BOREAS Regional Soils Data in Raster Format and AEAC Projection

Summary:

This data set was gridded by BORIS staff from a vector data set received
from Canadian Soil Information System (CanSIS). The original data came
in two parts that covered Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The data were
gridded and merged into one data set of 84 files covering the BOReal
Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) region. The data were gridded into
the Albers Equal-Area Conic (AEAC) projection. Because the mapping of
the two provinces was done separately in the original vector data, there
may be discontinuities in some of the soil layers because of different
interpretations of certain soil properties. The data are stored in
binary, image format files.

Note that the binary files of this data set on the BOREAS CD-ROMs have
been compressed using the Gzip program. See section 8.2 for details.

Table of Contents

\* 1 Data Set Overview

\* 2 Investigator(s)

\* 3 Theory of Measurements

\* 4 Equipment

\* 5 Data Acquisition Methods

\* 6 Observations

\* 7 Data Description

\* 8 Data Organization

\* 9 Data Manipulations

\* 10 Errors

\* 11 Notes

\* 12 Application of the Data Set

\* 13 Future Modifications and Plans

\* 14 Software

\* 15 Data Access

\* 16 Output Products and Availability

\* 17 References

\* 18 Glossary of Terms

\* 19 List of Acronyms

\* 20 Document Information

1\. Data Set Overview

1.1 Data Set Identification

BOREAS Regional Soils Data in Raster Format and AEAC Projection

1.2 Data Set Introduction

The Inventory Section of the Land Resource Research Centre (LRRC)
undertook an effort to compile a computerized data base to record the
attributes of the soil and land all of Canada and to prepare maps from
this information at a scale of 1:1,000,000. The compilation was done by
standard methods, and the maps were divided into unit areas called
polygons. Each polygon is described in terms of a standard set of
attributes. These attributes are the factors considered most important
for plant growth, general land management, regional planning, terrain
sensitivity, and environmental sustainability. The array of attributes
that describe a distinct type of soil and its associated
characteristics, such as landform, slope, water table, permafrost, and
lakes, is called a soil landscape. A polygon may contain one or two
distinctive soil landscapes, as well as small but contrasting
inclusions. These vector data from LRRC served as the basis for this
raster format data product.

The original manual documents the standard methods and descriptors used
by all provinces for compilation of a national soil landscape data base
at a scale of 1:1,000.000.

1.3 Objective/Purpose

These raster format soils data are provided as part of the BOREAS Staff
Science Geographic Information System (GIS) Data Collection Program,
which included the collection of pertinent map data in both hardcopy and
digital form. This data set, originally provided as vector polygons with
attributes, has been processed to provide raster files that can be used
for modeling or for comparisons.

1.4 Summary of Parameters

The parameters contained in the 82 files of the raster soil data
include:

Provincial Code

Polygon Number

Kind of Rock Outcrop or other material at the surface

Percentage distribution of soil landscapes

Regional landform

Local surface form

Slope gradient class

Parent material mode of deposition

Parent material texture

Soil development

Surface texture of mineral soil to 15 cm

Coarse fragment content in control section

Rooting depth, unrestricted

Kind of compacted, consolidated or contrasting layer

Depth to compacted, consolidated or contrasting layer

Drainage class

Available water capacity in upper 120 cm

Depth to water table, average

Ice type

Ice content

Permafrost occurrence

Active layer depth in soils with permafrost

Kind of patterned ground in soils with permafrost

pH of upper 15 cm of soil (CaCl2)

pH of upper 15 cm of soil (water)

Organic carbon of upper 15 cm

Nitrogen content of upper 15 cm of soil

Thickness of humus layer

Calcareous class of parent material

Inclusions 1

Inclusions 2

Vegetative cover and/or land use

Lake size from Landsat

Water bodies from Landsat as percentage of polygon

Reliability class of polygon

Complexity class of polygon

Soil name 1

Soil name 2

Parent material textural group

1.5 Discussion

The documentation for the original data listed the following

uses for which these data were intended:

\- assess the productivity of the land nationally or over large

regions.

\- Find areas that have actual or potential problems affecting

land use, such as salinity or susceptibility to erosion, and

to assess the severity of the problems.

\- Locate general areas that may be suitable for particular

types of land use, which can be selected for more detailed

investigations.

\- Apply general research findings and agrotechnology procedures

that are successful in one part of the country to other areas

that have similar attributes.

\- Link soil and land information with other data bases, such

as information on climate, economics, or census, for assessing

land use on a regional, national, or even an international scale.

\- Educate geography students at colleges or universities.

The framework for the legend development, map compilation, and

attribute characterization is established by the following concepts

and definitions:

\- The maps are composed of map delineations called polygons, each

of which is described in terms of a standard set of attributes.

\- The full array of polygon attributes that describe a distinct type

of soil and its associated landscape attributes, such as surface

form, slope, water table, permafrost, and lakes, is called a soil

landscape.

\- A polygon may contain one or two distinctive soil landscapes

(dominant or subdominant) and may also contain a small but

contracting proportion of inclusions.

\- The dominant (or most prominent) soil landscape represents at least

40% of the polygon area, whereas the subdominant soil landscape

represents only from 16 to \<40% of the polygon; inclusions

represent a maximum of 15% of the polygon. A more detailed

description of the complex map polygons is given in Section 7.

\- One or two inclusions can be recorded for each dominant and

subdominant soil landscape, but in total they represent only a

maximum of 15% of the polygon area.

\- The attributes that separate one polygon from another include (a)

soil development, (b) soil parent material mode of deposition,

\(c\) texture class of parent material, (d) local surface form,

\(e\) slope gradient class in percent, (f) kind of rock or surface

material except water, and (g) spatial occurrence of these

attributes within a polygon. These attributes may apply to either

the dominant or subdominant soil landscape.

\- The minimum size of the soil landscape area (or polygon) should be

about 1 x 1 cm at the 1:1,000,000 scale (100 km2); however, smaller,

isolated areas that can be conveniently displayed and labeled on the

map are permitted when needed.

1.6 Related Data Sets

Agriculture Canada Central Saskatchewan Vector Soils Data

BOREAS Soils Data over the SSA in Raster Format and AEAC Projection

CanSIS Regional Soils Data in Vector Format

2\. Investigator(s)

2.1 Investigator(s) Name and Title

BOREAS Staff

2.2 Title of Investigation

BOREAS Staff Science GIS Data Collection Program

2.3 Contact Information

Contact 1

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

Bryan Monette

Agriculture Canada

Ottawa, Ontario

\(613\) 995-5011

Contact 2

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

David Knapp

NASA/GSFC

Greenbelt, MD

\(301\) 286-1424

\(301\) 286-0239 (fax)

knapp@ltpmail.gsfc.nasa.gov

3\. Theory of Measurements

The Inventory Section of the LRRC compiled a computerized data base to
record the attributes of the soil and land for all of Canada and to
prepare maps from this information at a scale of 1:1,000,000. The
compilation was done by standard methods, and the maps were divided into
unit areas called polygons. Each polygon is described in terms of a
standard set of attributes. These attributes are the factors considered
most important for plant growth, general land management, regional
planning, terrain sensitivity, and environmental sustainability. The
array of attributes that describe a distinct type of soil and its
associated characteristics, such as landform, slope, water table,
permafrost, and lakes, is called a soil landscape. A polygon may contain
one or two distinctive soil landscapes, as well as small but contrasting
inclusions.

