Beach topography of the Columbia River littoral cell, Washington and Oregon, 2023

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?
   Stevens, Andrew W., Weiner, Heather M., and Kaminsky, George M., 20240126, Beach topography of the Columbia River littoral cell, Washington and Oregon, 2023: data release DOI:10.5066/P9W15JX8, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, California.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/P9W15JX8
   • https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/65668173d34e17319deceb69

   This is part of the following larger work.
   Stevens, Andrew W., Weiner, Heather M., Wood, Jeffrey M., Ruggiero, Peter R., Kaminsky, George M., and Gelfenbaum, Guy R., 2019, Beach topography and nearshore bathymetry of the Columbia River littoral cell, Washington and Oregon (ver. 4.0, January 2024): data release DOI:10.5066/P9W15JX8, U.S. Geological Survey, Santa Cruz, CA.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/P9W15JX8

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -124.1847413
   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -123.9489263
   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.1037076
   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 46.1166288
   

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

   Beginning_Date: 25-Aug-2023

   Ending_Date: 29-Aug-2023

   Currentness_Reference:

   ground condition at time data were collected

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

   Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: comma-delimited text
   

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Point data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • Point (153201)
   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 0.0000001. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.0000001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees. 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?

   Attribute Table

   Table containing attribute information associated with the dataset (Source: Producer defined)

   area

   Designation of sub-area within the Columbia River littoral cell survey area (Source: producer defined)

   Value	Definition
   Clatsop	Clatsop sub-area
   Long Beach	Long Beach sub-area
   Grayland	Grayland sub-area
   North Beach	North Beach sub-area

   line_number

   Numeric code identifying the number of the survey line. Data that were not collected along a survey line are labeled "None". (Source: Producer defined)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	001
   Maximum:	221

   datetime_utc

   The date and time of data collection in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). (Source: Producer Defined)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	2023-Aug-25 17:07:25.000
   Maximum:	2023-Aug-29 17:53:56.000
   Units:	date and time in yyyy-mmm-dd HH:MM:SS.FFF format

   longitude

   Longitude coordinate of data point relative to the North American Datum of 1983 (Source: Producer defined)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-124.1847413
   Maximum:	-123.9489263
   Units:	Decimal degrees

   latitude

   Latitude coordinate of data point relative to the North American Datum of 1983 (Source: Producer defined)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	46.1166288
   Maximum:	47.1037076
   Units:	Decimal degrees

   easting_m

   East coordinate of data point relative to the North American Datum of 1983, projected in the Washington State Plane South, meters, coordinate system (Source: Producer defined)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	220172.06
   Maximum:	233500.81
   Units:	meters

   northing_m

   North coordinate of data point relative to the North American Datum of 1983, projected in the Washington State Plane South, meters, coordinate system (Source: Producer defined)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	92903.67
   Maximum:	203301.04
   Units:	meters

   distance_m

   Distance from reference point along planned survey line. Distances are relative to an arbitrary reference point. Depending on the orientation of the target line and position of the reference point, the along-line distance can be positive or negative in any direction. NaN=not a number, because the data were not collected along a pre-defined survey line. (Source: Producer defined)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-957.23
   Maximum:	76.52
   Units:	meters

   offline_m

   Horizontal distance from planned survey line. Depending on the orientation of the target line and position of the reference point, the offline distance can be positive or negative in any direction. NaN=not a number, because the data were not collected along a pre-defined survey line. (Source: Producer defined)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-2.93
   Maximum:	2.95
   Units:	meters

   ellipsoid_ht_m

   Height in meters of data point with reference to the reference ellipsoid (Source: Producer defined)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-25.67
   Maximum:	-7.00
   Units:	meters

   ortho_ht_m

   Height in meters of data point with reference to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988. (Source: Producer defined)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-1.20
   Maximum:	16.90
   Units:	meters

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview: The first line of the csv file is a header line.
   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)
   • Andrew W. Stevens
   • Heather M. Weiner
   • George M. Kaminsky
2. Who also contributed to the data set?
3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   PCMSC Science Data Coordinator

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

   2885 Mission St.

   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: 29-Aug-2023 (process 1 of 3)

