Modeled and Observed Weekly Mean Wave Height for Validation of a Wave Exposure Model of Grand Bay, Mississippi

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?
   Smith, Kathryn E.L., and Terrano, Joseph F., 20190430, Modeled and Observed Weekly Mean Wave Height for Validation of a Wave Exposure Model of Grand Bay, Mississippi: U.S. Geological Survey Data Release doi:10.5066/P9Z4ZPU3, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, Florida.

   Online Links:

   • https://coastal.er.usgs.gov/data-release/doi-P9Z4ZPU3/data/Weekly_waves.zip

   This is part of the following larger work.
   Smith, Kathryn E.L., and Terrano, Joseph F., 20190430, Wave Exposure Model for Grand Bay, Mississippi: Input and Validation Datasets: U.S. Geological Survey Data Release doi:10.5066/P9Z4ZPU3, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, Florida.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/P9Z4ZPU3

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -88.395590
   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -88.387900
   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.378800
   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.375000
   

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

   Beginning_Date: 24-Oct-2016

   Ending_Date: 24-Jan-2017

   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 (26)
   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 8.983152841195215e-09. Longitudes are given to the nearest 8.983152841195215e-09. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal Degrees. The horizontal datum used is D WGS 1984.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS 1984.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.0.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222101.
      
7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   Mean_Hs.txt

   Table containing modeled and observational weekly mean wave height measurements for two locations in Grand Bay, Mississippi (Source: USGS)

   Run

   Data for 13 different wind scenarios reflecting observational data for weeks from October 24th, 2016 to January 24th, 2017. (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1
   Maximum:	13

   station

   Station identification number. (Source: USGS)

   Value	Definition
   1076	Station identification number 1076
   1078	Station identification number 1078

   latitude

   Latitude of the station location in geographic coordindates, World Geographic System of 1984 (WGS 1984). (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	30.37469
   Maximum:	30.37871
   Units:	decimal degrees

   longitude

   Longitude of station location in geographic coordinates, WGS 1984. (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	-88.39559
   Maximum:	-88.38788
   Units:	decimal degrees

   end_date

   Beginning date of weekly mean wave height measurements. (Source: USGS) Date in digit month, day, and four-digit year format (m/d/yyyy or mm/dd/yyyy)

   start_date

   Ending date of weekly mean wave height measurements. (Source: USGS) Date in digit month, day, and four-digit year format (m/d/yyyy or mm/dd/yyyy)

   model_Hs

   Mean wave height from WEMo models. (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0.06
   Maximum:	0.17
   Units:	meter

   actual_Hs

   Mean wave height from observed wave data. (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	0.07
   Maximum:	0.18
   Units:	meter

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Kathryn E.L. Smith
   • Joseph F. Terrano
2. Who also contributed to the data set?

   Acknowledgment of the U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, as a data source would be appreciated in products developed from these data, and such acknowledgment as is standard for citation and legal practices. Sharing of new data layers developed directly from these data would also be appreciated by the U.S. Geological Survey staff. Users should be aware that comparisons with other datasets for the same area from other time periods may be inaccurate due to inconsistencies resulting from changes in photointerpretation, mapping conventions, and digital processes over time. These data are not legal documents and are not to be used as such.

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   U.S. Geological Survey St Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

   Attn: Kathryn Smith

   Research Ecologist

   600 4th Street South

   St. Petersburg, Florida
   

   727-502-8073 (voice)

   727-502-8182 (FAX)

   kelsmith@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

This dataset was generated for purposes of wave model development and validation. The publication includes model input data (bathymetry, shorelines, and wind data) and values for both observed and modeled mean wave heights for 13 weeks from October 2016 to January 2017. The primary goal is to develop a model that examines the relationships between wave energy, shoreline erosion, and marsh sediment delivery and deposition.

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   RBR (source 1 of 5)

   U.S. Geological Survey, 2018, Oceanographic and water quality measurements collected in Grand Bay, Alabama/Mississippi - August 2016 - January 2017: U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

   Online Links:

   • https://stellwagen.er.usgs.gov/grandbay.html

   Type_of_Source_Media: digital data
   Source_Contribution: Source of observed wave measurements
   

   NGDC_bathy (source 2 of 5)

   NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Unknown, Bathymetric Data Viewer: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Unknown.

