dataset · USA
NOAA National Bathymetric Source Data
The National Bathymetric Source (NBS) project creates and maintains high-resolution bathymetry composed of the best available data. This project enables the creation of next-generation nautical charts while also providing support for modeling, industry, science, regulation, and public curiosity. Primary sources of bathymetry include NOAA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hydrographic surveys and topographic bathymetric (topo-bathy) lidar (light detection and ranging) data. Data submitted through
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Licence: NOAA data disseminated through NODD are open to the public and can be used as desired.<br/> <br/>NOAA makes data openly available to ensure maximum use of our data, and to spur and encourage explorati
Evidence quality: 43.9
Listed in aws-odr public catalogue API on 2026-10-16; relevance/value screened (haiku).
Metadata checked: 2026-10-14T13:20:00.000Z
What's in it
- Data offered docs-verified
- BlueTopo bathymetry (multilayer floating point GeoTIFFs) · elevation · vertical uncertainty · quality metrics · source information (Raster Attribute Tables) · multiple vertical datums and file formats
- Coverage llm-inferred
- USA (per registry region metadata; docs give no explicit geographic extent)
- Update frequency docs-verified
- Monthly where new data is available
- Formats docs-verified
- GeoTIFF
- Access docs-verified
- Free/open; no AWS account required for anonymous S3 access (aws s3 ls --no-sign-request); NOAA open data licence with attribution requested for unaltered data and no implied endorsement
Useful for
- Use cases llm-inferred
- Coastal or estuarine hydraulic model bathymetry boundary for US sites · Marine or coastal construction baseline surface for US projects · Sea-level and coastal flood screening inputs for US coastal assessments
- Audience llm-inferred
- coastal engineers · hydraulic and flood modellers · GIS analysts · hydrographic surveyors · marine planners
Limitations
- Constraints docs-verified
- Not for navigation: includes non-navigation data and non-navigation vertical datums · Deep-water gaps are filled from a merged bathymetry model (GMRT), not only from surveys
Evidence
- arn:aws:s3:::noaa-ocs-nationalbathymetry-pds, arn:aws:sns:us-east-1:709902155096:NewNationalBathymetryObject
- https://registry.opendata.aws/noaa-bathymetry/
Check upstream coverage, uncertainty and licence before use. Station observations are not forecasts or design levels.