Salish Sea water level hindcast simulations: 1985-2015

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, Tehranirad, Babak, Stevens, Andrew W, VanArendonk, Nathan R, Crosby, Sean, and Nederhoff, Kees, 20231211, Salish Sea water level hindcast simulations: 1985-2015: data release DOI: 10.5066/P946SC3L, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, California.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/P946SC3L

   This is part of the following larger work.
   Grossman, Eric E, Tehranirad, Babak, Stevens, Andrew W, VanArendonk, Nathan R, Crosby, Sean, and Nederhoff, Kees, 2023, Salish Sea Hydrodynamic Model: data release DOI:10.5066/P946SC3L, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/P946SC3L

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Suggested Citation: Grossman, E.E., Tehranirad, B., Stevens, A.W., VanArendonk, N.R., Crosby, S., and Nederhoff, K., 2023, Salish Sea Hydrodynamic Model: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P946SC3L.

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -129.1400
   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.1500
   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 51.5700
   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.0000
   

3. What does it look like?

   https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/63ac9989d34e92aad3ca1445?name=extreme-water-levels-1985-2015.jpg&allowOpen=true (JPEG)

   2-year (A) and 50-year (B) water levels in the Salish Sea (1985-2015 Hindcast)

4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Beginning_Date: 01-Oct-1984

   Ending_Date: 30-Sep-2015

   Currentness_Reference:

   time period for which the data were modeled

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

   Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: netCDF
   

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

      Indirect_Spatial_Reference:

      Zip files containing time-series modeled water levels at validation sites and along the -5 m isobath; zipped file of extreme water recurrence along the -5 m isobath based on Annual Maxima/Generalized Extreme Value (AM/GEV) and peak-over-threshold (POT) extreme value analyses; zipped example model input files.

   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222.
      

      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:

   netCDF files are self-contained and attribute information may be found in the header of the file itself. Attributes are latitude and longitude for each location, as well as significant water level time-series, tidal constituents' phases and amplitudes, and model input samples.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: U.S. Geological Survey
   

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
   • Babak Tehranirad
   • Andrew W Stevens
   • Nathan R VanArendonk
   • Sean Crosby
   • Kees Nederhoff
2. Who also contributed to the data set?
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?

   Tyler and others (2020) (source 1 of 7)

   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, online.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/P95N6CIT

   Type_of_Source_Media: online database
   Source_Contribution: Elevations and bathymetry for US waters
   

   Carignan and others (2013) (source 2 of 7)

   Carignan, K., Eakin, B., Love, M., Sutherland, M., and McLean, S., 2013, Bathymetric digital elevation model of British Columbia, Canada: procedures, data sources, and analysis: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, online.

   Online Links:

   • https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/iso?id=gov.noaa.ngdc.mgg.dem:4956

   Type_of_Source_Media: online database
   Source_Contribution: Elevations and bathymetry for Canadian waters
   

   HYCOM (source 3 of 7)

   HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model, 2021, GOFS 3.1: 41-layer HYCOM + NCODA Global 1/12 degree Reanalysis: Naval Research Laboratory: Ocean Dynamics and Prediction Branch, online.

   Online Links:

   • https://www.hycom.org/dataserver/gofs-3pt1/reanalysis

   Type_of_Source_Media: online database
   Source_Contribution: reanalyzed atmospheric and oceanic climate variables
   

   USGS, 2022 (source 4 of 7)

   USGS National Water Information System, 2022, stream discharge for the nation: U.S. Geological Survey, online.

   Online Links:

   • https://nwis.waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis

   Type_of_Source_Media: online database
   Source_Contribution: stream discharge
   

   Environment and Natural Resources Canada, 2020 (source 5 of 7)

   Environment and Natural Resources Canada, 2020, Historical Hydrometric Data: Environment and Natural Resources Canada, online.

   Online Links:

   • https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca

   Type_of_Source_Media: online database
   Source_Contribution: stream discharge
   

   NOAA, 2020 (source 6 of 7)

   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2020, NOAA Water Level Information for Tide Stations: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, online.

   Online Links:

   • https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/stations.html?type=Water+Levels

   Type_of_Source_Media: online database
   Source_Contribution:

   water level measurements at various tide stations for validation of model

   Environment Canada, 2020 (source 7 of 7)

   Canada, Environment, 2020, High Resolution Deterministic Prediction System: Environment Canada, online.