The original uses for which these data were intended include:

\- Assess the productivity of the land nationally or over large

regions.

\- Find areas that have actual or potential problems affecting

land use, such as salinity or susceptibility to erosion, and

to assess the severity of the problems.

\- Locate general areas that may be suitable for particular

types of land use, which can be selected for more detailed

investigations.

\- Apply general research findings and agrotechnology procedures

that are successful in one part of the country to other areas

that have similar attributes.

\- Link soil and land information with other data bases, such

as information on climate, economics, or census, for assessing

land use on a regional, national, or even an international scale.

\- to educate geography students at colleges or universities.

4\. Equipment

4.1 Sensor/Instrument Description

It is known that the original vector data were compiled by interpreting
Landsat images, conducting aircraft and field traverses, and digitizing
the compiled maps. The exact equipment and related specifications are
unknown.

4.1.1 Collection Environment

Unknown.

4.1.2 Source/Platform

Unknown.

4.1.3 Source/Platform Mission Objectives

Unknown.

4.1.4 Key Variables

The key variables that are in this raster data set include:

Provincial Code

Polygon Number

Kind of Rock Outcrop or other material at the surface

Percentage distribution of soil landscapes

Regional landform

Local surface form

Slope gradient class

Parent material mode of deposition

Parent material texture

Soil development

Surface texture of mineral soil to 15 cm

Coarse fragment content in control section

Rooting depth, unrestricted

Kind of compacted, consolidated or contrasting layer

Depth to compacted, consolidated or contrasting layer

Drainage class

Available water capacity in upper 120 cm

Depth to water table, average

Ice type

Ice content

Permafrost occurrence

Active layer depth in soils with permafrost

Kind of patterned ground in soils with permafrost

pH of upper 15 cm of soil (CaCl2)

pH of upper 15 cm of soil (water)

Organic carbon of upper 15 cm

Nitrogen content of upper 15 cm of soil

Thickness of humus layer

Calcareous class of parent material

Inclusions 1

Inclusions 2

Vegetative cover and/or landuse

Lake size from Landsat

Water bodies from Landsat as percentage of polygon

Reliability class of polygon

Complexity class of polygon

Soil name 1

Soil name 2

Parent material textural group

4.1.5 Principles of Operation

Unknown.

4.1.6 Sensor/Instrument Measurement Geometry

Unknown.

4.1.7 Manufacturer of Sensor/Instrument

Unknown.

4.2 Calibration

4.2.1 Specifications

Unknown.

4.2.1.1 Tolerance

Unknown.

4.2.2 Frequency of Calibration

Unknown.

4.2.3 Other Calibration Information

Unknown.

5\. Data Acquisition Methods

The original vector soils data were compiled using various data sources
and techniques including:

1\) Interpretation of Landsat images (it is unknown whether the Landsat
images were from the Multispectral Scanner or Thematic Mapper
instruments)

2\) Soil survey maps produced from field traverses at wide intervals (up
to 10 km) and without the use of aerial photographs

3\) Maps produced by inspections using fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter
and aided by interpretation of Landsat imagery

4\) Systematic traverses by helicopter and interpretation of
stereoscopic aerial photographs

5\) Modern soil survey procedures, which include traversing existing
accessible roads in wilderness areas, and aided by interpretation of
stereoscopic aerial photographs

6\) Modern soil survey maps produced from field traverses at \<1.6-km
intervals and with the aid of stereoscopic aerial photographs.

The original data were acquired in ARC/INFO EXPORT format in a vector
form. The dominant and subdominant attributes were included in a
separate table that was linked to the digital map data by the polygon
number.

6\. Observations

6.1 Data Notes

The original vector data are documented fully in:

Soil Landscapes of Canada

Procedures Manual and User\'s Handbook

J.A. Shields, C. Tarnocai, K.W.G. Valentine, and K.B. MacDonald

Land Resource Research Centre

Ottawa, Ontario

6.2 Field Notes

See: derived from reading:

Soil Landscapes of Canada

Procedures Manual and User\'s Handbook

J.A. Shields, C. Tarnocai, K.W.G. Valentine, and K.B. MacDonald

Land Resource Research Centre

Ottawa, Ontario

BORIS personnel assume that extensive field notes exist from compiling
the soils information into maps. The details of these notes are unknown.

7\. Data Description

The original vector data in ARC/INFO format were gridded into a binary
image format for the BOREAS region (1,000 x 1000 km). The original data
were digitized from maps at a scale of 1:,000,000. The cell size at
which these data are gridded is 1,000 meters on a side. There are 40
attributes or \"items\" that describe the dominant and 40 of many of the
same attributes for the subdominant soil characteristics. Most of the
items were gridded, with the exception of a few items that were
inappropriate to grid (e.g., urban areas, water).

7.1 Spatial Characteristics

7.1.1 Spatial Coverage

These data cover the 1,000-km x 1000-km area defined as the BOREAS Grid
Region. It forms a rectangle that roughly straddles the
Saskatchewan/Manitoba border with corner coordinates of 0.0,0.0 and
1000.0, 1000.0 in the Albers Equal-Area Conic (AEAC) projection
described in the Experiment Plan.

The corner coordinates of the BOREAS region are:

Longitude Latitude

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--

Northwest -111.000 59.979

Northeast -93.502 58.844

Southeast -96.970 50.089

Southwest -111.000 51.000

7.1.2 Spatial Coverage Map

Not available.

7.1.3 Spatial Resolution

These data were gridded to a cell size of 1,000 meters in the AEAC
projection.

7.1.4 Projection

The area mapped is projected in the ellipsoidal version of the AEAC
projection. The projection has the following parameters:

Datum: NAD83

Ellipsoid: GRS80 or WGS84

Origin: 111.000°W 51.000°N

Standard Parallels: 52° 30\' 00\" N

58° 30\' 00\" N

Units of Measure: kilometers

7.1.5 Grid Description

The data are gridded in 1,000 m intervals based on the ellipsoidal
version of the AEAC projection with standard parallels of 52° 30\' N and
58° 30\' N and a lower left origin of 51° N and 111° W.

7.2 Temporal Characteristics

7.2.1 Temporal Coverage

The booklet that describes the original vector data set was published in
1991:

Soil Landscapes of Canada

Procedures Manual and User\'s Handbook

J.A. Shields, C. Tarnocai, K.W.G. Valentine, and K.B. MacDonald

Land Resource Research Centre

Ottawa, Ontario

7.2.2 Temporal Coverage Map

Not available.

7.2.3 Temporal Resolution

These data likely represent a compilation of soils information that was
completed over a period of several years. BORIS views the data set as a
single point reference source that can be used for soil and other
studies. BORIS is not aware of any updates that have been made to the
original data set.

7.3 Data Characteristics

The various gridded layers and the codes that describe their
characteristics are listed under Section 7, Data Description.

