Alaska Digital Terrain Elevation Slope And Aspect Mosaics
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Description
Digital elevation data for Alaska includes nine types of terrain mosaics such as elevation, slope, aspect, and shaded relief. The dataset contains 966 records derived from 1:250,000 scale Defense Mapping Agency Digital Terrain Series, with data coverage from 1982 to present. It is maintained by the USGS and organized by 7.5' or 15' quadrangle units.
Use Cases
Land cover analysis using 1-degree x 3-degree mosaics of elevation and slope.
Drainage and watershed analysis leveraging filtered elevation data from the 5x5 filter mosaic.
Wildlife habitat studies utilizing aspect mosaics in both latitude/longitude and UTM coordinate systems.
Land use planning and visualization with shaded relief mosaics for terrain representation.
Strengths
966 distinct terrain data records provide multiple analysis layers.
Data coverage spans from 1982 to present, offering a multi-decade temporal range.
Includes nine specific data products like elevation, slope, aspect, and shaded relief mosaics.
Limitations
Data is derived from 1:250,000 scale source maps, which may limit fine-detail resolution.
Estimated growth of only 5-15 records per year indicates slow updates.
Original data delivery formats are outdated (9-track tape, BCD tape).
Provenance
Source
Defense Mapping Agency Digital Terrain Series.
Collection Method
Processed into 1-degree x 3-degree mosaics from source topographic maps.
Time Range
1982 to present
Freshness
Data coverage is from 1982 to present with ongoing updates.
Geography
Alaska, United States
Data is available in legacy physical formats like 9-track tape; modern conversion may be required for use.