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Topobathymetric Elevation Model of Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands

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By Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project October 3, 2019

With an estimated elevation of only 3-meters above sea level, the Majuro Atoll, capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), is extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise, tsunamis, storm surge, and coastal flooding that could impact the sustainability of the infrastructure, groundwater, and ecosystems. Located in the northern tropical Pacific Ocean, the waters surrounding the Majuro Atoll land areas are relatively shallow with poorly mapped bathymetry.
 

To support the modeling of storm- and tide-induced flooding, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project in collaboration with the U. S. Department of Interior (DOI) Pacific Islands Climate Science Center (PI-CSC) and the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP) developed an integrated 1-meter topobathymetric digital elevation model (TBDEM) for the Majuro Atoll, RMI, using a combination of nine best available multi-source topographic and bathymetric data for the Majuro Atoll onshore and offshore:


 

 

 

This research effort was a collaboration with DOI PI-CSC, USGS CMGP, University of Guam, University of Hawaii at Mânoa, NOAA/National Geodetic Survey, Marshall Islands Conservation Society, RMI Office of Lands and Survey, and RMI Environmental Protection Authority.

 



For additional information or to download the Majuro Atoll topobathymetric elevation model, visit USGS ScienceBase at https://doi.org/10.5066/F7416VXX.

 

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
This video is of is a three-dimensional (3D) view of the Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands topobathymetric model which consists of topography (land elevation) and bathymetry (water depth). This video shows the importance of high-resolution, detailed topobathymetric models because the highest natural elevation for the Majuro Atoll is only three meters. This video shows how the island nation is extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise, king tides, and flooding.The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS Center) in collaboration with the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program and the Department of Interior Pacific Islands Climate Science Center developed this topobathymetric model and published the data and metadata on this USGS ScienceBase website. 

 

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link
color photograph

Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project

High-resolution coastal elevation data is required to identify flood, hurricane, and sea-level rise inundation hazard zones and other earth science applications, such as the development of sediment transport and storm surge models. Light detection and ranging (lidar) enables the rapid collection of very accurate elevation data over large areas, and during the last decade, airborne laser altimetry...
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project
link

Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project

High-resolution coastal elevation data is required to identify flood, hurricane, and sea-level rise inundation hazard zones and other earth science applications, such as the development of sediment transport and storm surge models. Light detection and ranging (lidar) enables the rapid collection of very accurate elevation data over large areas, and during the last decade, airborne laser altimetry...
Learn More
link
color photograph

Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project

High-resolution coastal elevation data is required to identify flood, hurricane, and sea-level rise inundation hazard zones and other earth science applications, such as the development of sediment transport and storm surge models. Light detection and ranging (lidar) enables the rapid collection of very accurate elevation data over large areas, and during the last decade, airborne laser altimetry...
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project
link

Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project

High-resolution coastal elevation data is required to identify flood, hurricane, and sea-level rise inundation hazard zones and other earth science applications, such as the development of sediment transport and storm surge models. Light detection and ranging (lidar) enables the rapid collection of very accurate elevation data over large areas, and during the last decade, airborne laser altimetry...
Learn More

Below are data or web applications associated with this project.

One Meter Topobathymetric Digital Elevation Model for Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands, 1944 to 2016

Located in the western Pacific Ocean, Majuro is a large coral atoll consisting of a large, central narrow land mass and remote islands that are part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The waters surrounding the Majuro Atoll land areas are relatively shallow with poorly mapped bathymetry. However, the Pacific Ocean on the exterior of the coral atoll and the lagoon within its interior consist
By
Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project

Below are data or web applications associated with this project.

CoNED Project Viewer

The Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Project Viewer is a portal to the topobathymetric models created with the expertise of the expertise of the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center near Sioux Falls, SD. 

By
Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project

CoNED Project Viewer

The Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Project Viewer is a portal to the topobathymetric models created with the expertise of the expertise of the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center near Sioux Falls, SD. 

