U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Datums Page Page 1 of 9
Station ID: 9454949 PUBLICATION DATE: 09/09/2008
Name: WHITTIER
AK
NOAA Chart: 16706 Latitude: 60° 46.7' N ( 60.77830)
USGS Quad: SEWARD (D-5) Longitude: 148° 39.9' W (-148.66500)
To reach the tide station by car from the Whittier side of the Anton Anderson
Memorial Tunnel, proceed 2.5 km (1.5 mi) on the only road east to the town of
Whittier and the Whittier Small Boat Harbor. The tide gauges were housed in the
Whittier Harbor Office building in the furnace room. The bench marks are
located in structures along the shore east of the small boat harbor.
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
PRIMARY BENCH MARK STAMPING: 4949 E 2007
DESIGNATION: 945 4949 E
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 18523
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) IDB PID#:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Bridge abutment OPUS PID#: BBFH95
LATITUDE: 60° 46.6' N ( 60.77670) LONGITUDE: 148° 41.7' W (-148.69500)
The bench mark is a disk set in the NE concrete abutment of bridge NO. 1214 over
Whittier Creek, 99.00 m (324.8 ft) WSW of tidal bench mark 9454949 D, 20.50 m
(67.3 ft) NW of the center of an intersection, 15.12 m (49.6 ft) SSE of the SW
corner of the Major Marine Tours frame building, 15.08 m (49.5 ft) SW of a stop
sign at the NW part of the intersection, and 8.30 m (27.2 ft) north of the
centerline of the main E-W paved road.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 2 of 9
Station ID: 9454949 PUBLICATION DATE: 09/09/2008
Name: WHITTIER
AK
NOAA Chart: 16706 Latitude: 60° 46.7' N ( 60.77830)
USGS Quad: SEWARD (D-5) Longitude: 148° 39.9' W (-148.66500)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: RM NO 2 1956
DESIGNATION: MARGIN RM NO 2
ALIAS: 945 4949 TIDAL 6
MONUMENTATION: Reference Mark disk VM#: 14715
AGENCY: US Coast and Geodetic Survey
(USC&GS) IDB PID#: TT0242
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete foundation OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 60° 46.6' N ( 60.77670) LONGITUDE: 148° 40.6' W (-148.67700)
The bench mark is a disk set in the top of the concrete foundation along the
north edge of the Marginal Wharf, 47.93 m (157.2 ft) WSW from the NE corner of
the wharf, 14.68 n *48.2 ft0 WSW from 945 4949 Tidal 5, 14.62 m (48.0 ft) ENE
from the center of the third steel bollard from the ne corner of the wharf, and
0.53 m (1.7 ft) south of a broken metal cleat.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 3 of 9
Station ID: 9454949 PUBLICATION DATE: 09/09/2008
Name: WHITTIER
AK
NOAA Chart: 16706 Latitude: 60° 46.7' N ( 60.77830)
USGS Quad: SEWARD (D-5) Longitude: 148° 39.9' W (-148.66500)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: MARGIN 1956
DESIGNATION: MARGIN
ALIAS: 945 4949 TIDAL 5
MONUMENTATION: Triangulation Station disk VM#: 14716
AGENCY: US Coast and Geodetic Survey
(USC&GS) IDB PID#: TT0243
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete deck OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 60° 46.6' N ( 60.77670) LONGITUDE: 148° 40.8' W (-148.68000)
The primary bench mark is set in a concrete deck along the north edge of the
Marginal Wharf, 33.25 m (109.1 ft) WSW from the NE corner of the wharf, and
29.32 m (96.2 ft) WSW from the center of a steel bollard near the NE corner of
the wharf.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 4 of 9
Station ID: 9454949 PUBLICATION DATE: 09/09/2008
Name: WHITTIER
AK
NOAA Chart: 16706 Latitude: 60° 46.7' N ( 60.77830)
USGS Quad: SEWARD (D-5) Longitude: 148° 39.9' W (-148.66500)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: R 74 1964
DESIGNATION: R 74
MONUMENTATION: Bench Mark disk VM#: 14718
AGENCY: US Coast and Geodetic Survey
(USC&GS) IDB PID#: TT0240
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Retaining wall OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 60° 46.6' N ( 60.77670) LONGITUDE: 148° 40.9' W (-148.68200)
The bench mark is set on top of a concrete retaining wall, 36.00 m (118.1 ft)
east from the south end of an abandoned passenger dissembarkment walkway, 13.90
m (45.6 ft) SE from the NE corner of a concrete pedastal with large bolts
protruding from the top, and 2.1 m (6.9 ft) SSW from the NE corner of the
retaining wall, and 1.35 m (4.4 ft) above the rock rip-rap.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 5 of 9
Station ID: 9454949 PUBLICATION DATE: 09/09/2008
Name: WHITTIER
AK
NOAA Chart: 16706 Latitude: 60° 46.7' N ( 60.77830)
USGS Quad: SEWARD (D-5) Longitude: 148° 39.9' W (-148.66500)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: H 74 1964
DESIGNATION: H 74
MONUMENTATION: Bench Mark disk VM#: 18328
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) IDB PID#:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Rock OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 60° 46.6' N ( 60.77670) LONGITUDE: 148° 40.7' W (-148.67800)
The bench mark is set vertically in a rock face along the south side of the Old
Ferry Dock Road in front of the Whittier Manor Condos, 64.70 m (212 ft) SW from
