Metadata: Identification_Information: Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Amy S. Farris Originator: Kathryn M. Weber Originator: Jeffrey H. List Publication_Date: 20200922 Title: Mean High Water Shorelines for the Outer Cape of Massachusetts from Nauset Inlet to Race Point (1998-2005) Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: netCDF files, tabular digital data Series_Information: Series_Name: data release Issue_Identification: DOI:10.5066/P9GWL52F 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., Weber, K.M., and List, J.H., 2020, Mean high water shorelines for the Outer Cape of Massachusetts from Nauset Inlet to Race Point (1998-2005): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9GWL52F. Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9GWL52F Online_Linkage: https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5f3abebd82ce8df5b6c407ac Description: Abstract: This data release contains mean high water (MHW) shorelines for the Outer Cape of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, from Nauset Inlet to Race Point. From 1998-2005, the U.S. Geological Survey surveyed 45 kilometers of coastline 111 times using a ground-based system called Surveying Wide-Area Shorelines (SWASH). The SWASH system used a six-wheeled amphibious all-terrain vehicle as a platform for an array of Global Positioning System sensors. High-accuracy measurements of horizontal position, vertical position, and beach slope were collected at 0.5-second intervals as the vehicle traversed a single, shore-parallel line along the foreshore. The data were interpolated onto a coast-following reference line at 2-meter intervals. The shoreline position (defined as the intersection of the MHW datum with the foreshore) was determined by extrapolating from the location of the vehicle-driven track to the location of the MHW contour. The uncertainty for each shoreline point was calculated and the shoreline data were written to netCDF and ASCII csv files. This SWASH dataset represents a unique time series for quantifying large-scale coastal evolution, seasonal shoreline variability, and coastal behavior due to storms. Purpose: Coastal erosion is a national hazard with long-term economic and social consequences. The position of the shoreline is one of the principal sources of information for local, state, and federal government agencies charged with managing coastal erosion. This measure of the shifting land/water interface is critical for quantifying impacts due to coastal storms and for understanding long-term coastal change. The SWASH system was developed by the USGS in response to a significant need for a surveying system that could provide an inexpensive, repeatable measure of shoreline position over large sections of coast within a single low tide period. Supplemental_Information: These data are related to 88 field activities. Survey dates, field activity numbers, and online linkages to the field activity pages are listed in the supplemental document: CapeCod_SWASH_FieldActivity_OnlineLinkages.pdf. Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Range_of_Dates/Times: Beginning_Date: 19980414 Ending_Date: 20050502 Currentness_Reference: ground condition Status: Progress: Complete Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned Spatial_Domain: Bounding_Coordinates: West_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.2463 East_Bounding_Coordinate: -69.9406 North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.0825 South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.8193 Keywords: Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category Theme_Keyword: elevation Theme_Keyword: oceans Theme_Keyword: location Theme_Keyword: environment Theme_Keyword: geoscientificInformation Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Thesaurus Theme_Keyword: erosion Theme_Keyword: shoreline accretion Theme_Keyword: coastal processes Theme_Keyword: geomorphology Theme_Keyword: geospatial datasets Theme_Keyword: geospatial analysis Theme_Keyword: field experiments Theme_Keyword: GPS measurement Theme_Keyword: sea-level change Theme_Keyword: subsidence Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None Theme_Keyword: mean high water Theme_Keyword: MHW Theme_Keyword: Surveying Wide-Area Shorelines Theme_Keyword: SWASH Theme_Keyword: network Common Data Form Theme_Keyword: netCDF Theme_Keyword: comma-separated values Theme_Keyword: csv Theme_Keyword: U.S. Geological Survey Theme_Keyword: USGS Theme_Keyword: sea-level rise Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Metadata Identifier Theme_Keyword: USGS:5f3abebd82ce8df5b6c407ac Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None Place_Keyword: United States of America Place_Keyword: Massachusetts Place_Keyword: MA Place_Keyword: Cape Cod Place_Keyword: Outer Cape 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. Users are advised to read the dataset's metadata thoroughly to understand appropriate use and data limitations. Not for navigation. Point_of_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 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 Browse_Graphic: Browse_Graphic_File_Name: https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5f3abebd82ce8df5b6c407ac?name=CapeCod_SWASH_StudyArea_BrowseGraphic.png Browse_Graphic_File_Description: Map showing the Cape Cod SWASH study area and reference line. Browse_Graphic_File_Type: PNG Data_Set_Credit: Julia Heslin, USGS, updated the study area map. Native_Data_Set_Environment: Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise; MATLAB (ver7.1); MATLAB R2019a; Ashtech's Precise Differential GPS Navigation and