.00000
      False_Easting: 500000.0
      False_Northing: 0.00
      

      Planar coordinates are encoded using row and column
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 10
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 10
      Planar coordinates are specified in Meters
      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is GRS 1980.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.0.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222101.
      

      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:

      Altitude_System_Definition:

      Altitude_Datum_Name: North American Vertical Datum of 1988
      Altitude_Resolution: 0.01
      Altitude_Distance_Units: meters
      Altitude_Encoding_Method:

      Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   Model setup files include all files necessary to run a Tier 3 simulation for CoSMoS with XBeach and SFINCS for the validation in domain011, with a runid of "SFINCS_domain11" and the combined influence of sea level and full range of storms for domain 3 of Whatcom County, with a runid of "model_setup_domain003".

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   Model setup files for CoSMoS Tier 3 simulations for Whatcom County, created in version 1.23.5834 and SFINCS release version298. The entity and attribute information were generated by the individual and/or agency identified as the originator of the data set. Please review the rest of the metadata record for additional details and information.

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Eric E. Grossman
   • Nathan R. vanArendonk
   • Sean C. Crosby
   • Babak Tehranirad
   • Kees Nederhoff
   • Kai A. Parker
   • Patrick L. Barnard
   • Li Erikson
   • Jeffrey J. Danielson
2. Who also contributed to the data set?
   This dataset was funded by the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, Port of Bellingham, the City of Blaine, United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the United States Geological Survey.
3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

   Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator

   2885 Mission Street

   Santa Cruz, CA
   

   831-427-4747 (voice)

   pcmsc_data@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: 01-Jul-2020 (process 1 of 4)

   Elevation transects, model input files, and boundary conditions generated for tier 3 XBeach models (as described in Nederhoff and others, 2024). 3409 XBeach model transects were developed shore perpendicular from the -6 to 10-meter contour at approximately 50-meter spacing along the shoreline. Forcing to the XBeach models was provided as hourly still water timeseries from the tier 1 regional hydrodynamic model (Grossman and others, 2023) and as significant wave heights and periods from the tier 1 regional wave model (see Crosby and others, 2023). The model setup is in the planar Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 10 North coordinate system in meters and elevations in meters are referenced to NAVD88. XBeach models are provided in the folder titled "XBeach" located in the folder titled "model_domains".

   Date: 01-Mar-2021 (process 2 of 4)

   XBeach transects input files and boundary forcing were adjusted to span the range of offshore SLR and wave conditions and water levels. For every fifth transect, the model was run at a subset of these conditions to create a lookup table relating nearshore wave effects to water levels to offshore wave and water level conditions. For more information on model setup, see Neederhoff and others, 2024.

   Date: 01-Sep-2021 (process 3 of 4)

   Model grid, bathymetry, input files, and boundary conditions was generated for tier 3 SFINCS models (as described in Nederhoff and others, 2024). 28 rectangular SFINCS model domains were created across the study area, each with 10 m cell size and 1-meter topographic information included via subgridding (Nederhoff and others, 2024). Input forcing was provided to SFINCS for slowly varying water levels by the regional hydrodynamic model (see Grossman and others, 2023) and for wave driven water levels by the XBeach transect model output. Model is set up in the planar Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) Zone 10 North coordinate system in meters and elevations in meters are referenced to NAVD88. SFINCS model domains are provided in the folder titled "SFINCS" located in the folder titled "model_domains".

   Date: 01-Feb-2022 (process 4 of 4)

   Setup and input files for all models were adjusted for storm and sea level rise scenarios. Model for validation simulated the storm of December 20, 2018, in domain011 and is provided the folder titled "model_validation". County-wide projections were run for 0 m, 0.25 m. 0.5 m, 1.0 m, 1.5 m, 2.0 m, 3.0 m and 5.0 m of sea level rise. Also run was the uncertainty for each sea level rise scenario, defined as a bracketing plus and minus 0.5 m of sea level, therefore including -0.5 m, -0.25 m, 0.75 m, 2.5 m, 4.5 m, and 5.5 m. For each sea level rise scenario, more than 300 of the largest storm events were run as determined by the methodology described in Nederhoff and others (2024). Model for the combined influence of sea level and full range of storms is provided for the existing sea level position in the folder titled "model_setup_domain003".

