ABoVE: Permafrost and Vegetation Maps for Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 2016

Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, coastal plain field observations and derived maps from July 2016. This dataset includes thaw depth and vegetation records, LiDAR elevation, and permafrost distribution probability maps. NASA collected the data to parameterize and validate high-resolution permafrost maps for landscape change analysis.

Use Cases

• Modeling permafrost distribution probability based on LiDAR-derived elevation and field validation data.
• Analyzing landscape change and coastal vulnerability based on high-resolution permafrost maps.
• Studying correlations between vegetation types and thaw depth based on field observations.
• Assessing impacts of sea-level rise and storm surges on permafrost plateaus in a flat, vulnerable region.

Strengths

• Includes multiple data types: field observations, LiDAR elevation, and derived probability maps.
• Field data collected during a specific 10-day period (July 8-17, 2016) for validation.
• Focuses on a region of high biological productivity and critical wildlife habitats.
• Data originates from the authoritative source NASA.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is from a single time period (July 2016), limiting temporal trend analysis.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Field observations collected July 8-17, 2016, combined with LiDAR-derived data to create parameterized and validated maps.

Time Range

July 2016

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 19:47:21.618645; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Coastal plain of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, western Alaska, USA.