Permafrost Map of Alaska, USA, Version 1

This data set consists of a geo-referenced digital map and attribute data derived from the publication 'Permafrost map of Alaska'. The map is presented at a scale of 1 to 2,500,000 and shows the correlation of physiographic province to presence of permafrost across the state of Alaska. The digital data were prepared under the U.S. Geological Survey Global Change Program, Land Data Systems - Arctic Land Processes Studies for display and analysis of terrain. The line work was captured by hand digitizing the source map, Ferrians, O.J., 1965, Permafrost map of Alaska - U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations Map I-445. Scale 1 to 2,500,000. The digital map was assembled and edited in ARC/INFO. The source map projection is polyconic. It is based on the Clarke 1866 ellipsoid with a central meridian of 150 W longitude. The data were geo-referenced from digitizer coordinates to the polyconic projection and then projected into an Albers Equal Area projection. The coastline was taken from the U.S Geological Survey, 1 to 2,000,000 scale Digital Line Graph data (U.S. Geological Survey, 1987). Attributes for the permafrost map were assigned. Metadata documentation was completed in 1996. The map units are closed polygons that are generalized in shape and size. They are defined in terms of their physiographic characteristics and association with permafrost. Each unit differs with respect to all other units and is uniquely identified as follows.11 Mountainous Area underlain by continuous permafrost12 Mountainous Area underlain by discontinuous permafrost13 Mountainous Area underlain by isolated masses of permafrost21 Lowland and Upland Area underlain by thick permafrost22 Lowland and Upland Area underlain by moderately thick to thin permafrost23 Lowland and Upland Area underlain by discontinuous permafrost24 Lowland and Upland Area underlain by numerous isolated masses of permafrost25 Lowland and Upland Area underlain by isolated masses of permafrost26 Lowland and Upland Area generally free of permafrostUse constraints - The U.S. Geological Survey should be acknowledged as the data source in products derived from these data. The data are general in nature and should not be used at a scale larger than 1 to 2,500,000, that of the original map. Users must assume responsibility to determine the usability of this data for their purposes. The use of these data is not restricted and may be interpreted by organizations, agencies, units of government or others; however, they are responsible for its appropriate application. Digital data files are periodically updated. Files are dated and users are responsible for obtaining the latest revisions of the data. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made by the agency regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. A copy of this map is presented on the CAPS Version 1.0 CD-ROM, June 1998.

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