   Online Links:

   • https://maps.ngdc.noaa.gov/viewers/bathymetry/

   Type_of_Source_Media: digital data
   Source_Contribution: Bathymetry for wave model
   

   USGS_bathy (source 3 of 5)

   U.S. Geological Survey, 20171201, Single-beam bathymetry data collected in 2015 from Grand Bay, Alabama-Mississippi: U.S. Geological Survey, St Petersburg, Florida.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.3133/ds1070

   Type_of_Source_Media: digital data
   Source_Contribution: Bathymetry for wave model
   

   GNDCRMET (source 4 of 5)

   Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Unknown, Grand Bay (GND) National Estuarine Research Reserve System-wide Monitoring Program: Crooked Bayou: Centralized Data Management Office, Columbia, South Carolina.

   Online Links:

   • http://cdmo.baruch.sc.edu/get/realTime.cfm?stationCode=GNDCRMET

   Type_of_Source_Media: digital data
   Source_Contribution:

   Meteorological station provided wind speed and direction for wave model

   2012_shoreline (source 5 of 5)

   U.S. Geological Survey, 2018, A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines Derived from Aerial Imagery for the Grand Bay Region of Mississippi and Alabama: 2010 and 2012: U.S. Geological Survey, St Petersburg, Florida.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/F7VT1R8Q

   Type_of_Source_Media: digital data
   Source_Contribution: Shoreline used to create raster mask
   

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

   Date: 2018 (process 1 of 5)

   Bathymetric data covering Grand Bay and Mississippi Sound were compiled and rasterized for wave model input. Data from hydrographic charts were downloaded from the NOAA Bathymetry Data Viewer. The following hydrographic surveys (with collection year) covered the study area: F00588 (2010), H11620 (2007), H11621 (2006), H09118 (1970), H08647 (1962), and H08648 (1962). In addition, the USGS single-beam bathymetry data collected in 2015 was included. The data were converted to a consistent tidal datum (Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW)) using Vdatum software (https://vdatum.noaa.gov/). Using latitude and longitude coordinates from each file, data were imported into ArcGIS (version 10.6) as shapefiles and merged into one file. Data were weighted based on date of survey, with recent surveys given a weight of 10 (2015 and 2010), recent past surveys a weight of 5 (2007 and 2006) and historical surveys a weight of 1 (1970 and 1962). Using the Inverse Distance Weighted tool in ArcGIS, a raster was created using the vertical elevation as the Z value input, a standard search radius of 50 to 100 nearest neighbors, and the weight field. The Focal Statistics tool was used to smooth the dataset using a circle radius of 20 cells. A raster mask was created by buffering the 2012 shoreline and enclosing the Grand Bay estuary and Mississippi Sound, out to the landward side of Petit Bois and Dauphin Islands. Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Kathryn Smith

   Research Ecologist

   600 4th Street South

   St.Petersburg, FL
   

   USA

   727-502-8073 (voice)

   kelsmith@usgs.gov

   Data sources used in this process:

   • NGDC_bathy
   • USGS_bathy
   • 2012_shoreline

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • bathy_grid
   • raster_mask

   Date: 2018 (process 2 of 5)

   Wind data for 2016 and 2017 were downloaded for the Crooked Bayou meteorological station from the National Estuarine Research Reserve's Centralized Data Management Office (CDMO). Using Excel (version 1803), the data for both years were appended. Wind speed was corrected for gauge height using the Power Law Method (described here: https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/adjust_wind.shtml) and processed for model input using the WEMo Wind Analysis tool. WEMo calculates the wind speed and corresponding frequency for every 6.43 degrees (56 rays) angular resolution and is resampled or linearly interpolated for any other angular resolution. Wind frequency for a direction is defined as the ratio of the number of hours the wind blows from that direction and the total number of hours of wind data. Wind data for each week (beginning with October 24th, 2016 and ending on January 24th, 2017) were exported as representative wind energy (RWE) wind files for model input. Files were named "GB_wind_<start date>_<end date>_corr.Wind_RWE". RWE files are formatted specifically for WEMo input but can be viewed in any text editing software. For more information, see WEMo documentation (Malhotra and Fonseca, 2007). Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Kathryn Smith

   Research Ecologist

   600 4th Street South

   St.Petersburg, FL
   

   USA

   727-502-8073 (voice)

   kelsmith@usgs.gov

   Data sources used in this process:

   • GNDCRMET

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • RWE_wind

   Date: 2018 (process 3 of 5)

   Mean wave height was calculated for the same location as two USGS observational wave stations in Grand Bay. A shapefile of the station locations was created in ArcGIS by obtaining latitude and longitude coordinates from the KML file located on the data publication (Nowacki and others, 2018). Stations used in this study include 1078 and 1076. Several stations were excluded because they were either located within a river mouth and lack bathymetry data or adjacent to the shoreline and may be impacted by refractive waves. Wave height is estimated by the model through a series of wave propagation and dissipation steps, using the wind speed and direction data (RWE wind), along with depth (bathy grid) and shoreline (2012 shoreline). Wave generation equations are modified to account for limited fetch and wave dissipation factors that account for wave friction, shoaling and breaking due to shallow water. For details on model parameterization and calculations, see Malhotra and Fonseca (2007). Mean wave height for each weekly model run was populated in an Excel file. Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Kathryn Smith

