Alaska Permafrost Map with Physiographic Classification

Alaska is covered by this georeferenced digital map showing the correlation between physiographic province and permafrost presence at a 1:2,500,000 scale. The dataset was derived from a 1965 USGS map, hand-digitized and edited in ARC/INFO, with metadata finalized in 1996. It provides polygon-based classifications for mountainous, lowland, and upland areas underlain by continuous, discontinuous, or isolated permafrost.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the spatial correlation between physiographic provinces (e.g., mountainous vs. lowland) and permafrost types across Alaska.
• Serving as a baseline historical layer for studies on permafrost thaw and climate change impacts in the Arctic.
• Integrating with modern geospatial data for terrain analysis and land systems modeling under the USGS Global Change Program.
• Classifying regions by permafrost characteristics such as 'continuous', 'discontinuous', or 'isolated masses' for ecological or engineering studies.

Strengths

• Provides a detailed, state-wide classification of permafrost into 8 distinct physiographic units, from continuous to isolated masses.
• Based on a authoritative source map (USGS Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations Map I-445) and meticulously hand-digitized.
• Geo-referenced and projected for analysis using standard projections (Polyconic source, Albers Equal Area output).

Limitations

• The underlying source map is from 1965, making the data a historical snapshot that may not reflect current conditions.
• Map units are generalized in shape and size due to the small scale (1:2,500,000), limiting fine-detail analysis.
• Conflicts exist in metadata: platforms disagree on license (specified vs. null) and update date (2026 vs. null), suggesting inconsistent record-keeping.

Provenance

Source

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), derived from Ferrians, O.J., 1965, Permafrost map of Alaska.

Collection Method

Line work hand-digitized from the source paper map, then assembled and edited in ARC/INFO.

Time Range

1965

Freshness

2026-03-12 22:40:20.504018

Geography

State of Alaska, USA.