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Datums Page Page 1 of 9
Station ID: 8447930 PUBLICATION DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: WOODS HOLE, BUZZARDS BAY
MA
NOAA Chart: 13235 Latitude: 41° 31.4' N ( 41.52330)
USGS Quad: WOODS HOLE Longitude: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67170)
To reach the tidal bench marks from Falmouth, Massachusetts, proceed south on
Woods Hole Road for 6.4 km (4 mi), then west across the Bascule Bridge to Water
Street on the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution property. The next
generation station is located on the east side of the dock as you enter. The
ADR gage is housed in the salt water pump room of the main shop, and the bench
marks are located within 1.6 km (1 mi) radius of the tide station.
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
PRIMARY BENCH MARK STAMPING: 11 1932
DESIGNATION: 844 7930 TIDAL 11
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 199
AGENCY: US Coast and Geodetic Survey
(USC&GS) IDB PID#: LW1571
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete doorstep OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 41° 31.5' N ( 41.52450) LONGITUDE: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67142)
The primary bench mark is a disk set in the concrete doorstep inside the
overhang of the south entrance to the Bigelow Laboratory (use a short rod),
32.92 m (108.0 ft) east of the SW corner of the laboratory, 9.05 m (29.7 ft) NE
of the northernmost curb of the grassy quadrant in the back of the laboratory,
8.63 m (28.3 ft) west of the SE corner of the laboratory, and 0.12 m (0.4 ft)
above ground.
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Page 2 of 9
Station ID: 8447930 PUBLICATION DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: WOODS HOLE, BUZZARDS BAY
MA
NOAA Chart: 13235 Latitude: 41° 31.4' N ( 41.52330)
USGS Quad: WOODS HOLE Longitude: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67170)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 6 1971
DESIGNATION: 844 7930 TIDAL 6
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 196
AGENCY: National Ocean Survey (NOS) IDB PID#: LW1573
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete apron OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 41° 31.4' N ( 41.52406) LONGITUDE: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67189)
The bench mark is a disk set in a concrete apron located on the NW side of the
Woods Hole Oceanographic Marine Services Building, 11.73 m (38.5 ft) SE of the
NW edge of the dock, 3.51 m (11.5 ft) NE of the NE side of the overhead doorway
to the Marine Services building, and 0.09 m (0.3 ft) NW of the NW wall.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 7 1913
DESIGNATION: 844 7930 TIDAL 7
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 197
AGENCY: US Coast and Geodetic Survey
(USC&GS) IDB PID#: LW1577
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Granite sill OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 41° 31.5' N ( 41.52519) LONGITUDE: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67214)
The bench mark is a disk set vertically in the granite foot sill located on the
west side of the most easterly front entrance steps of the east wing of the
Marine Biological Laboratory, 61.0 m (200 ft) east of the U.S. National Marine
Fisheries Service property, 35.30 m (115.8 ft) NW of the SW corner of the
historic granite building referred to as "Candle House", 20.42 m (67.0 ft) north
of the centerline of Water Street, 1.92 m (6.3 ft) south of the south face of
the building, and 0.15 m (0.2 ft) above ground.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 3 of 9
Station ID: 8447930 PUBLICATION DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: WOODS HOLE, BUZZARDS BAY
MA
NOAA Chart: 13235 Latitude: 41° 31.4' N ( 41.52330)
USGS Quad: WOODS HOLE Longitude: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67170)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 10 1932
DESIGNATION: 844 7930 TIDAL 10
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 198
AGENCY: US Coast and Geodetic Survey
(USC&GS) IDB PID#: LW1572
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete sidewalk OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 41° 31.5' N ( 41.52464) LONGITUDE: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67114)
The bench mark is a disk set in the concrete sidewalk at the intersection of
Water Street and a concrete driveway on the NE side of the Bigelow Laboratory,
9.14 m (30.0 ft) SW of the centerline of Water Street, 8.93 m (29.3 ft) NW of
the NW corner of Smith Laboratory, 4.82 m (15.8 ft) north of the NE corner of
the Bigelow Laboratory, and 0.12 m (0.4 ft) SE of the concrete curb surrounding
a bush hedge.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: NO 13 1975
DESIGNATION: 844 7930 TIDAL 13
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 201
AGENCY: National Ocean Survey (NOS) IDB PID#:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Mooring cleat foundation OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 41° 31.5' N ( 41.52444) LONGITUDE: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67178)
The bench mark is a disk set in a concrete foundation for a double steel mooring
