Dataset Identification:
Resource Abstract:
- description: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has generated land surface form classes for the contiguous United States. These
land surface form classes were created as part of an effort to map standardized, terrestrial ecosystems for the nation using
a classification developed by NatureServe (Comer and others, 2003). Ecosystem distributions were modeled using a biophysical
stratification approach developed for South America (Sayre and others, 2008) and now being implemented globally (Sayre and
others, 2007). Land surface forms strongly influence the differentiation and distribution of terrestrial ecosystems, and are
one of the key input layers in the ecosystem delineation process. The methodology used to produce these land surface form
classes was developed by the Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership (MoRAP). MoRAP made modifications to Hammond's
(1964a, 1964b) land surface form classification, which allowed the use of 30-meter source data and a 1 km2 window for neighborhood
analysis (True 2002, True and others, 2000). While Hammond's methodology was based on three variables, slope, local relief,
and profile type, MoRAP's methodology uses only slope and local relief (True 2002). Slope is classified as gently sloping
or not gently sloping using a slope threshold of 8%, local relief is classified into five classes (0-15m, 15-30m, 30-90m,
90-150m, and >150m), and eight landform classes (flat plains, smooth plains, irregular plains, escarpments, low hills,
hills, breaks, and low mountains) were derived by combining slope class and local relief. The USGS implementation of the MoRAP
methodology was executed using the USGS 30-meter National Elevation Dataset (NED) and an existing USGS slope dataset. In this
implementation, a new land surface form class, the high mountains/deep canyons class, was identified by using an additional
local relief class (> 400m). The drainage channels class was derived independently from the other land surface form classes.
This class was derived using two of Andrew Weiss's slope position classes, "valley" and "lower slope"
(Weiss 2001, Jenness 2006). The USGS implemented Weiss's algorithm using the 30-meter NED and a 1 km2 neighborhood analysis
window. The resultant drainage channel class was combined into the final land surface forms dataset.; abstract: The U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS) has generated land surface form classes for the contiguous United States. These land surface form classes were
created as part of an effort to map standardized, terrestrial ecosystems for the nation using a classification developed by
NatureServe (Comer and others, 2003). Ecosystem distributions were modeled using a biophysical stratification approach developed
for South America (Sayre and others, 2008) and now being implemented globally (Sayre and others, 2007). Land surface forms
strongly influence the differentiation and distribution of terrestrial ecosystems, and are one of the key input layers in
the ecosystem delineation process. The methodology used to produce these land surface form classes was developed by the Missouri
Resource Assessment Partnership (MoRAP). MoRAP made modifications to Hammond's (1964a, 1964b) land surface form classification,
which allowed the use of 30-meter source data and a 1 km2 window for neighborhood analysis (True 2002, True and others, 2000).
While Hammond's methodology was based on three variables, slope, local relief, and profile type, MoRAP's methodology
uses only slope and local relief (True 2002). Slope is classified as gently sloping or not gently sloping using a slope threshold
of 8%, local relief is classified into five classes (0-15m, 15-30m, 30-90m, 90-150m, and >150m), and eight landform classes
(flat plains, smooth plains, irregular plains, escarpments, low hills, hills, breaks, and low mountains) were derived by combining
slope class and local relief. The USGS implementation of the MoRAP methodology was executed using the USGS 30-meter National
Elevation Dataset (NED) and an existing USGS slope dataset. In this implementation, a new land surface form class, the high
mountains/deep canyons class, was identified by using an additional local relief class (> 400m). The drainage channels
class was derived independently from the other land surface form classes. This class was derived using two of Andrew Weiss's
slope position classes, "valley" and "lower slope" (Weiss 2001, Jenness 2006). The USGS implemented Weiss's
algorithm using the 30-meter NED and a 1 km2 neighborhood analysis window. The resultant drainage channel class was combined
into the final land surface forms dataset.
Citation
- Title Terrestrial Ecosystems - Land Surface Forms of the Conterminous United States.
-
- creation Date
2018-05-11T23:44:00.326915
Resource language:
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Metadata data stamp:
2018-08-06T19:47:58Z
Resource Maintenance Information
- maintenance or update frequency:
- notes: This metadata record was generated by an xslt transformation from a dc metadata record; Transform by Stephen M. Richard, based
on a transform by Damian Ulbricht. Run on 2018-08-06T19:47:58Z
Metadata contact
-
pointOfContact
- organisation Name
CINERGI Metadata catalog
-
- Contact information
-
-
- Address
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- electronic Mail Address cinergi@sdsc.edu
Metadata language
eng
Metadata character set encoding:
utf8
Metadata standard for this record:
ISO 19139 Geographic Information - Metadata - Implementation Specification
standard version:
2007
Metadata record identifier:
urn:dciso:metadataabout:bb08ade1-b1c8-4948-a0ec-9fb82de3548e
Metadata record format is ISO19139 XML (MD_Metadata)