Reference baselines used to extract shorelines for the West Coast of the United States (ver. 1.1, September 2024)

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Metadata:

Identification_Information
Data_Quality_Information
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
Spatial_Reference_Information
Entity_and_Attribute_Information
Distribution_Information
Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Amy S. Farris
Originator: Kathryn M. Weber
Publication_Date: 20240916
Title:

Reference baselines used to extract shorelines for the West Coast of the United States (ver. 1.1, September 2024)

Edition: 1.1
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: doi:10.5066/P137S83C

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA
Publisher:

U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P137S83C
Online_Linkage:

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/65a029b7d34e5af967a38422

Larger_Work_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Amy S. Farris
Originator: Kathryn M. Weber
Publication_Date: 2024
Title:

Beach foreshore slope for the West Coast of the United States (ver. 1.1, September 2024)

Edition: 1.1
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
Series_Information:

Series_Name: data release
Issue_Identification: doi:10.5066/P137S83C

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA
Publisher:

U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program

Other_Citation_Details:

Suggested citation:Farris, A.S., and Weber, K.M., 2024, Beach Foreshore slope for the West Coast of the United States (ver. 1.1, September 2024): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P137S83C

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P137S83C
Online_Linkage:

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/659ebf45d34e5af967a34e63

Description:

Abstract:

This data release contains reference baselines for primarily open-ocean sandy beaches along the west coast of the United States (California, Oregon and Washington). The slopes were calculated while extracting shoreline position from lidar point cloud data collected between 2002 and 2011. The shoreline positions have been previously published, but the slopes have not. A reference baseline was defined and then evenly-spaced cross-shore beach transects were created. Then all data points within 1 meter of each transect were associated with each transect. Next, it was determined which points were one the foreshore, and then a linear regression was fit through the foreshore points. Beach slope was defined as the slope of the regression. Finally, the regression was evaluated at the elevation of Mean High Water (MHW) to yield the location of the shoreline. In some areas there was more than one lidar survey available; in these areas the slopes from each survey are provided. While most of the slopes are for sandy beaches, there is some slope data from rocky headlands and other steeper beaches. These data files (referenceLine_WestCoast.csv and referenceLine_WestCoast.shp) contain information about the reference baseline, the cross-shore transects, and the Mean High Water values used to estimate the shoreline. The accompanying data files (slopeData_WestCoast.csv and slopeData_WestCoast.shp) contain the slope data. The csv and shapefiles contain the same information, both file types are provided as a convenience to the user.

Purpose:

Beach slope is a critical metric for coastal hazards science and is also necessary for extracting shorelines from satellite imagery. Shorelines derived from satellite data must be tidally-corrected to a reference elevation using the slope of the beach. The beach slope data presented here will be beneficial for advancing our understanding of coastal processes and for quantifying and predicting shoreline change and storm impacts along the Pacific coast.

Supplemental_Information:

The shorelines that were derived when these slopes were calculated can be accessed through the USGS National Shoreline Change Data Catalog: https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5b97f1b4e4b0702d0e842183 Note that the transect number used in these publications are different that the transect numbers used here.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 20020901
Ending_Date: 20110730

Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -124.7400
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -117.1200
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.3500
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 32.5300

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: environment
Theme_Keyword: oceans
Theme_Keyword: geoscientificInformation

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: USGS
Theme_Keyword: U.S. Geological Survey
Theme_Keyword: Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program
Theme_Keyword: Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Theme_Keyword: WHCMSC
Theme_Keyword: beach slope
Theme_Keyword: foreshore
Theme_Keyword: shoreline
Theme_Keyword: Mean High Water
Theme_Keyword: MHW

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS thesaurus
Theme_Keyword: coastal processes
Theme_Keyword: geospatial datasets

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Metadata Identifier
Theme_Keyword: USGS:65a029b7d34e5af967a38422

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: United States
Place_Keyword: Pacific Coast
Place_Keyword: California
Place_Keyword: Washington
Place_Keyword: Oregon

Access_Constraints: None.
Use_Constraints:

Public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey as the originator of the dataset.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Amy Farris
Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey

Contact_Position: Oceanographer
Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 384 Woods Hole Road
City: Woods Hole Road
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2344
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-547-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: afarris@usgs.gov