an Alaska Railroad stone monument approximately 4 m (13 ft) tall, 33.31 m (109.3
ft) WSW from the middle pipe entering a wooden gas meter shed on the south side
of the road, 11.40 m (37.4 ft) SSE from the north side of the road marked by a
concrete barrier, and 5.96 m (19.6 ft) ENE from the NE corner of a covered
stairway leading up the hill to the building.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 4949 B 2007
DESIGNATION: 945 4949 B
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 18330
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) IDB PID#:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Sidewalk OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 60° 46.6' N ( 60.77670) LONGITUDE: 148° 41.1' W (-148.68500)
The bench mark is a disk set in a covered concrete sidewalk along the south side
of the Alaska Marine Highway ferry terminal building, 13.41 m (44.0 ft) east
from SW corner of the building, 8.02 m (26.3 ft) west from the SE corner of the
building, 0.84 m (2.8 ft) north from the edge of the concrete driveway, and
0.53 m (1.7 ft) south from the side of the building.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 6 of 9
Station ID: 9454949 PUBLICATION DATE: 09/09/2008
Name: WHITTIER
AK
NOAA Chart: 16706 Latitude: 60° 46.7' N ( 60.77830)
USGS Quad: SEWARD (D-5) Longitude: 148° 39.9' W (-148.66500)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 4949 C 2007
DESIGNATION: 945 4949 C
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 18521
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) IDB PID#:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Retaining wall OPUS PID:
LATITUDE: 60° 46.6' N ( 60.77670) LONGITUDE: 148° 41.4' W (-148.69000)
The bench mark is a disk set in the top of the NE corner of a concrete retaining
wall, at the top and the west side of the public boat ramp near the center of
the City of Whittier small boat harbor, 60.15 m (197.3 ft) north of the
northernmost rail in the Alaska Railroad yard, 49.75 m (163.2 ft) north of the
centerline of the east-west paved main road, 34.35 m (112.7 ft) east of the SE
corner of the harbormaster's office building, 18.90 m (62.0 ft) east of the
center of the flagpole at the east end of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
building (white caboose), and 0.55 m (1.8 ft) south of the NE corner of the
retaining wall, and 0.55 m (1.8 ft) above the level of the cement sidewalk
immediately to the east.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 7 of 9
Station ID: 9454949 PUBLICATION DATE: 09/09/2008
Name: WHITTIER
AK
NOAA Chart: 16706 Latitude: 60° 46.7' N ( 60.77830)
USGS Quad: SEWARD (D-5) Longitude: 148° 39.9' W (-148.66500)
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 4949 D 2007
DESIGNATION: 945 4949 D
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 18522
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) IDB PID#:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete pedestal OPUS PID#: BBBG29
LATITUDE: 60° 46.6' N ( 60.77670) LONGITUDE: 148° 41.6' W (-148.69300)
The bench mark is a disk set in the NE corner, and the top of a 1.98 m (6.5 ft)
by 1.85 m (6.1 ft) concrete pedestal for a Chugach Electric, electric utility
box, 99.00 m (324.8 ft) ENE of tidal bench mark 9454949 E, 37.10 m (121.7 ft)
west of the center of the travel lift dock, 31.00 m (101.7 ft) north of the
centerline of the main east-west paved road, 12.56 m (41.2 ft) SE of a fire
hydrant, 10.5 m (34.4 ft) north of the south edge of a concrete sidewalk, 9.30 m
(30.5 ft) SW of the top of the bank at the SW corner of the City of Whittier
small boat harbor and 0.44 m (1.44 ft) above the ground.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 8 of 9
Station ID: 9454949 PUBLICATION DATE: 09/09/2008
Name: WHITTIER
AK
NOAA Chart: 16706 Latitude: 60° 46.7' N ( 60.77830)
USGS Quad: SEWARD (D-5) Longitude: 148° 39.9' W (-148.66500)
T I D A L D A T U M S
Tidal datums at WHITTIER based on:
LENGTH OF SERIES: 10 MONTHS
TIME PERIOD: April 2007 - January 2008
TIDAL EPOCH: 1983-2001
CONTROL TIDE STATION: 9454240 VALDEZ, PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND
Elevations of tidal datums referred to Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW), in METERS:
MEAN HIGHER HIGH WATER MHHW = 3.715
MEAN HIGH WATER MHW = 3.434
MEAN SEA LEVEL MSL = 1.988
MEAN TIDE LEVEL MTL = 1.944
MEAN LOW WATER MLW = 0.454
North American Vertical Datum NAVD88 = 0.320
MEAN LOWER LOW WATER MLLW = 0.000
North American Vertical Datum (NAVD88)
Bench Mark Elevation Information In METERS above:
Stamping or Designation MLLW MHW
4949 E 2007 6.941 3.507
RM NO 2 1956 6.010 2.576
MARGIN 1956 5.970 2.536
R 74 1964 5.328 1.894
H 74 1964 7.870 4.436
4949 B 2007 6.937 3.503
4949 C 2007 6.727 3.293
4949 D 2007 7.101 3.667
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 9 of 9
Station ID: 9454949 PUBLICATION DATE: 09/09/2008
Name: WHITTIER
AK
NOAA Chart: 16706 Latitude: 60° 46.7' N ( 60.77830)
USGS Quad: SEWARD (D-5) Longitude: 148° 39.9' W (-148.66500)
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.