7.3.1 Parameter/Variable

Provincial Code

Polygon Number

Surface material

Percentage distribution of dominant and subdominant soil landscapes

Regional landform

Local surface form

Slope gradient class

Soil parent material mode of deposition (or origin)

Parent material texture

Soil development

Surface texture of mineral soil to 15 cm

Coarse fragment content of mineral soils

Rooting depth, unrestricted

Kind of compacted, consolidated, or contrasting layer

Depth to compacted, consolidated, or contrasting layer

Drainage class

Available water capacity in upper 120 cm

Average depth to water table

Ice type

Ice content

Permafrost occurrence

Active layer depth in soils with permafrost

Kind of patterned ground in soils with permafrost

pH of upper 15 cm of soil measured in CaCl2

pH of upper 15 cm of soil measured in water

Organic carbon of upper 15 cm of soil

Nitrogen content of upper 15 cm of soil

Thickness of humus layer (L, F, H)

Calcareous class of parent material

Inclusions 1

Inclusions 2

Vegetative cover or landuse, or both

Lake size estimated from Landsat imagery

Reliability class of polygon

Complexity class of polygon (8-bit integers)

Soil name numbers file 1

Soil name numbers file 2

Parent material textural group

Soil Names Supplemental Information for Saskatchewan (ASCII)

Soil Names Supplemental Information for Manitoba (ASCII)

7.3.2 Variable Description/Definition

The following information was extracted (with modifications) from:

Soil Landscapes of Canada

Procedures Manual and User\'s Handbook

J.A. Shields, C. Tarnocai, K.W.G. Valentine, and K.B. MacDonald

Land Resource Research Centre

Ottawa, Ontario

Provincial Code: The value that designates whether the area is
geographically located within Saskatchewan or Manitoba. In the
provincial code file, the following values are used to represent
Saskatchewan and Manitoba:

Pixel Value Description

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 Saskatchewan

2 Manitoba

Polygon Number: In the original data sets, the polygons composing the
entire area were numbered 1 to n. This value represents the polygon
number from the original vector data and may not be useful to the user
of this raster product.

Surface material: The type of material at the top of the soil in the
area. In the dominant and subdominant surface material files, the
following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 IC Ice and snow.

2 OR Organic Soil. Contains \>30% organic matter by weight.

3 R1 Soft rock, undifferentiated. Rock that can be dug with

shovel, e.g., shales, Upper Cretaceous, and Tertiary

materials.

4 R2 Hard rock, acidic. Granite.

5 R3 Hard rock, carbonaceous. Limestone.

6 R4 Hard rock, undifferentiated. Hard rock of unspecified

origin and properties

7 SO Mineral soil. Dominantly mineral particles, contains

\<30% organic matter by weight.

8 WA Water.

9 UR Urban areas.

Note: Only a few major urban area polygons are shown

on maps; do not use for tabulating urban areas.

10 \# Not applicable.

11 - Attribute does not occur.

Percentage distribution of dominant and subdominant soil landscapes: The
values in the dominant and subdominant raster files represent the
percentage of that soil landscape in the area.

Regional landform: The type of landform on which the area exists (e.g.,
mountain, hill, tableland). In the dominant and subdominant regional
landform files, the following values are used to represent the various
groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 B Tableland (or plateau) dominated. Comparatively flat

areas of great extent commonly bounded on at least one

side by anabrupt escarpment, or may be terminated by

mountains; may be dissected by deep valleys and deeply

incised rivers; may betectonic, erosional, or volcanic

in origin; may be step-faulted; slopes generally \<10%,

in some places 10-15%; relief generally \<50 m.

2 H Hilland dominated. Natural elevations rising

prominentlyabove the surrounding plain and having a

recognizably denserpattern of generally higher knolls

or crest lines with anirregular or chaotic surface form

composed of upper surfaceconvexity and lower concavity;

includes hummocky morainalmaterial, volcanic cones, and

conical hills of lava; slopesgenerally 10-30%; relief

generally \<100 m.

3 M Mountain dominated. Erosional and volcanic landscapes

with relief (vertical distance between higher and lower

parts) \>300 m with most of the area comprising valley

to summit terrain; slopes generally \>30%. In general,

the terrain has a restricted summit area and steep

sides, irregular shape and considerable bare rock

surface, or very thin soil cover;occurs as a single,

isolated feature or in a group forming a long chain or

range; major scarps are relatively steep, with straight

cliff-like slopes of considerable linear extent

separate surfaces such as plateaus lying at different

levels.

4 O Organic wetland dominated. Areas dominated by organic

material \>40 cm thick; contains \>30% organic matter by

weight; occurs in a variety of wetland surface forms.

5 P Plain dominated. Flat to very gently undulating areas

having few or no prominent irregularities; formed by

erosional or by depositional (or constructional) ;

processes include broad, continuous, gently sloping

piedmont plains extending along and from the base of a

mountain, formed by lateral coalescence of a series of

separate but confluent alluvial fans; alluvial

processes are mainly responsible for the sedimentation;

coarse fragments are rounded by transport over

relatively long distances; slopes generally \<6%; relief

generally \<10 m; extent generally \>5 km in one

direction.

6 S Scarp dominated. An escarpment, cliff, or steep slope

of some extent along the margin of a terrace, bench,

plateau, hill, or mesa; a scarp may be of any height.

7 V Valley dominated. Terrain dominated by major spillways,

drainageways, or mountain trenches separated from

surrounding landforms by a significant and abrupt break

in slope; the valley profile may be V- or U-shaped with

an extensive valley floor and flood plain up to about 5

km wide; valley profile may also include eroded

terraces and their irregular slope segments.

8 \# Not applicable (urban area, water, etc.).

9 - Attribute does not occur.

Local surface form: The type of local surface form on which the area is
located (e.g., inclined, level, dissected). In the dominant and
subdominant local surface form files, the following values are used to
represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 D Dissected. A dissected (or gullied) pattern providing

external drainage for an area.

2 H Hummocky (or irregular). A very complex sequence of

slopes extending from somewhat rounded concavities (or

swales) or various sizes to irregular, conical knolls

(or knobs) and short, discontinuous ridges; there is a

general lack of concordance between knolls and swales;

slopes are 4-70%; examples: hummocky moraine, hummocky

fluvioglacial.

3 I Inclined. A sloping, unidirectional surface with a

generally constant slope not broken by marked irregularity

or gullies; a weakly developed pattern provides external

drainage for the local area; slopes are 2-70%; the form of

inclined slopes is not related to the initial mode of origin

of the underlying material.

4 K Knoll and kettle. A very chaotic sequence of knolls and

numerous kettles (or sloughs), that occupy 15-20% of an

area and that have no external drainage; slopes are

generally \>3%; examples: morainal plains and hillands.

5 L Level. A flat, very gently sloping, unidirectional surface

with a generally constant slope not broken by marked

elevations and depressions; slopes are generally \<2% (i.e.,

1%); examples: flood plain, lake plain.

6 M Rolling. A very regular sequence of moderate slopes

extending from rounded and, in some places, confined concave

depressions to broad, rounded convexities producing a

wavelike pattern of moderate relief; slope gradients are

generally \>5% but may be less; this surface form is usually

controlled by the underlying bedrock.