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
   Tyler, D.J., Danielson, J.J., Grossman, E.E., and Hockenberry, R.J., 2020, Topobathymetric Model of Puget Sound, Washington, 1887 to 2017.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/P95N6CIT.

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Tyler, D.J., Danielson, J.J., Grossman, E.E., and Hockenberry, R.J. 2020. Topobathymetric Model of Puget Sound, Washington, 1887 to 2017: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P95N6CIT

   Grossman, Eric E, Tehranirad, Babak, Nederhoff, Kees, Crosby, Sean, Stevens, Andrew W, VanArendonk, Nathan R, Nowacki, Daniel, Erikson, Li, and Barnard, Patrick, 2023, Modeling extreme water levels in the Salish Sea: A new method for estimating sea level anomalies for application in hydrodynamic simulations.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.3390/w15234167.

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Grossman, E.E., Tehranirad, B., Nederhoff, C.M., Crosby, S.C., Stevens, A.W., Van Arendonk, N.R., Nowacki, D.J., Erikson, L.H., Barnard, P.L. Modeling Extreme Water Levels in the Salish Sea: The Importance of Including Remote Sea Level Anomalies for Application in Hydrodynamic Simulations. Water 2023, 15, 4167. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15234167.

   Crosby, Sean C., Nederhoff, Kees, VanArendonk, Nathan R., and Grossman, Eric E., 2023, Efficient modeling of long-period wave propagation and short-period wind-wave generation: a comparison of several methods in a semi-enclosed estuary..

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2023.102231

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Crosby, S.C., Nederhoff, K., vanArendonk, N.R., Grossman, E.E. 2023. Efficient modeling of long-period wave propagation and short-period wind-wave generation: a comparison of several methods in a semi-enclosed estuary, Journal of Ocean Modelling, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2023.102231.

   Nederhoff, Kees, Crosby, Sean, Arendonk, Nathan van, Grossman, Eric, Tehranirad, Babak, Leijnse, Tim, Klessens, Wouter, and Barnard, Patrick, 2021, Drivers of extreme water levels in a large, urban, high-energy coastal estuary. A case study of the San Francisco Bay.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.3390/w16020346

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Nederhoff, K.; Crosby, S.C.; Van Arendonk, N.R.; Grossman, E.E.; Tehranirad, B.; Leijnse, T.; Klessens, W.; Barnard, P.L. Dynamic Modeling of Coastal Compound Flooding Hazards Due to Tides, Extratropical Storms, Waves, and Sea-Level Rise: A Case Study in the Salish Sea, Washington (USA). Water 2024, 16, 346. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16020346.

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

1. How well have the observations been checked?
   Model setup is validated for a historical storm event in the Birch Bay area of the Whatcom County study area, with regional water level RMSE of approximately 10 cm and maximum wave height RMSE of 57 cm. See Nederhoff and others (2024) for more information on setup and accuracy.
2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
   Data are concurrent with the referenced Digital Elevation Model (Tyler and others, 2020).
3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
   Model-derived data are accurate within the limitations outlined in Nederhoff and others (2024).
4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
   Dataset is considered complete for the information presented.
5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
   Data have undergone QA/QC and fall within expected/reasonable ranges.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   
   U.S. Geological Survey - CMGDS

   2885 Mission Street

   Santa Cruz, CA
   

   831-427-4747 (voice)

   pcmsc_data@usgs.gov
2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Downloadable observation data in vector GIS shapefile format and XBeach and SFINCS numerical model input files.
3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
   Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.
4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	Zip file containing XBeach and SFINCS model domains and XBeach and SFINCS numerical model input files for validation and example of the combined influence of sea level and full range of storms. in format netCDF Size: 2100
     Network links:	https://doi.org/10.5066/P9I08NS5 https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5633fea2e4b048076347f1cf

   • Cost to order the data: None.

5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
   These data can be viewed with GIS software.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 13-Feb-2024

Metadata author:

U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator

2885 Mission Street

Santa Cruz, CA

831-427-4747 (voice)

pcmsc_data@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)