Surveying (PNAV) 2507 software; U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's Corpscon 4.7 program Cross_Reference: Citation_Information: Originator: Jeffrey H. List Originator: Amy S. Farris Publication_Date: 1999 Title: Large-scale Shoreline Response to Storms and Fair Weather Series_Information: Series_Name: Coastal Sediments Proceedings Issue_Identification: 1324-1338 Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Reston, VA Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers Online_Linkage: https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70197285 Cross_Reference: Citation_Information: Originator: Jeffrey H. List Originator: Amy S. Farris Originator: Charlene Sullivan Publication_Date: 2006 Title: Reversing Storm Hotspots on Sandy Beaches: Spatial and Temporal Characteristics Series_Information: Series_Name: Marine Geology Issue_Identification: 226, 261-279 Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Amsterdam, Netherlands Publisher: Elsevier Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2005.10.003 Cross_Reference: Citation_Information: Originator: Jeffrey H. List Publication_Date: 2013 Title: High-Resolution Shoreline Change Measurements (1997-2005) from Corolla to Cape Hatteras, NC Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data Series_Information: Series_Name: Open-File Report Issue_Identification: 2011-1015 Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Reston, VA Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey Online_Linkage: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1015/data/shorelines/swash_shorelines.zip Online_Linkage: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1015/data_catalog.html Larger_Work_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: E.R. Thieler Originator: D.S. Foster Originator: D.M. Mallinson Originator: E.A. Himmelstoss Originator: J.E. McNinch Originator: J.H. List Originator: E.S. Hammar-Klose Publication_Date: 2013 Title: Quaternary Geophysical Framework of the Northeastern North Carolina Coastal System Edition: 1 Series_Information: Series_Name: Open-File Report Issue_Identification: 2011-1015 Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Reston, VA Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey Online_Linkage: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1015/ Data_Quality_Information: Attribute_Accuracy: Attribute_Accuracy_Report: The data provided here consist of 111 mean high water shorelines for the Outer Cape of Massachusetts. During processing, outliers in the data were removed and the uncertainty for each shoreline point was calculated as described in the process steps. Uncertainty values are included in the data files. Logical_Consistency_Report: No additional checks for topological consistency were performed on this data. Completeness_Report: All SWASH shoreline data collected between 1998 and 2005 along the Outer Cape of Massachusetts have been included in this data release. Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: The horizontal uncertainty of the post-processed derived mean high water (MHW) shoreline position is highly variable. The most significant source of error is the assumption that the foreshore slope is constant between the point of measurement and the MHW contour. This uncertainty is a function of the measured beach slope, an estimate of the cross-shore variability in foreshore slope (measured during tests), and the deviation between the elevation of the vehicle-driven track (the operator's best estimate of the MHW contour) and the measured elevation of MHW. This uncertainty, along with a smaller Global Positioning System (GPS) positional error (about 4 cm), comprise the total uncertainty for each shoreline point. If the vehicle was driven exactly at MHW, the horizontal uncertainty of the derived MHW position is only the GPS positioning error. If the beach is very flat and the elevation of the vehicle-driven track deviates greatly from MHW, the estimated uncertainty can be quite high (a maximum of 31.28 m was calculated). The average horizontal uncertainty calculated for the combined surveys is plus or minus 1.24 meters. Vertical_Positional_Accuracy: Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: In keeping with historical sources on shoreline information, the mean high water (MHW) contour was chosen as the definition of the shoreline. Local tide measurements were used to determine the elevation of MHW for the study area (0.92 m above NAVD88). Lineage: Process_Step: Process_Description: The SWASH system platform was a six-wheeled amphibious Max IV all-terrain vehicle, approximately 2.4 meters long, with a plastic body, enclosed cabin, and cargo bed manufactured by Recreatives Industries, Inc. of Buffalo, NY. Mounted on a custom frame were four Global Positioning System (GPS) antennas constituting the Magellan/Ashtech ADU2 array for measuring pitch, roll, and compass orientation to an accuracy of about 0.4 degrees. One of the antennas also served as the antenna for an Ashtech Z-surveyor GPS receiver. The GPS receiver, in combination with 3 base stations that were installed approximately equidistant along the length of the study area, provided position to about 4 cm accuracy. The SWASH system was used to collect data along 45 km of the Atlantic-exposed coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts from Nauset Inlet in the south to Race Point spit in the north. This section of coastline is virtually unaffected by coastal development or other human activities. The beach was surveyed 111 times from April 1998 to May 2005 with a mostly bi-weekly sampling interval through February 2002. Several