U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Datums Page Page 1 of 8
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/08/2001
Station ID: 8545240 SUPERCEDED DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: PHILADELPHIA, DELAWARE RIVER
PENNSYLVANIA
NOAA Chart: 12313 Latitude: 39° 56.0' N
USGS Quad: PHILADELPHIA Longitude: 75° 8.5' W
To reach the tidal bench marks from the toll plaza at the west end of the Walt
Whitman Bridge, proceed 0.2 km (0.1 mile) west to exit 47, bear to the right and
follow signs to Front Street. Turn right and proceed 0.5 km (0.3 mile) north on
Front Street to Oregon Avenue, turn right and continue 1.1 km (0.7 mile) east on
Oregon Street to Christopher Columbus Avenue. Turn left on Christopher Columbus
Avenue and proceed 2.7 km (1.7 miles) north to Washington Avenue, then turn
right and continue to the US Coast Guard Marine Safety Office visitors parking
lot. The bench marks are located on the USCG property, along Christopher
Columbus Avenue, and along Arch Street. The tide house is located along the
bulkhead at the SE corner of the USCG MSO facility.
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
PRIMARY BENCH MARK STAMPING: 5530 A 1989
DESIGNATION: 854 5240 A
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 12904
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) PID:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Stainless steel rod
The primary bench mark is a disk located along the south edge of the USCG
property on the east side of Columbus Avenue, 33.10 m (108.6 ft) SE of the SW
corner of the main building, 25.79 m (84.6 ft) west of the fiberglass gage
house, 19.87 m (65.2 ft) south of the south face of the main building, 1.22 m
(4.0 ft) north of the chain link fence, and 1.22 m (4.0 ft) east of a light
post. The bench mark is crimped to a stainless steel rod driven 13.4 m (44 ft)
to refusal, and encased in a 5 inch PVC pipe with concrete kickblock.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 2 of 8
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/08/2001
Station ID: 8545240 SUPERCEDED DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: PHILADELPHIA, DELAWARE RIVER
PENNSYLVANIA
NOAA Chart: 12313 Latitude: 39° 56.0' N
USGS Quad: PHILADELPHIA Longitude: 75° 8.5' W
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 5530 B 1989
DESIGNATION: 854 5240 B
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 12905
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) PID:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Stainless steel rod
The bench mark is a disk located near the NW corner of the USCG property, 31.88
m (104.6 ft) west of the NE corner of the fence post, 12.62 m (41.4 ft) NW of
the curved concrete curb of the USCG personnel parking lot, 8.35 m (27.4 ft)
south of the traffic signal post at the SE corner of Columbus Avenue and
Christian Street, 7.16 m (23.5 ft) SE of the eastern curb of Columbus Avenue,
and 3.20 m (10.5 ft) south of the NW corner fence post. The bench mark is
crimped to a stainless steel rod driven 11.0 m (36 ft) to refusal, and encased
in a 5 inch PVC pipe with concrete kickblock.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 5530 C 1989
DESIGNATION: 854 5240 C
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 12906
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) PID:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Stainless steel rod
The bench mark is a disk located near the front lawn of the USCG property, 45.90
m (150.6 ft) NW of the flagpole at the entrance of the main building, 24.69 m
(81.0 ft) south of the light pole on the east side of Columbus Avenue, 9.20 m
(30.2 ft) NNE of the north curb of Washington Avenue, 8.50 m (27.9 ft) SE of the
eastern curb of Columbus Avenue, and 8.20 m (26.9 ft) east of the traffic signal
post at the NE corner of Washington and Columbus Avenues. The bench mark is 0.18
m (0.6 ft) below ground, crimped to a stainless steel rod driven 12.2 m (40 ft)
to refusal, and encased in a 5 inch PVC pipe with concrete kickblock.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 3 of 8
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/08/2001
Station ID: 8545240 SUPERCEDED DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: PHILADELPHIA, DELAWARE RIVER
PENNSYLVANIA
NOAA Chart: 12313 Latitude: 39° 56.0' N
USGS Quad: PHILADELPHIA Longitude: 75° 8.5' W
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 5530 D 1989
DESIGNATION: 854 5240 D
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 12907
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) PID:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Stainless steel rod
The bench mark is a disk located in the NW corner of the U.S. Park Service's
Gloria Dei - Old Swedes Church property on the west side of Columbus Avenue,
19.51 m (64.0 ft) west of the centerline of the church driveway at Christian
Street, 19.29 m (63.3 ft) SW of the SW corner of the brick garage at the church
entrance gate, 16.61 m (54.5 ft) east of the brick wall along Water Street, and
16.48 m (54.1 ft) south of the brick wall along Christian Avenue. The bench mark
is crimped to a stainless steel rod driven 14.6 m (48 ft) to refusal, and
encased in a 5 inch PVC pipe with concrete kickblock.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 5530 E 1989
DESIGNATION: 854 5240 E
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 12908
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) PID:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Stainless steel rod
The bench mark is a disk located on the west side of Columbus Avenue near the
intersection of Columbus Avenue and Queen Street, 14.29 m (46.9 ft) south of the
south curb of Queen Street, 8.90 m (29.2 ft) SW of a fire hydrant, 6.61 m (21.7
ft) west of the western curb of Columbus Avenue, and 1.80 m (5.9 ft) east of the
east face of a brick wall surrounding townhouses. The bench mark is crimped to a
stainless steel rod driven 3.4 m (11 ft) to refusal, and encased in a 5 inch PVC
