Observations of tsunami and runup heights in Santa Cruz Harbor and surrounding beaches from the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai tsunami

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Observations of tsunami and runup heights in Santa Cruz Harbor and surrounding beaches from the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai tsunami
Abstract:
The 14 January 2022 eruption of Tonga Hunga-Tonga Ha'apai volcano generated tsunamis that impacted the west coast of the United States on the morning of 15 January 2022. This data release presents runup heights and tsunami heights collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the California Geological Survey (CGS) during surveys at the Santa Cruz Harbor and beaches in Santa Cruz County, California, on January 19th and 20th, 2022 (USGS Field Activity 2022-607-FA). Evidence of tsunami inundation included high water marks on buildings and harbor infrastructure, wrack lines, and flow-direction indicators such as bent vegetation. Elevations surveyed at the maximum inland extent of tsunami inundation are classified as “runup heights.” High-water mark elevations are classified as “tsunami heights.” At Seabright, Beer Can, and Manresa beaches, the inferred tsunami inundation limit was identified as the highest wrack line on each beach. The wrack line coincided with a change in sand color, with the inundated side consisting of darker colored sand. Based on eyewitness and video observations of the tsunami in Santa Cruz Harbor, most of the surveyed tsunami and runup heights are the result of inundation from the highest wave around 08:50 PST (16:50 GMT). Flow-depth markers on buildings and infrastructure from a later wave were measured and reported as lower tsunami heights and are noted. The final point data are provided in a comma-separated text file and are projected in cartesian coordinates using the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), Zone 10 North, meters coordinate system.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    SeanPaul M. La Selle, Snyder, Alex G., Nasr, Brandon M., Jaffe, Bruce E., Ritchie, Andrew C., Graehl, Nick, and Bott, Jacqueline, 20220316, Observations of tsunami and runup heights in Santa Cruz Harbor and surrounding beaches from the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai tsunami: data release DOI:10.5066/P9ZVAB8D, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, California.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.0104
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -121.8157
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.9834
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.8807
  3. What does it look like?
    https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/ 61fab9cdd34e622189c77fdc?name=sc_harbor_tonga_tsunami_fig1 &allowOpen=true (PNG)
    Map and aerial imagery showing tsunami survey locations
    https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/ 61fab9cdd34e622189c77fdc?name=sc_harbor_tonga_tsunami_fig 2&allowOpen=true (PNG)
    Examples of post-tsunami evidence of inundation and flooding.
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 19-Jan-2022
    Ending_Date: 20-Jan-2022
    Currentness_Reference:
    ground condition
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
  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 (1622)
    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: -123.0
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.0
      False_Easting: 500000.0
      False_Northing: 0.0
      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.001
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.001
      Planar coordinates are specified in meters
      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983, 2011 realization.
      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: 0.001
      Altitude_Distance_Units: meters
      Altitude_Encoding_Method:
      Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    sc_harbor_tonga_tsunami.csv
    Comma Separated Value (CSV) file containing data. (Source: Producer Defined)
    ID
    Unique name given to survey point (Source: Producer Defined) Two different GNSS units were used in these surveys, each point was given a unique alphanumeric or numeric identification to associate with field notes and photos.
    Location
    The descriptive name of the general area in which points were surveyed (Source: Producer Defined)
    ValueDefinition
    Santa Cruz HarborSanta Cruz Harbor, Santa Cruz, California
    Seabright BeachThe beach on the west side of the Santa Cruz Harbor mouth
    Beer Can BeachA beach approximately 10.5 km ESE of the Santa Cruz Harbor
    Manresa BeachA California State Beach approximately 13.5 km SE of the Santa Cruz Harbor
    Observation Time
    The date and time of data collection in Pacific Standard Time (PST). (Source: Producer Defined) In yyyy-mm-dd HH:MM:SS format. GMT is 8 hours ahead of PST.
    Northing (m)
    North coordinate of data point relative to the North American Datum of 1983 (2011 realization), projected in the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), Zone 10 North, meters, coordinate system (Source: Producer Defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:4087970.024
    Maximum:4092460.05
    Units:meters
    Easting (m)
    East coordinate of data point relative to the North American Datum of 1983 (2011 realization), projected in the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), Zone 10 North, meters, coordinate system (Source: Producer Defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:588632.643
    Maximum:601265.524
    Elevation NAVD88 (m)
    Height in meters of data point with reference to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988. (Source: Producer Defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.748
    Maximum:7.101
    Units:meters
    Type of measurement
    Determined in the field with more details in the notes (Source: Producer Defined)
    ValueDefinition
    runup heightThe elevation of the tsunami at its maximum inland extent, where the tsunami flow depth approaches zero. Typically indicated by wrack lines consisting of lightweight dead vegetation and trash, or a transition from dark to light colored sand.
    tsunami heightThe elevation reached by the tsunami measured at a point that is not the maximum of horizontal inundation. Typically observed as flow depth markers on buildings or other vertically-oriented objects. Assumed to represent the high-water mark from the largest tsunami wave.
    lower tsunami heightA tsunami height from a survey point with multiple flow depth markers. Assumed to represent the high-water mark from a smaller wave, but could also represent a period of ponding from the recession of the largest tsunami wave.
    referencea survey point collected as a reference height or location
    flow directionA surveyed point where evidence of flow direction was preserved, typically observed as vegetation bent in the direction of flow.
    sample locationA site where a sediment sample was collected
    Notes
    Field notes that describe the measurement and tsunami evidence observed. (Source: Producer Defined) Free-text section compiled from several sets of field notes