pre- and post-storm surveys were conducted as well. For each of the field surveys that were conducted, the vehicle operator navigated a single, shore-parallel track on the seaward-sloping face of the foreshore (avoiding the berm crest), estimating the position of the mean high water (MHW) contour. Surveys were conducted at low tide to allow for maximum foreshore exposure. The position (x, y, z) and slope of the vehicle were measured at 0.5-second intervals as the vehicle traversed the beach. This dataset was collected and processed over a span of 7 years (1998-2005). The process date represents the most recent date. Process_Date: 2005 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 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: Following the field surveys, the data were processed to determine the cross-shore location of the MHW shoreline. The elevation of MHW for the study area (0.92 m above NAVD88) was determined by local tide measurements. The GPS processing software (PNAV 2507 (Ashtech)) produced the data in geographic coordinates, and Corpscon 4.7 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) was used to convert the geographic coordinates to UTM eastings and northings (zone 19N, WGS84). Elevations were converted from ellipsoidal heights to orthometric heights (NAVD88) using Geoid96 (and then Geoid99 when it became available in 1999). A coast-following reference line was created by fitting an 8 degree polynomial to a single driven track. Perpendicular transects spaced 2 meters apart were defined along the length of the reference line. The raw GPS data were interpolated onto the transects using Matlab (ver7.1). To do this, the equation of the line defining each transect was calculated and the equation of the line between the data points on either side of each transect was found as well. These two equations were solved simultaneously and their intersection point was identified as the location of the vehicle at each transect. The measured beach elevation and slope were linearly interpolated to this point. Using simple geometry and assuming a uniform foreshore slope, shoreline position was then found along each transect by extrapolating from the vehicle location to the MHW contour. Outliers were identified and removed and an uncertainty estimate was computed for each shoreline point. The largest source of shoreline positional error stems from our assumption that the beach slope remained constant between the measured point and the MHW contour (termed the "uniform slope assumption"). This error is a function of the deviation between the elevation of the driven vehicle track and the MHW elevation, the measured beach slope, and an estimated mean foreshore slope variability of 1.5 degrees that was measured during tests. For each point, the beach slope was varied by 1.5 degrees to compute the most seaward and landward possible shoreline positions due to foreshore slope variability. The vertical GPS positional error was converted into a horizontal error and was added in quadrature to the error from the uniform slope assumption. This total error was divided by two to calculate the plus or minus error for each shoreline point. This dataset was collected and processed over a span of 7 years (1998-2005). The process date represents the most recent date. Process_Date: 2005 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 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: Using MATLAB (R2019a), the shoreline point locations were converted back into a geographic coordinate system (degrees latitude and longitude), and the data for each survey were written out to both netCDF (Network Common Data Form, netCDF 4 Classic) files and ASCII csv (American Standard Code for Information Interchange, comma-separated values) files. Each netCDF and csv file includes the following information for every shoreline point: distance along the reference line (meters), latitude (degress), longitude (degrees), an estimate of the beach slope near MHW (degrees), and the plus or minus horizontal uncertainty of the shoreline position (meters). Process_Date: 20200501 Process_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: Amy Farris Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Position: Oceanographer Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing Address: 384 Woods Hole Road City: Woods Hole State_or_Province: MA Postal_Code: 02543 Country: US Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2344 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: afarris@usgs.gov Process_Step: Process_Description: Repaired some issues that the ScienceBase turn live process introduced - removed empty elements (geospatial presentation form), in the distribution section added the additional links, access instructions, and second distribution format that had been deleted. Other elements were also adjusted such as the series information in the identification citation. Process_Date: 20210125 Process_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Person: VeeAnn A. Cross Contact_Position: Marine Geologist Contact_Address: Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address: 384 Woods Hole Road City: Woods Hole State_or_Province: MA Postal_Code: 02543-1598 Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2251 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: vatnipp@usgs.gov Spatial_Reference_Information: Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition: Geographic: Latitude_Resolution: 0.000001 Longitude_Resolution: 0.000001 Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees Geodetic_Model: Horizontal_Datum_Name: World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84) Ellipsoid_Name: WGS_1984 Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000 Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257224 Entity_and_Attribute_Information: Detailed_Description: Entity_Type: Entity_Type_Label: CapeCodShorelineYYYYMMDD.