Salish Sea water level validation simulations: 2017-2020

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title: Salish Sea water level validation simulations: 2017-2020
Abstract:
Simulations of water levels in the Salish Sea over the period October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2020 were conducted to validate the Salish Sea hydrodynamic model. The model accounts for sea level position, tides, remote sea-level anomalies, local winds and storm surge and stream flows as they affect water density. Comparison of modeled and measured water levels showed the model predicts extreme water levels at NOAA and USGS tide gage stations within 0.15 m. Model inputs and outputs of time-series forcing and water levels, respectively, are presented.
Supplemental_Information:
This work is part of the ongoing coastal hazard modeling efforts for the State of Washington. For more information on CoSMoS implementation, see https://www.usgs.gov/centers/pcmsc/science/ps-cosmos-puget-sound-coastal-storm-modeling-system. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
  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 validation simulations: 2017-2020: data release DOI: 10.5066/P946SC3L, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, California.

    Online Links:

    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:

    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/63a0f0add34e0de3a1f2793e?name=M2_tidal_constituent_mean_WL.jpg&allowOpen=true (JPEG)
    Modeled M2 tidal constituent amplitude in meters (A), phase in hours (B), and mean water level (C) in the Salish Sea.
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 01-Oct-2016
    Ending_Date: 30-Jun-2021
    Currentness_Reference:
    time period for which the data were modeled
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: comma-delimited text in zip folder
  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 tidal constituents at validation stations; 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?

These data are intended for policy makers, resource managers, science researchers, students, and the general public. These data are not intended to be used for navigation.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    Tyler and others (2020) (source 1 of 10)
    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:

    Type_of_Source_Media: online database
    Source_Contribution: Elevations and bathymetry for US waters
    Carignan and others (2013) (source 2 of 10)
    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:

    Type_of_Source_Media: online database
    Source_Contribution: Elevations and bathymetry for Canadian waters
    HYCOM (source 3 of 10)
    Washington Department of Ecology, 2022, Environmental Information Management System: Washington Department of Ecology, online.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: online database
    Source_Contribution: Sea surface temperature, conductivity, density data
    HRDPS (source 4 of 10)
    High-Resolution Deterministic Prediction System, 2021, High Resolution Wind and Sea Level Pressure Maps: High-Resolution Deterministic Prediction System, online.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: online database
    Source_Contribution: reanalyzed atmospheric and oceanic climate variables
    HYCOM (source 5 of 10)
    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:

    Type_of_Source_Media: online database
    Source_Contribution: reanalyzed atmospheric and oceanic climate variables
    USGS, 2022 (source 6 of 10)
    USGS National Water Information System, 2022, stream discharge for the nation: U.S. Geological Survey, online.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: online database
    Source_Contribution: stream discharge
    Environment and Natural Resources Canada, 2020 (source 7 of 10)
    Environment and Natural Resources Canada, 2020, Historical Hydrometric Data: Environment and Natural Resources Canada, online.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: online database
    Source_Contribution: stream discharge
    Environment Canada, 2020 (source 8 of 10)
    Canada, Environment, 2020, High Resolution Deterministic Prediction System: Environment Canada, online.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: online database
    Source_Contribution: Meteorology
    NOAA, 2020 (source 9 of 10)
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2020, NOAA Water Level Information for Tide Stations: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, online.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: online database
    Source_Contribution:
    water level measurements at various tide stations for validation of model
    Nowacki and others, 2021 (source 10 of 10)
    Nowacki, Dan J., Stevens, Andrew W., Arendonl, Nathan van, and Grossman, Eric. E., 2021, Time-series measurements of pressure, conductivity, temperature, and water level collected in Puget Sound and Bellingham Bay, Washington, USA, 2018 to 2021: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9JTFJ6M.: U.S. Geological Survey, online.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: online database
    Source_Contribution:
    Time-series measurements of observed water levels from NOAA tide gages and USGS tide stations
  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, 2016 and September 30, 2020. 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) and HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) sea surface height data (Chassignet and others, 2007). Hourly wind and atmospheric pressure data were prescribed on the open boundary sourced from Canada�s 2.5-km High-Resolution Deterministic Prediction System (HRDPS) (Environment Canada, 2020). 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 (NOAA, 2020) and USGS tide stations (Nowacki and others, 2021) 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, 2016 to September 30, 2020) were calculated following Jolliff and others (2009). Total root-mean-square error (RMSE) was less than 20 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:
    • Nowacki and others, 2021
    • NOAA, 2020
    Data sources produced in this process:
    • Simulated water levels
    Date: 15-Apr-2022 (process 3 of 3)
    Harmonic tidal analysis on the simulated and observed water levels (Pawlowicz and others, 2002) over the analysis time frame was performed to validate model predictions of tidal propagation into the Salish Sea. Data sources used in this process:
    • Nowacki and others, 2021
  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:

    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:

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

    Online Links:

    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:

    Pawlowicz, Rich, Beardsley, Bob, and Lentz, Steve, 2002, Classical tidal harmonic analysis including error estimates in MATLAB using T_TIDE.

    Online Links:

    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:

    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.

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 by 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 0.13 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?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints None
Use_Constraints USGS-authored or produced data and information are in the public domain from the U.S. Government and are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize and acknowledge the U.S. Geological Survey as the originator(s) of the dataset and in products derived from these data.
  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 six netCDF files. Three files are atmospheric pressure, eastward wind, and northward wind forcing files used for the simulation provided here as samples (slp_2017.nc, u_2017.nc, and v_2017.nc). Water level time series at a 5m depth contour along the U.S. State of Washington coastline within the Salish Sea (Time_Series.nc) and at measurement stations (Stations_WL_TS_2017_2020.nc) are also provided. Calculated tidal constituents' amplitudes and phases are provided in Tidal_constituents.nc.
  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?
  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)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/pcmsc/DataReleases/ScienceBase/DR_P946SC3L/salish_sea_water_level_validation_simulations2017-2020.faq.html>
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