By
Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project

With an estimated elevation of only 3-meters above sea level, the Majuro Atoll, capital of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), is extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise, tsunamis, storm surge, and coastal flooding that could impact the sustainability of the infrastructure, groundwater, and ecosystems. Located in the northern tropical Pacific Ocean, the waters surrounding the Majuro Atoll land areas are relatively shallow with poorly mapped bathymetry.
 

To support the modeling of storm- and tide-induced flooding, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project in collaboration with the U. S. Department of Interior (DOI) Pacific Islands Climate Science Center (PI-CSC) and the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP) developed an integrated 1-meter topobathymetric digital elevation model (TBDEM) for the Majuro Atoll, RMI, using a combination of nine best available multi-source topographic and bathymetric data for the Majuro Atoll onshore and offshore:


 

 

 

This research effort was a collaboration with DOI PI-CSC, USGS CMGP, University of Guam, University of Hawaii at Mânoa, NOAA/National Geodetic Survey, Marshall Islands Conservation Society, RMI Office of Lands and Survey, and RMI Environmental Protection Authority.

 



For additional information or to download the Majuro Atoll topobathymetric elevation model, visit USGS ScienceBase at https://doi.org/10.5066/F7416VXX.

 

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
This video is of is a three-dimensional (3D) view of the Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands topobathymetric model which consists of topography (land elevation) and bathymetry (water depth). This video shows the importance of high-resolution, detailed topobathymetric models because the highest natural elevation for the Majuro Atoll is only three meters. This video shows how the island nation is extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise, king tides, and flooding.The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS Center) in collaboration with the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program and the Department of Interior Pacific Islands Climate Science Center developed this topobathymetric model and published the data and metadata on this USGS ScienceBase website. 

 

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link
color photograph

Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project

High-resolution coastal elevation data is required to identify flood, hurricane, and sea-level rise inundation hazard zones and other earth science applications, such as the development of sediment transport and storm surge models. Light detection and ranging (lidar) enables the rapid collection of very accurate elevation data over large areas, and during the last decade, airborne laser altimetry...
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project
link

Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project

High-resolution coastal elevation data is required to identify flood, hurricane, and sea-level rise inundation hazard zones and other earth science applications, such as the development of sediment transport and storm surge models. Light detection and ranging (lidar) enables the rapid collection of very accurate elevation data over large areas, and during the last decade, airborne laser altimetry...
Learn More
link
color photograph

Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project

High-resolution coastal elevation data is required to identify flood, hurricane, and sea-level rise inundation hazard zones and other earth science applications, such as the development of sediment transport and storm surge models. Light detection and ranging (lidar) enables the rapid collection of very accurate elevation data over large areas, and during the last decade, airborne laser altimetry...
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project
link

Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project

High-resolution coastal elevation data is required to identify flood, hurricane, and sea-level rise inundation hazard zones and other earth science applications, such as the development of sediment transport and storm surge models. Light detection and ranging (lidar) enables the rapid collection of very accurate elevation data over large areas, and during the last decade, airborne laser altimetry...
Learn More

Below are data or web applications associated with this project.

One Meter Topobathymetric Digital Elevation Model for Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands, 1944 to 2016

Located in the western Pacific Ocean, Majuro is a large coral atoll consisting of a large, central narrow land mass and remote islands that are part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The waters surrounding the Majuro Atoll land areas are relatively shallow with poorly mapped bathymetry. However, the Pacific Ocean on the exterior of the coral atoll and the lagoon within its interior consist
By
Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project

Below are data or web applications associated with this project.

CoNED Project Viewer

The Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Project Viewer is a portal to the topobathymetric models created with the expertise of the expertise of the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center near Sioux Falls, SD. 

By
Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project

CoNED Project Viewer

The Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Project Viewer is a portal to the topobathymetric models created with the expertise of the expertise of the U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center near Sioux Falls, SD. 

By
Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Applications Project
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