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • SeanPaul M. La Selle
    • Alex G. Snyder
    • Brandon M. Nasr
    • Bruce E. Jaffe
    • Andrew C. Ritchie
    • Nick Graehl
    • Jacqueline Bott
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    We would like to thank Santa Cruz Deputy Harbormaster, John Haynes, and Santa Cruz Harbormaster, Blake Anderson, for providing access to the harbor and for sharing their observations of tsunami impacts to the harbor.
  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?

Data were obtained to document perishable evidence of inundation in Santa Cruz County from the 2022 Tonga Hunga-Tonga Ha'apai tsunami. These data are intended for science researchers, students, policy makers, and the general public. These data can be used with geographic information systems or other software to assess the maximum tsunami elevations and inundation distance.

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: 20-Jan-2022 (process 1 of 4)
    Evidence of tsunami runup and inundation were surveyed on foot with two Trimble R10-2 global navigation satellite system (GNSS) combined antennae and receiver units mounted on 2-m survey rods or on backpacks. Prior to data collection, vertical distances between the GNSS antennas and the ground were measured using a tape measure. Hand-held Trimble TSC3 data collectors were used to log raw data and display navigational information.
    Date: 24-Jan-2022 (process 2 of 4)
    Positioning data from the survey platforms 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 (2011 realization). 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 Geoid12b offsets. The final point data from the topographic surveyors are projected in cartesian coordinates using the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), Zone 10 North, meters coordinate system.
    Date: 04-Feb-2022 (process 3 of 4)
    All available elevation, location, and field note data from the survey were compiled into a comma-delimited text file for distribution.
    Date: 25-May-2022 (process 4 of 4)
    Corrections in Theme Keyword Thesaurus names and Keywords were performed. (scochran@usgs.gov)
  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?
    No comparisons to "true" values were conducted.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    The average estimated horizontal uncertainty of the surveyed locations is 1.5 cm based on manufacturer-reported accuracies of the survey equipment. See Process Steps for details.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    The average estimated vertical uncertainty of surveyed elevations is 3 cm based on manufacturer-reported accuracies of the survey equipment. See Process Steps for details.
  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?

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 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? These data are available in csv format (sc_harbor_tonga_tsunami.csv) accompanied by CSDGM 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?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 25-May-2022
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_P9ZVAB8D/sc_harbor_tonga_tsunami.faq.html>
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