7 R Ridged. A long, narrow elevation of the surface, usually

distinctly crested with steep sides; ridges may be parallel,

subparallel, or intersecting; examples: eskers, crevasse

fillings, washboard moraines, some drumlins.

8 S Steep. Erosional slopes \>70%, on both consolidated and

unconsolidated materials; form of a steep erosional slope on

unconsolidated materials is not related to the initial mode

of origin of the underlying material; example: escarpments.

9 T Terraced. Scarp face and the horizontal or gently inclined

surface (or tread) above it; example: alluvial terrace.

10 U Undulating. A very regular sequence of gentle slopes that

extends from rounded and, in some places, confined

concavities to broad, rounded convexities producing a

wavelike pattern of low local relief; slope length is

generally \<0.8 km and the dominant gradient of slopes is

usually 2-5%; it lacks an external drainage pattern;

examples: some ground moraine, lacustrine material of

varying texture.

11 BO4 Domed bog. A large (diameter usually \>500 m) bog with a

convex surface, rising several meters above the surrounding

terrain; center usually drains in all directions; small

crescentic pools commonly form around the highest point;

if highest point is in the center, the pools form a

concentric pattern, or, if the highest point is off-center,

an eccentric pattern; the peat development is usually \>3 m.

12 BO5 Polygonal peat plateau bog. A perennially frozen bog,

rising about 1 m above the surrounding fen, the surface is

relatively flat, scored by a polygonal pattern of trenches

that developed over ice wedges; the permafrost and ice

wedges developed in peat originally deposited in a

nonpermafrost environment.

13 BO7 Peat plateau bog. A bog composed of perennially frozen

peat, rising abruptly about 1 m from the surrounding

unfrozen fen; the surface is relatively flat and even,

and commonly covers large areas; the peat was originally

deposited in a nonpermafrost environment and is associated

in many paces with collapse scar bogs or fens.

14 BO9 Atlantic plateau bog. A bog with a flat-to-undulating

surface raised above the surrounding terrain, with the bog

edges commonly sloping steeply down toward the mineral soil

terrain; large pools scattered on the bog reach a depth of

2-4 m.

15 B13 Basin bog. A bog situated in a basin that has an

essentially closed drainage, receiving water from

precipitation and from runoff from the immediate

surroundings; the surface of the bog is flat, but the peat

is generally deepest at the center.

16 B14 Flat bog. A bog having a flat, featureless surface and

occurring in broad, poorly defined depressions; the depth of

peat is generally uniform.

17 B15 String bog. A pattern of narrow (2-3 m wide), low (\<1 m

deep) ridges oriented at right angles to the direction of

drainage; wet depressions or pools occur between the ridges;

the water and peat are very low in nutrients because the

water has been derived from other ombrotrophic wetlands;

peat thickness \>1 m.

18 B16 Blanket bog. A bog consisting of extensive peat deposits

that occur more or less uniformly over gently sloping hills

and valleys; the peat thickness is usually \<2 m.

19 B18 Slope bog. A bog occurring in areas of high rainfall on

appreciably sloping land surfaces, fed by rainwater and by

water draining from other nutrient-poor wetlands; the peat

may exceed 1 m in thickness.

20 B19 Veneer bog. A bog occurring on gently sloping terrain

underlain by generally discontinuous permafrost; although

drainage is predominantly below the surface, overland flow

occurs in poorly defined drainageways during peak runoff;

peat thickness is usually \<1.5 m.

21 FO1 Northern ribbed fen. A fen with parallel, low peat ridges

(\"strings\") alternating with wet hollows or shallow pools,

oriented across the major slope at right angles to water

movement; the depth of peat is \>1 m.

22 FO7 Shore fen. A fen with an anchored surface mat that forms

the shore of a pond or lake; the rooting zone is affected by

the water of the lake at both normal and flood levels.

23 F11 Slope fen. A fen occurring mainly on slow-drainage,

nutrient-enriched seepage slopes; pools are usually absent,

but wet seepage tracks may occur; peat thickness is usually

\<2 m.

24 F13 Horizontal fen. A fen with a very gently sloping,

featureless surface; this fen occupies broad, often ill-

defined depressions and may interconnect with other fens;

peat accumulation is generally uniform.

25 SO1 Stream swamp. A swamp occurring along the banks of

permanent or semipermanent streams; the high-water table is

maintained by the level of water in the stream; the swamp is

seasonally inundated, with subsequent sediment deposition.

26 SO4 Basin swamp. A swamp developed in a topographically defined

basin where water derived locally may be augmented by

drainage from other parts of the watershed; accumulation of

well-decomposed peat is shallow (\<0.5 m) at the edge and

may reach 2 m at the center.

27 MO6 Stream marsh. A marsh occupying shorelines, bars,

streambeds, or islands in continuously flowing water

courses; the marsh is subject to prolonged annual flooding

and is commonly covered by thick layers of sediments.

28 M11 Shallow basin marsh. A marsh occurring in a uniformly

shallow depression or swale, having a gradual gradient from

the edge to the deepest portion; the marsh edge may be

poorly defined; water levels fluctuate rapidly.

29 M14 Shore marsh. A marsh occupying the contact zone between

high and low water marks bordering semipermanent or

permanent lakes; the marsh is usually found along protected

shorelines, in lagoons behind barrier beaches, on islands,

or in embayments; the marsh is subject to flooding by rise

in lake levels, wind, waves, or surface runoff.

30 \# Not applicable (urban area, water, etc.).

31 - Attribute does not occur.

Slope gradient class: The slope category of the land surface area. In
the dominant and subdominant slope gradient class files, the following
values are used to represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 A 1-3% (includes slopes \<1%)

2 B 4-9%

3 C 10-15%

4 D 16-30%

5 E 31-60%

6 F \>60%

7 \# Not applicable (water)

8 - Attribute does not occur

Soil parent material mode of deposition (or origin): The mode in which
the soil parent material was deposited on the area (e.g., colluvial,
eolian, bog). In the dominant and subdominant soil parent material
files, the following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 A Alluvial. Sediment generally consisting of gravel and sand

with a minor fraction of silt and clay; gravels are

typically rounded and contain interstitial sand; alluvial

sediments are commonly moderately to well sorted and display

stratification; examples: channel deposits, overbank

deposits, terraces, alluvial fans, and deltas.

2 B Bog. Bogs consist of unspecified organic materials

associated with an ombrotrophic environment because the

slightly elevated nature of the bog dissociates it from

nutrient-rich ground water or surrounding mineral soils;

near the surface, materials are usually undecomposed

(fibric), yellowish to pale brown, loose and spongy in

consistency, and entire sphagnum plants are readily

identified; these materials are extremely acid, with low

bulk density and high fiber content; at depths they become

darker, compacted, and somewhat layered; bogs are associated

with slopes or depressions on topography with a water table

at or near the surface in the spring and slightly below it

during the rest of the year; they are usually covered with

sphagnum mosses, but sedges may also grow on them; bogs may

be treed or treeless, and many are characterized by a layer

of ericaceous shrubs.

3 C Colluvial. Massive to moderately well stratified, nonsorted

to poorly sorted sediments with any range of particle sizes

from clay to boulders that have reached their present

position only by direct, gravity-induced movement (except

snow avalanches); processes include slow displacements such

as creep and solifluction and rapid movements such as earth

flows.