cleat, located south of the Bigelow Laboratory on the west side of the Pier
Facility, 13.72 m (45.0 ft) south of the NW corner of the pier, 10.67 m (35.0
ft) west of the grassy quadrant adjacent to the pier, and 0.27 m (0.9 ft) north
of the NE corner of a steel bollard.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 4 of 9
Station ID: 8447930 PUBLICATION DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: WOODS HOLE, BUZZARDS BAY
MA
NOAA Chart: 13235 Latitude: 41° 31.4' N ( 41.52330)
USGS Quad: WOODS HOLE Longitude: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67170)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: NO 16 1975
DESIGNATION: 844 7930 TIDAL 16
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 204
AGENCY: National Ocean Survey (NOS) IDB PID#:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete step OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 41° 31.6' N ( 41.52611) LONGITUDE: 70° 40.4' W ( -70.67386)
The bench mark is a disk set in the first step of the north entrance to the
Aquarium, 15.85 m (52.0 ft) north of a large holding tank, 10.67 m (35.0 ft)
south of the Aquarium entrance, 9.14 m (30.0 ft) west of the centerline of
Gardner Road, and 8.11 m (26.6 ft) east of the center of the northernmost set of
doors at the Aquarium entrance.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 5 of 9
Station ID: 8447930 PUBLICATION DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: WOODS HOLE, BUZZARDS BAY
MA
NOAA Chart: 13235 Latitude: 41° 31.4' N ( 41.52330)
USGS Quad: WOODS HOLE Longitude: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67170)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: FISH 1944
DESIGNATION: FISH
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 205
AGENCY: US Coast and Geodetic Survey
(USC&GS) IDB PID#: LW1575
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Sea wall OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 41° 31.5' N ( 41.52500) LONGITUDE: 70° 40.4' W ( -70.67330)
The bench mark is a disk set in the granite capstone of a seawall east of the
National Marine Fisheries Service Administration Building, 24.78 m (81.3 ft)
east of the center of the first step at the east entrance of the National Marine
Fisheries Building, 21.18 m (69.5 ft) south of the centerline of Water Street,
14.97 m (49.1 ft) south of the centerline of the driveway at the entrance gates,
10.67 m (35.0 ft) SW of the most SW point of the Spencer Fullerton Baird
Monument, and 0.3 m (1 ft) west of the face of the seawall. NOTE - AN ALUMIMUN
RAILING HAS BEEN BUILT OVER THE BENCH MARK MAKING LEVELING TO THE MARK
IMPOSSIBLE.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 6 of 9
Station ID: 8447930 PUBLICATION DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: WOODS HOLE, BUZZARDS BAY
MA
NOAA Chart: 13235 Latitude: 41° 31.4' N ( 41.52330)
USGS Quad: WOODS HOLE Longitude: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67170)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 7930 A 1998
DESIGNATION: 844 7930 A
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 15482
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) IDB PID#:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete sheet pile bulkhead OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 41° 31.4' N ( 41.52381) LONGITUDE: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67114)
The bench mark is a disk set in top of a concrete and sheet pile bulkhead
located near the machine shop and next to the small boat docks on the east side
of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 22.25 m (73.0 ft) south of the
north end of the bulkhead, 13.00 m (42.7 ft) west of the east end of the
bulkhead and finger pier, 8.52 m (28.0 ft) north of the south end of the
bulkhead, 7.35 m (24.11 Ft) NE of the SE corner of the water storage shed, and
0.45 m (1.48 ft) above the road.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 7930 B 98
DESIGNATION: 844 7930 B
MONUMENTATION: Flange-encased Rod VM#: 15483
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) IDB PID#: AJ4031
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Stainless steel rod in sleeve OPUS PID#: AJ4031
LATITUDE: 41° 31.5' N ( 41.52500) LONGITUDE: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67247)
The bench mark is located on the property of the Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution Marine Biological Laboratory near the bulkhead in Yalden Park, 39.35
m (129.1 ft) NW of the north corner of the Marine Biological Laboratory club,
14.80 m (48.6 ft) SE of the center of the Yalden sun dial in Yalden Park, 11.00
m (36.1 ft) NE of the south face of the bulkhead, and 9.27 m (30.4 ft) SW of the
SW curb of Water Street. The datum point is set 20 cm (0.7 ft) below ground,
being the top of a stainless steel rod driven 8.32 m (27.3 ft), and encased in
a 5 inch logo cap.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 7 of 9
Station ID: 8447930 PUBLICATION DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: WOODS HOLE, BUZZARDS BAY
MA
NOAA Chart: 13235 Latitude: 41° 31.4' N ( 41.52330)
USGS Quad: WOODS HOLE Longitude: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67170)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: HARBOR STA. GSC GRAVITY 1984