   Online Links:

   • https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/5b401fa0-6c29-57f0-b3d5-749f301d829d

   Type_of_Source_Media: online database
   Source_Contribution: Meteorology
   

2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: 30-Jun-2021 (process 1 of 3)

   A two-dimensional hydrodynamic model of the Salish Sea constructed using the Delft3D Flexible Mesh (DFM) modeling suite (Deltares, 2020) was used to simulate water levels between October 1, 1984, and September 30, 2015. The model domain extends across the entire Salish Sea and Vancouver Island to ~180 km south of the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Elevations and bathymetry for US waters were prescribed from Tyler and others (2020) and for Canadian water utilizing Carignan and others (2013). Seasonal salinity representing average autumn and winter condition were prescribed as an initial condition based on average October through March depth-profile temperature, salinity, and density measurements spanning 1999-2017 by the State of Washington Department of Ecology Marine Waters Monitoring Program (Washington Department of Ecology, 2022). Stream discharge was prescribed at the mouth of the 24 largest streams in Washington State (USGS, 2022) and the Fraser River in British Columbia (Environment and Natural Resources Canada, 2020). Oceanic boundaries were forced using astronomic tidal constituents derived from the satellite-derived FES 2012 global tide model (Lyard and others, 2006). Sea-level anomaly was prescribed on the marine boundary using HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) sea surface height data (Chassignet and others, 2007) for the period 1994-2015 and a sea-level anomaly predictor described in Grossman and others (XXXX) for the period 1985-1994 when HYCOM was unavailable. Hourly wind and atmospheric pressure fields from the 6-km dynamically downscaled Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) of the North American Regional Reanalysis spanning the period 1985�2015 (Chen and others, 2018) were prescribed on the open boundary and to compute the SLA prescribed at the ocean boundary. Roughness values were calibrated to optimize tidal propagation. Data sources used in this process:

   • Tyler and others (2020)
   • Carignan and others (2013)
   • USGS, 2022
   • HYCOM
   • Washington Department of Ecology (2022)
   • Environment and Natural Resources Canada, 2020
   • Environment Canada, 2020.

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • Simulated water levels

   Date: 15-Dec-2021 (process 2 of 3)

   Simulated water levels were compared against time-series measurements of observed water levels from NOAA tide gages throughout the study area. All water level observations were made or converted to a common vertical datum (NAVD88) and water level data were interpolated in time from the native measurement interval (between 6 and 15 minutes depending on site) to the 10-minute output interval of the model simulations. Bulk error metrics describing the comparisons between model and observations over the entire simulation time frame (October 1, 1984 to September 30, 2015) were calculated following Jolliff and others (2009). Total root-mean-square error (RMSE) was less than 15 cm for water levels at all of the measurement sites and described in detail in Grossman and others (XXXX). Data sources used in this process:

   • NOAA, 2020

   Date: 15-Dec-2021 (process 3 of 3)

   Annual Maxima/Generalized Extreme Value (AM/GEV) and peak-over-threshold/Generalized Pareto Distribution (POT/GPD) analyses following Coles and others (2001) were conducted on the simulated 1985-2015 water level results to estimate water level extreme recurrence.

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
   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.

   Deltares, 2020, D-Flow Flexible Mesh User Manual (version 0.9.1).

   Online Links:

   • https://oss.deltares.nl/web/delft3dfm/manuals

   Lyard, Florent, Lefevre, Fabien, Letellier, Thierry, and Francis, Oliver, 2006, Modelling the global ocean tides: modern insights from FES2004.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-006-0086-x

   Chen, X., Leung, R.L., Gao, Y., Liu, Y., Wigmosta, M., and Richmond, M., 2018, Predictability of extreme precipitation in western US watersheds based on atmospheric river occurrence, intensity, and duration.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL079831.

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Chen, X., Leung, L. R., Gao, Y., Liu, Y., Wigmosta, M., & Richmond, M. (2018). Predictability of extreme precipitation in western US watersheds based on atmospheric river occurrence, intensity, and duration. Geophysical Research Letters, 45(21), 11-693.

   Chassignet, Eric P, Hurlburt, Harley E, Smedstad, Ole Martin, Halliwell, George R, Hogan, Patrick J, Wallcraft, Alan J, Baraille, Remy, and Bleck, Rainer, 2007, The HYCOM (hybrid coordinate ocean model) data assimilative system.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2005.09.016

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Chassignet, E.P., Hurlburt, H.E., Smedstad, O.M., Halliwell, G.R., Hogan, P.J., Wallcraft, A.J., Baraille, R. and Bleck, R., 2007. The HYCOM (hybrid coordinate ocean model) data assimilative system. Journal of Marine Systems, 65(1-4), pp.60-83.

