Great Lakes Water Level Program (NOAA), including hydrography of Monthly Mean Levels, Bench Mark Descriptions, and Great Lakes Datum Elevations

Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Unknown

Publication_Date: Unknown

Title: Great Lakes Water Level Program (NOAA), including hydrography of Monthly Mean Levels, Bench Mark Descriptions, and Great Lakes Datum Elevations

Description:

Abstract:

NOAA is responsible for monitoring water levels for the Great Lakes basin watershed and for determining and maintaining a vertical reference datum for the Great Lakes and their connecting channels. Information from the water level data base is used for surveying and mapping, dredging, coastal construction, water level regulation, and determination of long-term water level variations. Users of these data include construction and power companies, shipping firms, Federal and state agencies, and the Canadian government. The Great Lakes water level data base is maintained by NOS's Oceanographic Products and Services Division (OPSD) The data base contains an extended time series of water level measurements for each of the Great Lakes. Minimum, maximum, and mean water levels are processed for various temporal periods from these measurements. Data are also compiled on the discharge of the major rivers connecting the Great Lakes, the amount of water diverted from the Great Lakes at major channels, and the actual and normal precipitation within the Great Lakes basin for different temporal periods. Data are compiled for the entire Great Lakes basin watershed, comprising the five Great Lakes and Lake St. Clair, and encompassing an area of 295,000 square miles. Water levels are monitored from a network of 49 gauges located around the five Great Lakes. The resulting data are processed to generate mean elevations for each lake. River discharge data are compiled for the St. Marys River, St. Clair River, Detroit River, Niagara River, and St. Lawrence River. Data on flow diversions are compiled for 19 major channels located throughout the Great Lakes watershed. Precipitation data are compiled for the land, lake, and lake basin area of each lake. Water level elevations are compiled for each gauge at hourly increments, however, some gauges are equipped with electronic telemetry units which provide real-time data for planning and emergency situations. Hourly data are processed to generate up to date, 7-day daily mean elevations for selected gauges, and daily, monthly, and annual mean water levels for each gauge in the network. Long-term monthly water level data for some stations date back to 1860. Maximum and minimum elevations are also compiled for each gauge by hour, day, and month. Data relating to mean river discharges, mean flow diversions, and precipitation are compiled monthly. Records are on file for each water level gauge. A publication which describes the locations for approximately 3,000 bench marks in the Great Lakes area, with published elevations on the International Great Lakes Datum (1985) and a map and geographical index of the network of permanent gauges are available. The OPSD provides Great Lakes water level data to a mailing list of 250 subscribers on a monthly basis and furnishes clarification and expert consultation to telephone inquiries. Data and information products are available for free or at a cost recovery fee, quoted on request, and include the following: o Seven Day Gauge Summary, Great Lakes o Hourly Water Levels, Great Lakes o Great Lakes 7-Day Water Levels o Daily Mean Water Levels, Great Lakes o Great Lakes Water Levels - Annual Summary o Great Lakes Annual Maximum and Minimum Levels o Great Lakes Water Levels (1860-1985) o Bench Mark Descriptions and International Great Lakes Datum Elevations o Hydrograph of Monthly Mean Levels of the Great Lakes o Great Lakes Data: Monthly Mean Elevations and Monthly Mean Discharge o Monthly Mean Flow Diversions, Great Lakes Basin o Monthly Precipitation Summary, Great Lakes Basin o Average Monthly and Annual Precipitation on the Basins of the Great Lakes

Purpose:

Not Available

Supplemental_Information:

Not Available

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 18600101

Ending_Date: Unknown

Currentness_Reference:Unknown

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -93.0

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -76.0

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 49.0

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.0

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD SCIENCE PARAMETERS

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD INSTRUMENT

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ANCILLARY KEYWORDS

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO TOPIC CATEGORY

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > PRECIPITATION > PRECIPITATION AMOUNT

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > SURFACE WATER > DISCHARGE/FLOW

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > SURFACE WATER > LAKES

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > SURFACE WATER > RIVERS/STREAMS

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > SURFACE WATER > STAGE HEIGHT

Theme_Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > SURFACE WATER > WATERSHED CHARACTERISTICS

Theme_Keyword: WATER LEVEL GAUGES

Theme_Keyword: Oes/olld_great_lake_watr_lv

Theme_Keyword: CLIMATOLOGY/METEOROLOGY/ATMOSPHERE

Theme_Keyword: GEOSCIENTIFIC INFORMATION

Theme_Keyword: INLAND WATERS

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: GCMD

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > GREAT LAKES

Place_Keyword: CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > GREAT LAKES > GREAT LAKES

Access_Constraints: Not Available

Use_Constraints:

Not Available

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: JEFFREY OYLER

Contact_Position: TECHNICAL CONTACT

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: NOAA/National Ocean Service

Address: Office of Chart Survey

Address: Atlantic Regional Operations

Address: 808 Principal Court

Address: Geodetic Requirements and Great Lakes

City: Chesapeake

State_or_Province: VA

Postal_Code: 23320

Country: GREAT LAKES

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 757-436-0200

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 757-436-9292

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: oyler@fob.noaa.gov

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

Not Available

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Not Available

Completeness_Report:

Not Available

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Not Available

Process_Date: Unknown

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: DOC/NOAA/NOS/CO-OPS > Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce

Contact_Person: OPSD USER SERVICES OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Contact_Position: DATA CENTER CONTACT

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: Office of Coast Survey

Address: NOAA/National Ocean Service

Address: Oceanographic Products and Services Division

Address: 1305 East-West Highway, N/SC44

City: Silver Spring

State_or_Province: MD

Postal_Code: 20910-3281

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 301-713-2813

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 301-713-2877

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 301-713-4436

Resource_Description: OES_OLLD_GREAT_LAKE_WATR_LV

Distribution_Liability:

Not Available

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: Not Available

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name:

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/

Access_Instructions:

DATA CENTER URL

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Fees: Not Available

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date:

Metadata_Review_Date: 20030606

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: GCMD User Support Office

Contact_Organization: NASA Global Change Master Directory

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: Not Available

City: Lanham

State_or_Province: MD

Postal_Code: 20706

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: Not Available

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gcmduso@gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Time_Convention: local time