Browse_Graphic:

Browse_Graphic_File_Name:

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/65a029b7d34e5af967a38422?name=slope_BrowseGraphic.png&allowOpen=true

Browse_Graphic_File_Description: Small section of data showing reference baseline and slope data
Browse_Graphic_File_Type: PNG

Native_Data_Set_Environment: Windows 10, Matlab version 2019b, 200b and 2023a
Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Amy S. Farris
Originator: Kathryn M. Weber
Originator: Kara S. Doran
Originator: Jeffrey H. List
Publication_Date: 2018
Title:

Comparing methods used by the U.S. Geological Survey Coastal and Marine Geology Program for deriving shoreline position from lidar data

Series_Information:

Series_Name: Open-File Report
Issue_Identification: 2018-1121

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181121

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Kathryn M. Weber
Originator: Jeffrey H. List
Originator: Karen L.M. Morgan
Publication_Date: 2005
Title:

An operational mean high water datum for determination of shoreline position from topographic lidar data

Series_Information:

Series_Name: Open-File Report
Issue_Identification: 2005-1027

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey

Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20051027

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

This data file contains the values of Mean High Water (MHW) that were used to estimate the shoreline position. These values were taken from Weber and others (2005) and do not vary continuously along the coast, but rather are constant for long stretches of coastline. The value at any particular point is estimated to be within 15 cm of the 'true' value.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Transect numbers are unique for each state, or if the state is divided into regions, for each region.

Completeness_Report:

All transects are listed, even transects for which no shoreline was found.

Positional_Accuracy:

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

For each state/region a coast-following reference baseline was digitized in UTM using Google Earth. This line was loaded into Matlab (version 2000b) and equally-spaced points were defined along the line at a 20-meter spacing. Transect lines perpendicular the baseline were calculated at each of these points. The transects are defined by their origin point (the point on the baseline) and their slope, and y-intercept using the formula: y = m*x +b Where m is the slope, b is the y intercept, x is the easting of the transect origin and y is the northing of the transect origin. All steps were completed by Amy Farris.

Process_Date: 20010111
Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Amy S. Farris
Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey

Contact_Position: Oceanographer
Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 384 Woods Hole Road
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2344
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: afarris@usgs.gov

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The reference baseline and transects were merged for all states/regions. The transect origins were converted to a geographic coordinate system. However, since the transect lines are defined in UTM and cannot be expressed in geographic, the transect origins are also provided in UTM. The final data matrix has one row for each transect and each row contains the following information: State, Region, Transect number, Latitude and Longitude of the transect origin, easting and northing of the transect origin, slope, y-intercept, Mean High Water (MHW), UTM zone. This matrix was output as both a .csv and a shapefile. All work was done in Matlab (version 2023a) by Amy Farris.

Process_Date: 20230501

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The shapefile was loaded into ArcGIS Pro 3.3 and the projection was corrected using the tool "Define Projection". It had been incorrectly given as WGS84, but is actually NAD83(2011). The "geodetic" section of this metadata file was also corrected, as well as other places in the metadata that mentioned the incorrect datum (entity and attributes). Note that the data itself was correct and is unchanged (not reprojected). Both corrections were done by Amy Farris.

Process_Date: 20240722

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Point
Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Point

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: 0.0197394080
Longitude_Resolution: 0.0264580536
Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North_American_Datum_1983
Ellipsoid_Name: GRS 1980
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 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

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: referenceLine_WestCoast.csv and referenceLine_WestCoast.shp
Entity_Type_Definition:

The point shapefile file includes information about the reference baseline, cross-shore transects, and Mean High Water (MHW) values used to calculate shorelines for California, Oregon and Washington. A .csv file containing the same fields (except for "FID" and "Shape") is also included. Point object count: 118,072.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: USGS

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: FID
Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.
Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Shape
Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.
Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: State
Attribute_Definition: Two letter state designation
Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: WA
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Washington
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: USGS

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: OR
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Oregon
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: USGS

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: CA
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: California
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: USGS

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Region
Attribute_Definition:

Two letter region designation. Oregon and Washington don't have regions.

Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: na
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: No regions for this state.
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: USGS

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: no
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Northern California
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: USGS

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: ce
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Central California
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: USGS

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: so
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Southern California
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: USGS

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: TransNum
Attribute_Definition:

Transect number. Transect numbers are unique for each state, or if the state is divided into regions, for each region. Transect numbers are sequential as you move from North to South.

Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 0
Range_Domain_Maximum: 79687

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Latitude
Attribute_Definition: Latitude of transect origin. NAD83(2011)
Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 32.530293
Range_Domain_Maximum: 48.390034
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: decimal degrees

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Longitude
Attribute_Definition:

Longitude of Transect Origin. Negative indicates west longitude. NAD83(2011)

Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: -124.732421
Range_Domain_Maximum: -117.126325
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: decimal degrees

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: X_UTM
Attribute_Definition: Easting of transect origin (in UTM)
Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 224412.773643
Range_Domain_Maximum: 775596.336712
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meters

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Y_UTM
Attribute_Definition: Northing of transect origin (in UTM)
Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 3599224.166723
Range_Domain_Maximum: 5361076.838198
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meters

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: TransSlope
Attribute_Definition:

Slope of the transect line, unitless. Defined using the formula y= m*x+b, where m is the slope, x is the easting of the transect origin, y is the northing of the transect origin and b is the y-intercept.

Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: -322.488196
Range_Domain_Maximum: 477.800552
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: no units

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Y_intercept
Attribute_Definition:

Y-intercept of the transect line, defined using the formula y= m*x+b, where b is the y-intercept, m is the slope, x is the easting of the transect origin, and y is the northing of the transect origin.

Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: -261043474.99728
Range_Domain_Maximum: 248923456.43136
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meters

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: MHW
Attribute_Definition:

The value of Mean High Water (relative to NAVD88) used to calculate the location of the shoreline.

Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 1.33
Range_Domain_Maximum: 2.1
Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meters

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: UTMzone
Attribute_Definition: UTM zone of the transect
Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS
Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 10
Range_Domain_Maximum: 11

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

This section describes the tabular data associated with the shapefile and the corresponding csv file “referenceLine_WestCoast (.shp/.csv)”. The tabular .csv data does not have the attributes "FID" or "Shape".

Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address
Address: Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302
City: Denver
State_or_Province: CO
Postal_Code: 80225
Country: United States

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 1-888-275-8747
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: sciencebase@usgs.gov

Resource_Description:

The dataset contains the point shapefile and the tabular data which contain information about the reference line and transects, (referenceLine_WestCoast.shp and referenceLine_WestCoast.csv), browse graphic (slope_BrowseGraphic.png), and the FGDC CSDGM metadata in XML format.

Distribution_Liability:

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 for other purposes, nor on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: Shapefile
Format_Version_Number: ArcGIS 10.7.1
Format_Specification: Esri polyline shapefile
Format_Information_Content:

Dataset contains the shapefile (and associated files), .csv file, browse graphic, and CSDGM metadata.

Transfer_Size: 16

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/65a029b7d34e5af967a38422

Network_Resource_Name:

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/65a029b7d34e5af967a38422

Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.5006/P137S83C

Access_Instructions:

The first link downloads all the files on the dataset landing page. The second link is to the dataset landing page where individual files can be viewed and downloaded. The third link is to the data release main landing page.

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: ascii csv file
Format_Version_Number: ArcGIS 10.7.1
Format_Specification: Esri polyline shapefile
Format_Information_Content:

Dataset contains the shapefile (and associated files), .csv file, browse graphic, and CSDGM metadata.

Transfer_Size: 16

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/65a029b7d34e5af967a38422

Network_Resource_Name:

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/65a029b7d34e5af967a38422

Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.5006/P137S83C

Access_Instructions:

Fees: None

Technical_Prerequisites:

These data are available in a point shapefile format. The user must have software to read and process the data components of a shapefile.

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20240916
Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Amy S. Farris
Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 384 Woods Hole Road
City: Woods Hole
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02543-1598
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2306
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: whsc_data_contact@usgs.gov
Contact_Instructions:

The metadata contact email address is a generic address in the event the person is no longer with USGS.

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/whcmsc/SB_data_release/DR_P137S83C/referenceLine_WestCoast_Metadata.html>