pipe with concrete kickblock.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 4 of 8
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/08/2001
Station ID: 8545240 SUPERCEDED DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: PHILADELPHIA, DELAWARE RIVER
PENNSYLVANIA
NOAA Chart: 12313 Latitude: 39° 56.0' N
USGS Quad: PHILADELPHIA Longitude: 75° 8.5' W
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 5530 F 1993
DESIGNATION: 854 5240 F
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 12909
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) PID:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete Bulkhead
The bench mark is a disk set in the concrete bulkhead near a mooring cleat on
the SE side of the USCG property, 21.00 m (68.9 ft) NE of the loading crane,
13.05 m (42.8 ft) SE of the face of the USCG main building, 0.18 m (0.6 ft) NW
of the SE face of the bulkhead, and 0.30 m (1.0 ft) above the parking lot.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 5530 G 1993
DESIGNATION: 854 5240 G
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 12910
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) PID:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete wash drain foundation
The bench mark is a disk set in a concrete wash drain foundation west of Water
Street under the north bound lane of I-95, 25.51 m (83.7 ft) WNW of the NW edge
of the fence surrounding the U.S. Park Service's Gloria Dei - Old Swedes Church,
16.61 m (54.5 ft) NW of light pole #64533D, 2.99 m (9.8 ft) SSW of the fourth
concrete support for I-95 when counting from the northern end of the overpass,
and 0.46 m (1.5 ft) above the road.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 5 of 8
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/08/2001
Station ID: 8545240 SUPERCEDED DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: PHILADELPHIA, DELAWARE RIVER
PENNSYLVANIA
NOAA Chart: 12313 Latitude: 39° 56.0' N
USGS Quad: PHILADELPHIA Longitude: 75° 8.5' W
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 5240 H 1997
DESIGNATION: 854 5240 H
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 13813
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) PID:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete bulkhead
The bench mark is a disk set in the concrete bulkhead cap located on the north
side of the USCG property, 40.70 m (133.5 ft) NW of the NE corner of the brick
two story engineering building, 9.83 m (32.3 ft) NNW of the NW corner of the
engineering building, and 2.25 m (7.4 ft) SSE of the middle of the aluminum ramp
leading to the floating docks.
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 5240 J 1997
DESIGNATION: 854 5240 J
MONUMENTATION: Tidal Station disk VM#: 13814
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) PID:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Concrete bulkhead
The bench mark is a disk set in the concrete bulkhead cap located on the north
side of the USCG property, 56.67 m (185.9 ft) ENE of the NE corner of the
engineering building, 9.17 m (30.1 ft) WNW of the NE corner of the concrete
pier, 0.25 m (0.8 ft) SSW of the north face of the concrete cap, and 0.20 m (0.7
ft) NNE of the yellow cleat bolted to the concrete deck.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 6 of 8
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/08/2001
Station ID: 8545240 SUPERCEDED DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: PHILADELPHIA, DELAWARE RIVER
PENNSYLVANIA
NOAA Chart: 12313 Latitude: 39° 56.0' N
USGS Quad: PHILADELPHIA Longitude: 75° 8.5' W
T I D A L B E N C H M A R K S
BENCH MARK STAMPING: 5240 K 1997
DESIGNATION: 854 5240 K
MONUMENTATION: Flange-encased Rod VM#: 13815
AGENCY: National Ocean Service (NOS) PID:
SETTING CLASSIFICATION: Stainless steel rod in sleeve
The bench mark is a flange-encased rod located in the south end of the property
of the U.S. Park Service's Gloria Dei - Old Swedes Church, 21.95 m (72.0 ft)
south of a 0.76 m (2.6 ft) diameter elm tree, 20.15 m (66.1 ft) ESE of a brick
wall on the west side of the property, and 8.80 m (28.9 ft) NNE of the south
wall of the property along Washington Avenue. The datum point is the top of a
stainless steel rod driven 8.5 m (28 ft) to refusal, and encased in a 5 inch NOS
logo cap.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 7 of 8
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/08/2001
Station ID: 8545240 SUPERCEDED DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: PHILADELPHIA, DELAWARE RIVER
PENNSYLVANIA
NOAA Chart: 12313 Latitude: 39° 56.0' N
USGS Quad: PHILADELPHIA Longitude: 75° 8.5' W
T I D A L D A T U M S
Tidal datums at PHILADELPHIA, DELAWARE RIVER based on:
LENGTH OF SERIES: 47 MONTHS
TIME PERIOD: January 1995 - December 1998
TIDAL EPOCH: 1960-1978
CONTROL TIDE STATION: 8557380 LEWES, FT. MILES
Elevations of tidal datums referred to Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW), in METERS:
HIGHEST OBSERVED WATER LEVEL (11/25/1950) = 3.284
MEAN HIGHER HIGH WATER MHHW = 2.047
MEAN HIGH WATER MHW = 1.919
MEAN SEA LEVEL MSL = 1.065
North American Vertical Datum NAVD88 = 1.033
MEAN TIDE LEVEL MTL = 0.990
MEAN LOW WATER MLW = 0.062
MEAN LOWER LOW WATER MLLW = 0.000
LOWEST OBSERVED WATER LEVEL (12/31/1962) = -1.989
Bench Mark Elevation Information In METERS above:
Stamping or Designation MLLW MHW
5530 A 1989 3.601 1.682
5530 B 1989 3.626 1.707
5530 C 1989 4.311 2.392
5530 D 1989 5.328 3.409
5530 E 1989 3.043 1.124
5530 F 1993 4.716 2.797
5530 G 1993 5.923 4.004
5240 H 1997 4.762 2.843
5240 J 1997 4.723 2.804
5240 K 1997 6.589 4.670
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Page 8 of 8
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/08/2001
Station ID: 8545240 SUPERCEDED DATE: 04/21/2003
Name: PHILADELPHIA, DELAWARE RIVER
PENNSYLVANIA
NOAA Chart: 12313 Latitude: 39° 56.0' N
USGS Quad: PHILADELPHIA Longitude: 75° 8.5' W
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 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.