4 D Residual. Unconsolidated, weathered, or partly weathered

soil mineral material that accumulates by disintegration of

bedrock in place.

5 E Eolian. Sediment, generally consisting of medium-to-fine

sand and coarse silt particle sizes, that is well sorted,

poorly compacted, and may show internal structures such as

cross bedding or ripple laminae, or may be massive;

individual grains may be rounded and show signs of frosting;

these materials have been transported and deposited by wind

action; examples: dunes, shallow deposits and sand and

coarse silt, and loess but not tuffs.

6 F Fluvioglacial. Material moved by glaciers and subsequently

sorted and deposited by streams flowing from the melting

ice; deposits are stratified and may occur in the form of

outwash plains, deltas, kames, eskers, and kame terraces.

7 H Marsh. Mineral wetland or wetland that is periodically

inundated by standing or slow-moving water; surface water

levels may fluctuate seasonally, with declining levels

exposing drawdown zones of matted vegetation or mudflats;

waters are rich in nutrients, varying from fresh to highly

saline; substratum usually consists of mineral material,

although in some places it consists of well-decomposed peat;

soils are predominantly Gleysoils, with some Humisols and

Mesisols; marshes characteristically show zonal or mosaic

surface patterns composed of pools or channels interspersed

with clumps of emergent sedges, grasses, rushes, and reeds,

bordering grassy meadows, and peripheral bands of shrubs or

trees; submerged and floating aquatics flourish where open-

water areas occur.

8 L Lacustrine. Sediment generally consisting of either

stratified fine sand, silt, and clay deposited on the lake

bed or moderately well-sorted and stratified sand and

coarser materials that are beach and other nearshore

sediments transported and deposited by wave action; these

materials either have settled from suspension in bodies of

standing fresh-water or have accumulated at their margins

through wave action; examples: lake sediments and beaches.

9 M Morainal. Sediment generally consisting of well-compacted

material that is nonstratified and contains a heterogeneous

mixture of sand, silt, and clay particle sizes and coarse

fragments in a mixture that has been transported beneath,

beside, on, within, or in front of a glacier and not

modified by any intermediate agent; examples: basal till

(ground moraines, rubbly moraines of cirque glaciers,

hummocky ice-disintegration moraines, and pre-existing,

unconsolidated sediments reworked by a glacier so that their

original character is largely or completely destroyed.

10 N Fen. Fen consists of unspecified organic materials formed

in a minerotrophic environment because of the close

association of the material with mineral-rich waters; it is

usually moderately well to well decomposed, dark brown to

black, with fine- to medium-sized fibers; decomposition

commonly becomes greater at lower depths; the materials are

covered with a dominant component of sedges, but grasses and

reeds may be associated in local pools.

11 O Organic, undifferentiated. A layered sequence of more than

three types of organic material (\>30% organic matter by

weight).

12 R Rock. A consolidated bedrock layer that is too hard to

break with the hands (\>3 on Mohs\' scale) or to dig with a

spade when moist.

13 S Swamp. Minerotrophic wetlands with the water table at or

above the peat surface; dominant unspecified organic

materials are forest and fen peat formed in a eutrophic

environment because of strong water movement from the

margins or other mineral sources; it is usually moderately

well to well decomposed and has a dark brown to reddish

brown matrix; the more decomposed materials are black; it

has an amorphous or very fine-fibered structure containing a

random distribution of woody fragments and trunks of

coniferous tree species; the vegetation cover may consist

of coniferous or deciduous trees, tall shrubs, herbs, and

mosses; in some regions sphagnum mosses are abundant.

14 T Anthropogenic. Materials modified by people, including

those associated with mineral exploitation and waste

disposal; they include materials deposited as a result

of human activities or geological materials modified

artificially so that their physical properties (structure,

cohesion, compaction) have been drastically altered;

examples: areas of landfill, spoil heaps, open-pit mines,

leveled irrigated areas.

15 U Undifferentiated. A sequence of more than three types of

genetic mineral materials outcropping on a steep erosional

escarpment; this complex class is to be used where units

relating to individual genetic materials cannot be delimited

separately at the scale of mapping; it may include colluvium

derived from the various genetic materials and resting upon

the scarp slope.

16 V Volcanic. Volcanic pumice and ash.

17 W Marine. Unconsolidated deposits of clay, silt, sand, or

gravel that are well to moderately well sorted and well to

moderately well stratified (in some places containing

shells); they have settled from suspension in salt or

brackish water bodies or have accumulated at their margins

through shoreline processes such as wave action and

longshore drift; nonfossiliferous deposits may be judged

marine, if they are located in an area that might reasonably

be considered to have contained saltwater at the time the

deposits were formed.

18 11 Fibric Sphagnum. Sphagnum organic material in a fibric

degree of decomposition in which the fibric materials are

readily identifiable as to botanical origin; peat is usually

undecomposed (or fibric), light yellowish brown to pale

brown, and loose and spongy in consistency with the entire

sphagnum plant being readily identifiable.

19 21 Mesic sedge. Sedge organic material in a mesic (or

intermediate) degree of decomposition; peat composed

dominantly of sedge (Carex spp.) and generally moderately

decomposed and matted; the sedge leaves are readily

identifiable to the naked eye; this material commonly

contains large amounts of very fine roots of the above

species.

20 22 Mesic woody sedge. Woody sedge organic material in a mesic

(or intermediate) degree of decomposition; peat is composed

dominantly of sedge peat (see code 21) with subdominant

amounts of woody materials.

21 23 Mesic woody forest. Woody forest organic material in a

mesic (or intermediate) degree of decomposition; peat is

composed dominantly (\>50%) of woody materials derived from

both coniferous and deciduous tree species; in general,

wood fragments are easily identifiable in this peat.

22 25 Mesic sphagnum. Sphagnum organic material in a mesic (or

intermediate) degree of decomposition.

23 31 Humic sedge. Sedge organic material in a humic (or most

advanced) degree of decomposition in which most of the

material is humified, and there are few recognizable

fibers.

24 \# Not applicable (urban area, water, etc.).

25 - Attribute does not occur.

Parent material texture: The texture category to which the parent
material was assigned (e.g., very fine sand, sandy loam, clay). In the
dominant and subdominant soil parent material texture files, the
following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 CBS Cobbly sand. 15-35% cobbles by volume.