DESIGNATION: HARBOR STA GSC
MONUMENTATION: Survey disk VM#: 16587
AGENCY: Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) IDB PID#:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete pier deck OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 41° 31.4' N ( 41.52330) LONGITUDE: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67170)
The bench mark is a disk set in the concrete pier deck on the west side of the
pier in front of the second bollard north of the south end of pier, 30.42 m
(99.8 ft) SW of the SW corner of the port office, 23.37 m (76.7 ft) north of the
SW corner of the pier, 11.20 m (36.7 ft) west of the crane on the south end of
the pier, and 1.40 m (4.6 ft) east of the west face of the pier.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 8 of 9
Station ID: 8447930 PUBLICATION DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: WOODS HOLE, BUZZARDS BAY
MA
NOAA Chart: 13235 Latitude: 41° 31.4' N ( 41.52330)
USGS Quad: WOODS HOLE Longitude: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67170)
T I D A L D A T U M S
Tidal datums at WOODS HOLE, BUZZARDS BAY based on:
LENGTH OF SERIES: 19 Years
TIME PERIOD: January 1983 - December 2001
TIDAL EPOCH: 1983-2001
CONTROL TIDE STATION:
Elevations of tidal datums referred to Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW), in METERS:
HIGHEST OBSERVED WATER LEVEL (09/21/1938) = 3.287
MEAN HIGHER HIGH WATER MHHW = 0.672
MEAN HIGH WATER MHW = 0.588
North American Vertical Datum NAVD88 = 0.415
MEAN TIDE LEVEL MTL = 0.315
MEAN SEA LEVEL MSL = 0.300
MEAN LOW WATER MLW = 0.043
MEAN LOWER LOW WATER MLLW = 0.000
LOWEST OBSERVED WATER LEVEL (02/02/1976) = -0.995
North American Vertical Datum (NAVD88)
Bench Mark Elevation Information In METERS above:
Stamping or Designation MLLW MHW
11 1932 2.650 2.062
6 1971 2.466 1.877
7 1913 3.739 3.151
10 1932 2.494 1.906
NO 13 1975 2.639 2.051
NO 16 1975 2.699 2.111
FISH 1944 2.411 1.823
7930 A 1998 2.490 1.902
7930 B 98 2.602 2.014
HARBOR STA. GSC GRAVITY 1984 2.342 1.754
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 9 of 9
Station ID: 8447930 PUBLICATION DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: WOODS HOLE, BUZZARDS BAY
MA
NOAA Chart: 13235 Latitude: 41° 31.4' N ( 41.52330)
USGS Quad: WOODS HOLE Longitude: 70° 40.3' W ( -70.67170)
D E F I N I T I O N S
Mean Sea Level (MSL) is a tidal datum determined over a 19-year National Tidal
Datum Epoch. It pertains to local mean sea level and should not be confused
with the fixed datums of North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88).
NAVD88 is a fixed datum derived from a simultaneous, least squares, minimum
constraint adjustment of Canadian/Mexican/United States leveling observations.
Local mean sea level observed at Father Point/Rimouski, Canada was held fixed as
the single initial constraint. NAVD88 replaces NGVD29 as the national
standard geodetic reference for heights. Bench mark elevations relative to
NAVD88 are available from NGS through the World Wide Web at
National Geodetic Survey.
NGVD29 is a fixed datum adopted as a national standard geodetic reference for
heights but is now considered superseded. NGVD29 is sometimes referred to as
Sea Level Datum of 1929 or as Mean Sea Level on some early issues of Geological
Survey Topographic Quads. NGVD29 was originally derived from a general
adjustment of the first-order leveling networks of the U.S. and Canada after
holding mean sea level observed at 26 long term tide stations as fixed.
Numerous local and wide-spread adjustments have been made since establishment in
1929. Bench mark elevations relative to NGVD29 are available from the National
Geodetic Survey (NGS) data base via the World Wide Web at
National Geodetic Survey.
NAVD88 and NGVD29 are fixed geodetic datums whose elevation relationships to
local MSL and other tidal datums may not be consistent from one location to
another.
The Vertical Mark Number (VM#) and PID# shown on the bench mark sheet are unique
identifiers for bench marks in the tidal and geodetic databases, respectively.
Each bench mark in either database has a single, unique VM# and/or PID# assigned.
Where both VM# and PID# are indicated, both tidal and geodetic elevations are
available for the bench mark listed. The NGS's Integrated Data Base (IDB PID)
provides geodetic datum based on traditionally leveled and bluebooked ties to
the National Spatial Reference System(NSRS) https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/datasheets/.
The NGS Online Positioning User Service (OPUS PID) provides geodetic datum based
on GPS position & tie it to the NSRS https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/OPUS/.
The NAVD88 elevation is shown on the Elevations of Tidal Datums Table Referred
to MLLW only when two or more of the bench marks listed have NAVD88 elevations.
The NAVD88 elevation relationship shown in the table is derived from an average
of several bench mark elevations relative to tide station datum. As a result of
this averaging, NAVD88 bench mark elevations computed indirectly from the tidal
datums elevation table may differ slightly from NAVD88 elevations listed for
each bench mark in the NGS database.
Station Location
Published bench mark
Unpublished bench mark