* Entity_Type_Definition: There are 111 netCDF (*.nc) and 111 csv (*.csv) files, each containing mean high water (MHW) shoreline data for a single Cape Cod SWASH survey. The date of each survey is indicated in the file name in YYYYMMDD format. Each netCDF and csv file includes the following data for every shoreline point: distance along the coast-following reference line at a 2-meter spacing (meters), latitude (degrees), longitude (degrees), an estimate of the beach slope near MHW (degrees), and the plus or minus horizontal uncertainty of the shoreline position (meters). MHW is defined as 0.92 m above NAVD88. Entity_Type_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute: Attribute_Label: alongshore Attribute_Definition: Distance along the shore. Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 1722 Range_Domain_Maximum: 45960 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meters Attribute: Attribute_Label: lat Attribute_Definition: Location of the shoreline point expressed in degrees of latitude (WGS84). Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 41.819265 Range_Domain_Maximum: 42.082467 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: decimal degrees Attribute: Attribute_Label: lon Attribute_Definition: Location of the shoreline point expressed in degrees of longitude (WGS84). Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: -70.246347 Range_Domain_Maximum: -69.940638 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: decimal degrees Attribute: Attribute_Label: slope Attribute_Definition: Estimated slope of the foreshore near mean high water. Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.11 Range_Domain_Maximum: 18.73 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: degrees Attribute: Attribute_Label: uncertainty Attribute_Definition: Plus or minus horizontal uncertainty of the shoreline position in meters. Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.06 Range_Domain_Maximum: 31.28 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meters Overview_Description: Entity_and_Attribute_Overview: The Cape Cod shoreline data are in netCDF and csv formats. The downloadable .zip file contains 111 netCDF files (one for each survey) and 111 csv files (one for each survey). Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: U.S. Geological Survey Distribution_Information: Distributor: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing 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 file CapeCod_SWASH_Shorelines.zip contains the browse graphic CapeCod_SWASH_StudyArea_BrowseGraphic.png, the shoreline netCDF files (in CapeCod_SWASH_Shorelines_netCDF_files.zip), and the shoreline csv files (in CapeCod_SWASH_Shorelines_csv_files.zip). Distribution_Liability: Neither the U.S. Government, the Department of the Interior, nor the USGS, nor any of their employees, contractors, or subcontractors, make any warranty, express or implied, nor assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, nor represent that its use would not infringe on privately owned rights. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in the use of these data or related materials. 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. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Not for navigation. Standard_Order_Process: Digital_Form: Digital_Transfer_Information: Format_Name: netCDF Format_Version_Number: netCDF 4 Classic Format_Information_Content: The zip file contains the browse graphic and the data in both netCDF and csv formats (zipped). Transfer_Size: 60.8 Digital_Transfer_Option: Online_Option: Computer_Contact_Information: Network_Address: Network_Resource_Name: https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5f3abebd82ce8df5b6c407ac Network_Resource_Name: https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5f3abebd82ce8df5b6c407ac Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9GWL52F 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 downloaded, and the final link is the DOI link to the dataset landing page. Digital_Form: Digital_Transfer_Information: Format_Name: csv Format_Version_Number: Microsoft Excel 2016 Format_Information_Content: The zip file contains the browse graphic and the data in both netCDF and csv formats (zipped). Transfer_Size: 60.8 Digital_Transfer_Option: Online_Option: Computer_Contact_Information: Network_Address: Network_Resource_Name: https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5f3abebd82ce8df5b6c407ac Network_Resource_Name: https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5f3abebd82ce8df5b6c407ac Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.5066/P9GWL52F 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 downloaded, and the final link is the DOI link to the dataset landing page. Fees: None Metadata_Reference_Information: Metadata_Date: 20210125 Metadata_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Person: Kathryn M. Weber Contact_Position: Oceanographer Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing Address: 384 Woods Hole Road City: Woods Hole State_or_Province: MA Postal_Code: 02543 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: (508) 548-8700 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (508) 457-2310 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: kweber@usgs.gov Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998