2 VGS Very gravelly sand. 35-60% gravel by volume.

3 GS Gravelly sand. 15-35% gravel by volume.

4 S Sand.

5 CS Coarse sand. 25% or more very coarse and coarse sand.

6 FS Fine sand. 50% or more fine sand.

7 VS Very fine sand. 50% or more very fine sand.

8 LFS Loamy fine sand. 50% or more fine sand.

9 LVFS Loamy very fine sand. 50% or more very fine sand.

10 CBLS Cobbly loamy sand. 15-35% cobbles by volume.

11 VGLS Very gravelly loamy sand. 35-60% gravel by volume.

12 GLS Gravelly loamy sand. 15-35% gravel by volume.

13 LS Loamy sand.

14 CBSL Cobbly sandy loam. 35-60% cobbles by volume.

15 VGSL Very gravelly sandy loam. 35-60% gravel by volume.

16 GSL Gravelly sandy loam. 15-35% gravel by volume.

17 SL Sandy loam.

18 GFL Gravelly fine sandy loam. 15-35% gravel by volume.

19 FL Fine sandy loam. 30% or more fine sand.

20 CBL Cobbly loam. 15-35% cobbles by volume.

21 GL Gravelly loam. 15-35% gravel by volume.

22 L Loam.

23 VL Very fine sandy loam. 30% or more very fine sand.

24 GSIL Gravelly silt loam. 15-35% gravel by volume.

25 SIL Silt loam.

26 GSCL Gravelly sandy clay loam. 15-35% gravel by volume.

27 SCL Sandy clay loam.

28 VCL Very fine sandy clay loam. 30% or more very fine sand.

29 CBCL Cobbly clay loam. 15-35% cobbles by volume.

30 GCL Gravelly clay loam. 15-35% gravel by volume.

31 CL Clay loam.

32 SICL Silty clay loam.

33 SC Sandy clay.

34 C Clay.

35 GSIC Gravelly silty clay. 15-35% gravel by volume.

36 SIC Silty clay.

37 HC Heavy clay.

38 \# Not applicable.

39 - Attribute does not occur.

Soil development: The category of soil development for the area (e.g.,
Gray Brown Luvisolic, Eutric Brunisolic). In the dominant and
subdominant soil development files, the following values are used to
represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 A Brown Chernozemic. Dominantly Orthic Brown subgroup with

inclusions of other subgroups within the Brown great group.

2 B Dark Brown Chernozemic. Dominantly Orthic Dark Brown

subgroup with inclusions of other subgroups within the Dark

Brown great group.

3 C Black Chernozemic. Dominantly Orthic Black subgroup with

inclusions of other subgroups within the Black great group.

4 D Dark Gray Chernozemic or Dark Gray Luvisolic. Dominantly

Orthic Dark Gray Chernozemic subgroup or Dark Gray Luvisol

subgroup with inclusions of other subgroups within the Dark

Gray great group or of the gleyed Dark Gray Luvisol

subgroup.

5 E Gray Brown Luvisolic. Dominantly Orthic Gray Brown Luvisol

subgroup with inclusions of other subgroups within the Gray

Brown Luvisol great group.

6 F Gray Luvisolic. Dominantly Orthic Gray Luvisol subgroup

with inclusions of other Gray Luvisol subgroups.

7 G Brown Solonetzic. May be dominantly Brown Solonetz or Brown

Solodized Solonetz or Brown Wolod subgroup with inclusions

of these subgroups, i.e., dominantly Brown Solodized

Solonetz with inclusions of Brown Solod.

8 H Dark Brown Solonetzic. May be dominantly Dark Brown

Solonetz or Dark Brown Solodized Solonetz or Dark Brown

Solod subgroup with inclusions of these subgroups.

9 I Brunisolic Gray Luvisolic. Dominantly Brunisolic Gray

Luvisol subgroup with inclusions of its gleyed subgroup.

10 J Black Solonetzic. May be dominantly Black Solonetz or Black

Solodized Solonetz or Black Solod subgroup with inclusions

of these subgroups and their gleyed subgroups.

11 K Gray Solonetzic. Dominantly Gray Solodized Solonetz or Gray

Solod subgroups with inclusions of their gleyed subgroups.

12 L Melanic Brunisolic. Dominantly Melanic Brunisol great

group.

13 M Eutric Brunisolic. Dominantly Eutric Brunisol great group.

14 N Sombric Brunisolic. Dominantly Sombric Brunisol great

group.

15 O Organic Cryosolic. Dominantly Organic Cryosol great group.

16 P Dystric Brunisolic. Dominantly Dystric Brunisol great

group.

17 Q Humic Podzolic. Dominantly Humic Podzol great group.

18 R Regosolic. Dominantly Regosolic order.

19 S Static Cryosolic. Dominantly Static Cryosol great group.

20 T Turbic Cryosolic. Dominantly Turbic Cryosol great group.

21 U Gleysolic. Dominantly Gleysolic order.

22 V Ferro-Humic Podzolic. Dominantly Ferro-Humic Podzol great

group.

23 W Humo-Ferric Podzolic. Dominantly Humo-Ferric Podzol great

group.

24 X Fibrisol. Dominantly Fibrisol great group.

25 Y Mesisol. Dominantly Mesisol great group

26 Z Humisol. Dominantly Humisol great group.

27 2 Folisol. Dominantly Folisol great group.

28 3 Podzolic Gray. Podzolic Gray Luvisol subgroup; only occurs

as subdominant.

29 \# Not applicable (water, rock, or ice).

30 - Attribute does not occur.

Surface texture of mineral soil to 15 cm: The texture of the soil
between the surface and a depth of 15 cm. The values and codes shown
above for parent material texture also apply to the surface soil
texture.

Coarse fragment content of mineral soils: The categorized percent by
volume of rounded, subrounded, flat, angular, or irregular rock fragment
from 0.2 to 60 cm or more in size. In the dominant and subdominant
coarse fragment content files, the following values are used to
represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 A \<10% by volume. Rounded, subrounded, flat, angular or

irregular rock fragment from 0.2 to 60 cm or more in size.

2 B 10-30%

3 C 31-65%

4 D \>65%

5 \# Not applicable.

6 - Attribute does not occur

Rooting depth, unrestricted: The unrestricted rooting depth for
vegetation that is growing in the area. In the dominant and subdominant
rooting depth files, the following values are used to represent the
various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 0 \<20 cm

2 50 20-75 cm

3 100 76-150 cm

4 200 \>150 cm

5 \# Not applicable (e.g., rock, ice)

6 - Attribute does not occur

Kind of compacted, consolidated, or contrasting layer: The type of
compacted, consolidated, or contrasting layer that is present (e.g.,
Ortstein). In the dominant and subdominant compacted, consolidated, or
contrasting layer files, the following values are used to represent the
various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 A Compacted parent material. Compacted glacial till or other

material.

2 B Basal till. Compacted glacial till deposited beneath a

moving glacier.

3 C Compacted material (anthropogenic). Soil material compacted

by human activities that adversely affect crop production.

4 D Duric horizon. This strongly cemented Bc horizon does not

satisfy the criteria of a podzolic B horizon; usually it has

an abrupt upper boundary to an overlying podzolic B or to a

Bm horizon and a diffuse lower boundary \>0.5 m below;

cementation is usually strongest near the upper boundary and

occurs commonly at a depth of 40-80 cm from the mineral

surface; the color of the duric horizon usually differs

little from that of the moderately coarse textured to coarse

textured parent material, and the structure is usually

massive or very coarse platy; air-dry clods of duric

horizons do not slake when immersed in water, and moist

clods \>3 cm thick usually cannot be broken in the hands.

5 E Ortstein. Horizon of fragipan character; a fragipan is a

loamy subsurface horizon of high bulk density and very low

organic matter content; when dry, it has a hard consistency

and seems to be cemented; when moist, it has moderate to

weak brittleness; it commonly has bleached fracture planes

and is overlain by a friable B horizon; air-dry clods of

fragic horizons slake in water.