   Topographic profiles were collected on foot with GNSS receivers mounted on backpacks. Prior to data collection, vertical distances between the GNSS antennas and the ground were measured using a tape measure. Hand-held data collectors were used to log raw data and display navigational information allowing surveyors to navigate survey lines spaced at 100- to 1,000-m intervals along the beach. Profiles were surveyed from the landward edge of the study area (either the base of a bluff, engineering structure, or just landward of the primary dune) over the beach foreshore, to wading depth on the same series of transects as nearshore bathymetric surveys that were conducted during the same time period. Additional topographic data were collected between survey lines in some areas with an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to constrain the elevations and alongshore extent of major morphological features. Raw GNSS data were logged at a measured height above the ground as the ATV traversed the beach.

   Date: 26-Nov-2023 (process 2 of 3)

   Positioning data from the survey platforms that were collected in autonomous mode were post-processed to apply differential corrections from a GNSS base station with known horizontal and vertical coordinates relative to the North American Datum of 1983. Post-processing of raw GNSS data was performed with Trimble Business Center. Orthometric elevations relative to the NAVD88 vertical datum were computed using National Geodetic Survey Geoid12a offsets. The final point data from the topographic surveyors are also projected in cartesian coordinates using the Washington State Plane South, meters coordinate system.

   Date: 26-Nov-2023 (process 3 of 3)

   All available topography data from the survey were compiled into a comma-delimited text file for distribution

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
   Daniels, Richard C., Ruggiero, Peter, and Weber, Leonard E., 1999, Washington Coastal Geodetic Control Network: Report and Station Index: Washington State Department of Ecology Publication #99-103, Olympia, WA.

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

1. How well have the observations been checked?
   No formal attribute accuracy tests were conducted.
2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
   Survey-grade positions of the rovers were achieved with global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers and a single GNSS base station placed on a benchmark with published horizontal coordinates relative to the North American Datum of 1983 (Daniels and others, 1999). The horizontal positions of the geodetic reference network meet first-order specifications established by the National Geodetic Survey with a horizontal accuracy of 2 cm or better. Differential corrections from the GNSS base stations to the rovers were either applied in real-time with a UHF radio link, or post-processed using Trimble Business Center software. Manufacturer reported accuracy for the differentially corrected horizontal positions for the GNSS rover trajectories is 0.8 cm + 0.5 ppm. Baselines from the GNSS base station varied between 300 m and 12 km with a mean of 3.5 km, suggesting the average horizontal accuracy of rover positions to be about 1 cm. Combining the uncertainty in the benchmark and rover yields a total uncertainty of 3 cm. Uncertainty in the horizontal positions associated with sinking into the substrate or variable posture during data collection of the surveyors is unknown.
3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
   The vertical positions of the geodetic reference network meet 2 cm local ellipsoid height specifications established by the National Geodetic Survey (Daniels and others, 1999). Manufacturer reported accuracy for the differentially corrected vertical positions for the GNSS rover trajectories is 1.5 cm + 1 ppm. Baselines from the GNSS base station varied between 300 m and 12 km with a mean of 3.2 km, suggesting the average vertical accuracy of the survey platforms to be about 1.8 cm relative to the benchmark elevation. Combining the uncertainty in the base station elevation (2 cm) and rover positions yields a total estimated vertical uncertainty of 3.8 cm. Uncertainty in the vertical positions associated with sinking into the substrate or variable posture during data collection of the surveyors is unknown.
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?
   All data falls within expected 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 - Science Base

   U.S. Geological Survey

   Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302

   Denver, CO
   

   USA

   1-888-275-8747 (voice)

   sciencebase@usgs.gov
2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Topographic data are available as a comma-delimited text file (crlc23_topo.csv), along with associated FGDC-compliant metadata.
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:	comma-delimited text file in format comma-delimited text (version Matlab 9.8.0.1396136) text Size: 15.64
     Network links:	https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/65668173d34e17319deceb69?name=crlc23_topo.csv https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/65668173d34e17319deceb69 https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/6566803ad34e17319deceb64 https://doi.org/10.5066/P9W15JX8

   • Cost to order the data: None

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 26-Jan-2024

Metadata author:

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

Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator

2885 Mission St.

Santa Cruz, CA

831-427-4747 (voice)

pcmsc_data@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

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