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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

A Global Self-consistent, Hierarchical, High-resolution Geography Database from 2010-02-19 to 2017-06-15 (NCEI Accession 0304143)

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A Global Self-consistent, Hierarchical, High-resolution Geography Database is a high-resolution geography data set amalgamated from three data bases in the public domain:

World Vector Shorelines (WVS).
CIA World Data Bank II (WDBII).
Atlas of the Cryosphere (AC).

The WVS is our basis for shorelines except for Antarctica while the WDBII is the basis for lakes, although there are instances where differences in coastline representations necessitated adding WDBII islands to GSHHG. The WDBII source also provides all political borders and rivers. The addition of AC since 2.3.0 allows us to offer two choices for Antarctica coastlines: Ice-front or Grounding line. These are encoded as levels 5 and 6, respectively and users of GSHHG can choose which set to use. GSHHG data have undergone extensive processing and should be free of internal inconsistencies such as erratic points and crossing segments. The shorelines are constructed entirely from hierarchically arranged closed polygons. A modified version of GSHHG is used by GMT, the Generic Mapping Tools. Starting with version 2.2.2, GSHHG has been released under the GNU Lesser General Public License.

NCEI decommissioned the Global Self-consistent, Hierarchical, High-resolution Geography Database in May 2025 with no further updates. Comments and questions may be sent to: ncei.info@noaa.gov.
  • Cite as: Wessel, Paul; Smith, Walter H. F. (2025). A Global Self-consistent, Hierarchical, High-resolution Geography Database from 2010-02-19 to 2017-06-15 (NCEI Accession 0304143). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/fe3s-bq64. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:0304143
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Distribution Formats
  • SHP
  • netCDF
  • TXT
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
+1-301-713-3277
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2010-02-19 to 2017-06-15
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -180
East: 180
South: -90
North: 90
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2025-05-14
  • creation: 2025-05-09
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Purpose We present a high-resolution shoreline data set amalgamated from two databases in the public domain. The data have undergone extensive processing and are free of internal inconsistencies such as erratic points and crossing segments. The shorelines are constructed entirely from hierarchically arranged closed polygons. The data can be used to simplify data searches and data selections or to study the statistical characteristics of shorelines and landmasses. The data set can be accessed both electronically over Internet and from the National Geophysical Data Center, Boulder, Colorado; it comes with access software and routines to facilitate decimation based on a standard line-reduction algorithm.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Wessel, Paul; Smith, Walter H. F. (2025). A Global Self-consistent, Hierarchical, High-resolution Geography Database from 2010-02-19 to 2017-06-15 (NCEI Accession 0304143). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/fe3s-bq64. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Collaborators
Contributors
Resource Providers
Points of Contact
Publishers
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords Provider Keywords
  • ocean/land interface
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Keywords Send2NCEI Submission Package ID
  • M7MMF1
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Wessel, Paul; Smith, Walter H. F. (2025). A Global Self-consistent, Hierarchical, High-resolution Geography Database from 2010-02-19 to 2017-06-15 (NCEI Accession 0304143). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/fe3s-bq64. Accessed [date].
Data License
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2025-05-14T16:12:39Z - NCEI Accession 0304143 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Parameter or Variable: ocean/land interface (calculated); Units: meter; Observation Category: satellite; Sampling Instrument: satellite sensor - general; Sampling and Analyzing Method: citation - Wessel, P., and W. H. F. Smith, A Global Self-consistent, Hierarchical, High-resolution Shoreline Database, J. Geophys. Res., 101, 8741-8743, 1996 (https://www.soest.hawaii.edu/pwessel/gshhg/Wessel+Smith_1996_JGR.pdf).
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • satellite sensor - general
Last Modified: 2026-02-06T16:04:36Z
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