6 O Ortstein. This strongly cemented Bh, Bhf, or Bf horizon, \>3

cm thick, occurs in more than one-third of the exposed face

of the pedon; ortstein horizons are generally reddish brown

to very dark reddish brown.

7 P Placic horizon. This layer (commonly \<5 mm thick) or series

of thin layers is irregular or involuted, hard, impervious,

commonly vitreous, and dark reddish brown to black; placic

horizons may be cemented by Fe, Al-organic complexes (Bhfc

or Bfc), hydrated Fe oxides (Bgfc) or a mixture of Fe and Mn

oxides.

8 R Rock. Consolidated bedrock too hard either to break with

the hands (\>3 on Mohs\' scale) or to dig when moist.

9 G Gravel. A layer of coarse fragments with diameters of

0.2-7.5 cm.

10 L Colluvium. See attribute number 09, code C.

11 S Sand. Soil texture class in which the material contains

\>85% of sand-sized separate; the percentage of silt plus 1.5

times the percentage of clay does not exceed 15%.

12 X Silt. Soil texture class in which the material contains

\>80% silt and \<12% clay.

13 Y Clay. Soil texture class in which the material contains

\>40% clay, \<45% sand, and \<40% silt-sized separates.

14 \# Not applicable.

15 - Attribute does not occur.

Depth to compacted, consolidated, or contrasting layer: The depth class
for any

compacted, consolidated, or contrasting layer that exists. In the
dominant and subdominant depth to compacted, consolidated, or
contrasting layer files, the following values are used to represent the
various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 1 0-49 cm

2 2 50-100 cm

3 3 \>100 cm

4 4 \<100 cm for mineral overlays

5 5 \<160 cm for shale (terric) organic

6 \# Not applicable

7 - Attribute does not occur

Drainage class: The drainage class of the soil over the area (e.g.,
excessive, rapid, poor). In the dominant and subdominant drainage class
files, the following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 E Excessive. Water is removed from the soil very rapidly in

relation to supply; excess water flows downward very rapidly

if underlying material is pervious; subsurface flow may be

very rapid during heavy rainfall provided the gradient is

steep; source of water is precipitation.

2 R Rapid. Water is removed from the soil rapidly in relation

to supply; excess water flows downward if underlying

material is pervious; subsurface flow may occur on steep

gradients during heavy rainfall; source of water is

precipitation.

3 W Well. Water is removed from the soil readily but not

rapidly; excess water flows downward readily into underlying

pervious material or laterally as subsurface flow; these

soils commonly retain optimum amounts of moisture for plant

growth after rains or addition of irrigation water.

4 M Moderately well. Water is removed from the soil somewhat

slowly in relation to supply; excess water is removed

somewhat slowly because of low perviousness, shallow water

table, lack of gradient, or some combination of these;

precipitation is the dominant source of water in medium-to-

fine textured soils; precipitation and significant additions

by subsurface flow are necessary in coarse-textured soils.

5 I Imperfect. Water is removed from the soil sufficiently

slowly in relation to supply to keep the soil wet for a

significant part of the growing season; excess water moves

slowly downward if precipitation is the major supply; if

subsurface water or groundwater, or both, is the main

source, the flow rate may vary, but the soil remains wet for

a significant part of the growing season.

6 P Poor. Water is removed so slowly in relation to supply that

the soil remains wet for a comparatively large part of the

time the soil is not frozen; excess water is evident in the

soil for much of the time; subsurface flow or groundwater

flow, or both, in addition to precipitation are the main

sources of water; there may also be a perched water table.

7 V Very poor. Water is removed from the soil so slowly that

the water table remains at or on the surface for most of the

time the soil is not frozen; groundwater flow and subsurface

flow are the major sources of water; precipitation is less

important except where there is a perched water table.

8 \# Not applicable.

9 - Attribute does not occur.

Available water capacity in upper 120 cm: That portion of water in a
soil that can be readily absorbed by plant roots; generally considered
to be the water held in the soil between field capacity and a pressure
of up to about 15 bars. In the dominant and subdominant water capacity
files, the following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 1 50 mm

2 2 100 mm

3 3 150 mm

4 4 200 mm

5 5 250 mm

6 6 Not applicable (solonetzic or saline soils)

7 7 Not applicable (high water table)

8 8 Not applicable (perennially frozen subsoils)

9 \# Not applicable (water, ice, rock)

10 - Attribute does not occur

Average depth to water table: The average depth to the water table in
the area. In the dominant and subdominant depth to water table files,
the following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 1 0-2 m (most shallow water table during growing season

2 2 2-3 m

3 3 \>3 m

4 4 0-1 m

5 5 1-2 m

6 6 0-1 m (with perennially frozen subsoil)

7 \# Not applicable (Water, ice, rock)

8 - Attribute does not occur

Ice type: The type of ice found in the soil. In the dominant and
subdominant ice type files, the following values are used to represent
the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 1 Ice crystals and ice lenses

2 2 Ice wedges

3 3 Massive ground ice

4 4 Undifferentiated

5 \# Not applicable

6 - Attribute does not occur

Ice content: The relative amount of ice contained in the soil. In the
dominant and subdominant ice content files, the following values are
used to represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 L Low

2 M Medium

3 H High

4 \# Not applicable

5 - Attribute does not occur

Permafrost occurrence: The relative occurrence of permafrost in the soil
of the area. In the dominant and subdominant permafrost occurrence
files, the following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 V Very sporadic. Sparse patches of permafrost occurring near

the southern limit of permafrost.

2 S Sporadic. The occurrence of isolated patches or islands of

permafrost near the southern boundary of discontinuous

permafrost zone.

3 D Discontinuous. Permafrost occurring in some areas beneath

the exposed land surface throughout a geographic region

where other areas are free of permafrost.

4 C Continuous. Permafrost occurring everywhere beneath the

exposed land surface throughout a geographic region with the

exception of widely scattered sites, such as newly deposited

unconsolidated sediments.

5 \# Not applicable.

6 - Attribute does not occur.

Active layer depth in soils with permafrost: The depth of the top layer
of ground subject to annual thawing and freezing in areas underlain by
permafrost. The value in the file represents the depth of the active
layer.

Kind of patterned ground in soils with permafrost: The types of
geometrically shaped patterns found in soils with permafrost. In the
dominant and subdominant kind of patterned ground files, the following
values are used to represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 01 Sorted circle. Patterned ground having a dominantly

circular mesh and a sorted appearance commonly produced by a

border of stones surrounding finer material.

2 02 Sorted net. Patterned ground having a mesh neither

dominantly circular nor polygonal; a sorted appearance

results from borders of stones surrounding finer material.

3 03 Sorted stripe. Patterned ground with a striped pattern and

sorted appearance resulting from parallel lines of stones

and intervening stripes of finer material oriented down the

steepest available slope.

4 04 Sorted large polygon. Patterned ground having a dominantly

polygonal mesh and a sorted appearance commonly produced by

border of stones surrounding finer material; polygon

diameter is \>1 m.

5 05 Sorted small polygon. Same for code 04 except that polygon

diameter is \<1 m.

6 06 Nonsorted circle. Patterned ground having a dominantly

circular mesh but lacking a border of stones.

