Read-only research connector · NOAA CO-OPS and USGS sources

Tide and terrain records, with the datum, units and time zone kept in view.

GovBot Tides & Terrain prepares source-cited research briefs from NOAA tide station observations and astronomical predictions, and from USGS point elevation and watershed boundaries. Each brief states what was requested, what the agency returned, and where the record has gaps or limits.

In preparation. A ChatGPT directory version is being prepared. It has not been submitted or published. Private ChatGPT testing and a genuine walkthrough are part of its release preparation.

Three research briefs

The requests below are examples of what a person might ask. No results are shown.

Water-level history

water-level-history-brief

Observed water levels at a NOAA station for a stated period, with the exact datum, units and time zone, and notes on data quality and missing intervals.

Example request
“Show observed water levels at NOAA station 8724580 for July 1–3, 2025, in metres relative to MLLW, in UTC.”

Tide predictions

tide-prediction-brief

Astronomical predictions and high and low tide times for an explicit date interval, units, datum and time zone — kept separate from observed water and from weather-driven surge. Not a real-time warning, navigation aid or safety assurance.

Example request
“List predicted high and low tides at NOAA station 8724580 for July 1–3, 2025, in metres relative to MLLW, in UTC.”

Terrain and watershed

terrain-watershed-brief

USGS point elevation and the containing Watershed Boundary Dataset unit at a public research point you supply, qualified by source, date, resolution, no-data and HUC coverage. Never a property survey or certified elevation.

Example request
“For the public research point at latitude 24.55, longitude -81.81, give the USGS point elevation and the watershed that contains it, with source and resolution notes.”

Six read-only tools

Tools read only from fixed NOAA and USGS agency endpoints: the NOAA CO-OPS Data and Metadata APIs, USGS EPQS and the USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset. Nothing is written back.

Find tide stations near a point find_tide_stations_near_point: Lists NOAA CO-OPS stations near a research point. Proximity is research context; it does not mean a station represents a particular property.
Observed water levels get_observed_water_levels: Station observations for a stated window, keeping requested and returned dates, datum, units, time zone and quality flags.
Tide predictions get_tide_predictions: Astronomical tide predictions, including high and low times. Not weather, wave or surge forecasts.
Station datums get_station_datums: Datum relationships and epoch as published for one station. They apply at that station only.
Ground elevation at a point get_ground_elevation_at_point: A sampled USGS elevation value with its source, resolution and vintage limits. No-data stays no-data.
Watershed at a point get_watershed_at_point: The WBD hydrologic unit (HUC) containing the point — a hydrologic reference, not a parcel or flood zone.

What each brief keeps straight

Requested versus returned: Dates, datum, units, epoch, time zone and daylight-saving handling are reported as the agency returned them, alongside what was asked.
Observed versus predicted: Observed water levels are measurements and can reflect the tide, weather-driven surge and other water-level effects. Astronomical predictions cover the tide only and do not predict surge. The two are never blended, and their difference is not reported as a surge measurement.
Datums stay at the station: NOAA station datum offsets are never transferred to USGS terrain values or to any property.
No unsupported conversions: Units, datums and time zones are not converted beyond what the source supports.
Missing is not zero: No-data is reported as no-data. An empty result or no nearby station is not a sign that a place is safe.
Not for safety decisions: Not a warning, weather or surge forecast, navigation or emergency aid, survey, flood zone determination or engineering certification.

Sources

NOAA Tides & Currents — station information and products
NOAA CO-OPS Data API — observations and predictions
NOAA CO-OPS Metadata API — stations and datums
USGS Elevation Point Query Service
USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset

These links are source references. They do not show that any particular query has run.

Independent product

GovBot Tides & Terrain is developed by Ideation Lab, Corp. It is not official and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NOAA, USGS, any other government agency, or OpenAI. Questions are welcome at hello@govbot.ai.