   Research Ecologist

   600 4th Street South

   St.Petersburg, FL
   

   USA

   727-502-8073 (voice)

   kelsmith@usgs.gov

   Data sources used in this process:

   • RWE_wind
   • 2012_shoreline
   • bathy_grid

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • Mean_Hs

   Date: 2018 (process 4 of 5)

   Mean wave height was calculated from the observational wave data for two wave sensors. NetCDF datasets containing wave height data were downloaded from the data publication (Nowacki and others, 2018). Only data for the RBR virtuoso D|wave sensor at sites 1076 and 1078 were used (data file '10763Bdws-a.nc' and '10781Baqd-a.nc') because (1) the sensor provides the most accurate wave height data, (2) bathymetry data were available for those locations, and (3) the sensors are located far enough from the shoreline to reduce the impact of refractive waves. The datasets were imported into R version 3.5.1 (https://www.r-project.org/about.html) and weekly mean wave height was calculated from observational measurements. Data were entered into the Excel spreadsheet containing modeled mean wave height. The Excel spreadsheet was exported as a non-proprietary, tab-delimited text file for publication purposes. Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Kathryn Smith

   Research Ecologist

   600 4th Street South

   St.Petersburg, FL
   

   USA

   727-502-8073 (voice)

   kelsmith@usgs.gov

   Data sources used in this process:

   • RBR
   • Mean_Hs

   Data sources produced in this process:

   • Mean_Hs.txt

   Date: 13-Oct-2020 (process 5 of 5)

   Added keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword. Person who carried out this activity:
   

   U.S. Geological Survey

   Attn: VeeAnn A. Cross

   Marine Geologist

   384 Woods Hole Road

   Woods Hole, MA
   

   508-548-8700 x2251 (voice)

   508-457-2310 (FAX)

   vatnipp@usgs.gov

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
   Malhotra, A., and M.S. Fonseca, 2007, WEMo (Wave Exposure Model): Formulation, Procedures and Validation: NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS #65, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Beaufort, North Carolina.

   Online Links:

   • https://cdn.coastalscience.noaa.gov/page-attachments/products/WEMo/NOS_NCCOS_65.pdf

   Other_Citation_Details: Publication describing the wave model and parameterization
   

   Nowacki, D.J., Suttles, S.E., Ganju, N.K., Montgomery, E.T. and Martini, M.A., 2018, Oceanographic and water quality measurements collected in Grand Bay, Alabama/Mississippi August 2016-January 2017: U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/P9UG9JYQ

   Other_Citation_Details: Source of oceanographic data
   

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?
   A formal accuracy assessment of the horizontal positional information in the dataset has not been conducted. For additional information on data collection techniques see the source metadata.
3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
   A formal accuracy assessment of the vertical positional information in the dataset has not been conducted. For additional information on data collection techniques see the source metadata.
4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
   Dataset is considered complete for the information presented. Some oceanographic data were not used as the full data record (August 4th, 2016 to January 26th, 2017) was longer than required for model validation. 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?
   Model and observed wave information was checked for completeness and accuracy.

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:

Public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. The U.S. Geological Survey requests to be acknowledged as originator of the data in future products or derivative research. This metadata record should be reviewed in its entirety to ensure data is used appropriately. Bathymetry data were developed exclusively for the development of a wave model and scientific research and should not be used for navigation purposes.

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   
   U.S. Geological Survey St Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

   Attn: Kathryn Smith

   Research Ecologist

   600 4th Street South

   St. Petersburg, FL
   

   727-502-8073 (voice)

   727-502-8182 (FAX)

   kelsmith@usgs.gov
2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Mean_Hs.txt
3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   This digital publication was prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution imply any such warranty. The U.S. Geological Survey shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and (or) contained herein. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	tab-delimited text file
     Network links:	https://coastal.er.usgs.gov/data-release/doi-P9Z4ZPU3/data/Mean_Hs.zip

   • Cost to order the data: None. No fees are applicable for obtaining the dataset.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 13-Oct-2020

Metadata author:

U.S. Geological Survey St Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Attn: Kathryn Smith

Research Ecologist

600 4th Street South

St. Petersburg, FL

727-502-8073 (voice)

727-502-8182 (FAX)

kelsmith@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

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