   Coles, S., Bawa, J., Trennar, L., and Dorazio, P., 2001, An introduction to statistical modeling of extreme values..

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3675-0.

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Coles, S., Bawa, J., Trenner, L., Dorazio, P., 2001. An introduction to statistical modeling of extreme values. volume 208. London. Springer.

   Deltares, 2020, Delft3D Flexible Mesh Suite. User�s Manual.

   Online Links:

   • https://content.oss.deltares.nl/delft3d/manuals/D-Flow_FM_User_Manual.pdf

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Deltares, 2019. Delft3D Flexible Mesh Suite. User�s Manual.

   Jolliff, Jason K., Kindle, John C., Shulman, Igor, Penta, Bradley, Friedrichs, Marjorie A.M., Helber, Robert, and Arnone, Robert A., 2009, Summary diagrams for coupled hydrodynamic-ecosystem model skill assessment.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2008.05.014

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

1. How well have the observations been checked?
   The Salish Sea model constructed with Delft3D has been validated with observations.
2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
   Data are concurrent with topobathymetric DEM locations that vary in accuracy cell be cell as reported in Tyler and others (2020).
3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
   Water levels are modeled with a combined root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.12 m for several locations.
4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
   Dataset is considered complete for the information presented, as described in the abstract. Users are advised to read the rest of the metadata record carefully for additional details.
5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
   Data have undergone quality checks and meet standards. Missing data have been filled with NaN values.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

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

   Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302

   Denver, CO
   

   1-888-275-8747 (voice)

   sciencebase@usgs.gov
2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? The data is presented in 5 zipped files. Water level time series along the 5m depth contour of the Salish Sea (1985_2015_water_level_time_series.zip) and at measurement stations (1985-2015-water-level-time-series-stations.zip) are provided. Extreme value analysis data using GEV(GEV_Salish_Sea_extreme_water_levels.zip and GPD methods (GPD_Salish_Sea_extreme_water_levels.zip) are provided as well. A 5th file contains the model setup with examples configuration for the year 2015.
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:	File contains calculated water level time-series at 5m depth contour from the simulation of 1985-2015 water years. Data is divided into separate files for each county. in format netCDF Size: 3310
     Network links:	https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/63ac9989d34e92aad3ca1445?name=1985_2015_water_level_time_series.zip. https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/63ac9989d34e92aad3ca1445 https://doi.org/10.5066/P946SC3L

     Data format:	File contains calculated water level time-series at measurement stations from the simulation of 1985-2015 water years in format netCDF Size: 68
     Network links:	https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/63ac9989d34e92aad3ca1445?name=1985-2015-water-level-time-series-stations.zip. https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/63ac9989d34e92aad3ca1445 https://doi.org/10.5066/P946SC3L

     Data format:	File contains estimated extreme water level return periods for the Salish Sea using Annual Maxima GEV analysis on 1985-2015 hindcast results in format netCDF Size: 62
     Network links:	https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/63ac9989d34e92aad3ca1445?name=GEV_Salish_Sea_extreme_water_levels.zip https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/63ac9989d34e92aad3ca1445 https://doi.org/10.5066/P946SC3L

     Data format:	File contains estimated extreme water level return periods for the 5m depth contour of State of Washington within the Salish Sea using a GPD analysis on 1985-2015 hindcast results in format netCDF Size: 80
     Network links:	https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/63ac9989d34e92aad3ca1445?name=GPD_Salish_Sea_extreme_water_levels.zip https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/63ac9989d34e92aad3ca1445 https://doi.org/10.5066/P946SC3L

     Data format:

     File contains model boundary condition inputs of discharges, HYCOM (HYCOM_SSH_1994_2015.txt) and SLA_predictor (SLA_SSH_predictor_WY1985_1994.txt) for the entire simulation, and example atmospheric pressure, eastward wind forcing and northward wind forcing files for the water year 2015 in the form of (slp_2015.zip, u_2015.zip, and v_2015.zip, respectively. Inputs files are to be used with the base Salish Sea Hydrodynamic model used for the 2017-2020 validation. in format netCDF and comma-delimited text Size: 848

     Network links:

     https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/63ac9989d34e92aad3ca1445?name=model_setup_files1985-2015.zip https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/63ac9989d34e92aad3ca1445 https://doi.org/10.5066/P946SC3L

   • 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 any software that reads netCDF files, such as Mathworks MATLAB, Python, Panoply.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 11-Dec-2023

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)