7 07 Nonsorted net. Patterned ground having neither a

dominantly circular or polygonal mesh nor a border of

stones.

8 08 Nonsorted large polygon. Patterned ground having a

dominantly polygonal mesh but lacking a border of stones;

polygon diameter is \>1 m.

9 09 Nonsorted small polygon. Same for code 08 except that

polygon diameter is \<1 m.

10 10 Earth hummock. Hummock having a core of silty and clayey

mineral soil and showing signs of cryoturbation.

11 11 Lowland (peat) polygon. Bog with flat-topped or convex

peat surfaces separated by trenches over ice wedges that

form a polygonal pattern at the surface.

12 12 Polygonal peat plateau. Generally flat-topped expanse of

peat elevated above the general surface of a wetland and

containing segregated ice that may or may not extend

downward into underlying mineral soil.

13 13 No pattern. Unpatterned ground.

14 \# Not applicable.

15 - Attribute does not occur.

pH of upper 15 cm of soil measured in CaCl2: The pH of the upper 15 cm
of soil as measured using CaCl2. The value in the file divided by 10
represents the pH of the upper 15 cm of soil.

pH of upper 15 cm of soil measured in water: The pH of the upper 15 cm
of soil as measured using water. The value in the file divided by 10
represents the pH of the upper 15 cm of soil.

Organic carbon of upper 15 cm of soil: The percent of organic carbon
contained in the upper 15 cm of soil. The value in the file represents
the nearest percent of carbon in the top 15 cm of soil.

Nitrogen content of upper 15 cm of soil: The percent of nitrogen
contained in the upper 15 cm of soil. In the dominant and subdominant
nitrogen content files, the following values are used to represent the
various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 0 \<0.1%

2 1 0.1-0.5%

3 2 0.6-1.5%

4 3 \>1.5%

5 \# Not applicable (water, rock, ice)

6 - Attribute does not occur

Thickness of humus layer (L, F, H): The thickness categories for the
humus layer. In the dominant and subdominant thickness of humus layer
files, the following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 0 \<5 cm

2 1 5-10 cm

3 2 11-20 cm

4 3 21-40 cm

5 4 \>40 cm

6 \# Notapplicable (e.g., cultivated, eroded)

7 - Attribute does not occur

Calcareous class of parent material: The calcareous class of the parent
material. In the dominant and subdominant calcareous class files, the
following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 0 Noncalcareous. No CaCO3 detectable with dilute HCl.

2 1 Weakly. 1-5% CaCO3 equivalents (weak effervescence with

dilute HCl).

3 2 Strongly. 6-40% CaCO3 equivalents (moderate to strong

effervescence with dilute HCl)

4 3 Extremely. \>40% CaCO3 equivalents (very strong

effervescence with dilute HCl)

5 \# Not applicable (water, rock, ice).

6 - Attribute does not occur

Inclusions 1: The predominant type of inclusions found in the area.
Inclusions may represent a maximum of 15% of the polygon area. Although
their percent occupance is relatively small, they are generally strongly
contrasting to the dominant or subdominant soil landscapes. A maximum of
two inclusions may be recorded for each of the dominant and subdominant
soil landscapes; a maximum of four inclusions may be recorded for each
polygon. Inclusions provide an opportunity to document that \"little
bit\" of extra information about the polygon. They may be associated
with the dominant or subdominant soil landscape or they may occur
independently. Extreme caution is recommended when using inclusions in
area calculations. In the dominant and subdominant inclusions files, the
following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 A Acid surface soil. pH \<6.0.

2 BG Bog. See file 10, code B.

3 BL Black Chernozemic soil. See file 12, code C.

4 BC Brown Chernozemic soil. See file 12, code A.

5 BR Bedrock, hard. Consolidated bedrock that is too hard either

to break with the hands (\>3 on Mohs\' scale) or to dig with a

spade when moist.

6 BS Bedrock, soft. Bedrock that can be broken with the hands

(\<3 on Mohs\' scale) and dug with a spade when moist.

7 C Clay substrate. Clay material forming a lithologic

discontinuity within 1 m of the soil surface.

8 CA Calcareous surface soil. Indicated by visible effervescence

when dilute HCl is added.

9 CC Colluvium. See file 10, code C.

10 CH Chernozemic soil. Unspecified Chernozemic soils; more than

one subgroup present.

11 CY Clay. See file 11.

12 D Dissected surface form. See file 8, code D.

13 DB Dark Brown Chernozemic soil. See file 12,

code B.

14 DC Deep colluvium. Colluvial material (see attribute number

09, code C) to a depth of \>1 m.

15 DG Deep gravelly fluvioglacial. Gravelly fluvioglacial

material to a depth of \>1 m; see file 10 (code

F\) and 11.

16 DU Duric material. See file 16, code D.

17 E Eroded knolls. Relatively light-colored knolls compared to

other slope positions, occurring in hummocky or knoll-and-

kettle surface forms.

18 EO Eolian material. \>50 cm of eolian material (see file 10,

code E).

19 ES Eroded slopes. Slopes eroded by water.

20 F Fluvioglacial substrate. Substrate of fluvioglacial

material (see file 10, code F).

21 FH Ferro-Humic Podzolic soil. See attribute number 11, code V.

22 FO Folisol. See file 12, code 2.

23 G Sandy loam morainal material. Morainal material with a

sandy loam texture (see file 11).

24 GG Gravelly alluvium. See files 10 (code A) and 11.

25 GG Gravelly fluvioglacial material. See files 10 (code F) and 11.

26 GL Gleyed soil. Presence of faint to distinct mottles (or

blotches) of different color interspersed within the

dominant matrix color.

27 GM Gravelly marine material. See files 10 (code W) and 11.

28 GV Orthic Gray Luvisolic soil. See file 12, code F.

29 GY Gleysolic soil. See file 12, code U.

30 HC Shallow lithic colluvium. Colluvial material (see file 10,

code C) overlying a lithic contact 50-100 cm from

the surface.

31 HP Humo-Ferric Podzolic soil. See file 12, code W.

32 HU Hummocky surface form. See file 8, code H.

33 I Brunisolic Gray Luvisolic soil. See file 12,

code I.

34 IC Ice. See file 5, code C.

35 ID Imperfectly drained soil. See file 18, code I.

36 L Melanic Brunisolic soil. See file 12, code L.

37 LC Lacustrine material. See file 10, code L.

38 LF Loamy alluvium material. See files 10 (code A) and 11.

39 LI Lithic layer. Bedrock occurring within the normal depth of

soil development, usually within 1 m of the soil surface.

40 LM Loamy morainal till. Till (or morainal) material in which

soil separates contain \<35% clay and coarse fragments occupy

\<35% by volume.

41 LO Loamy marine material. See files 10 (code W) and 11.

42 LS Silty lacustrine material. See files 10 (code L) and 11.

43 LU Luvisolic soil. See file 12, code E or F.

44 M Eutric Brunisolic soil. See file 12, code M.

45 ML Clay loam marine material. See files 10

(code W) and 11.

46 MP Moss peat. Relatively undecomposed, spongy organic

material.

47 N Sombric Brunisolic soil. See file 12, code N.

48 NN None.

49 O Organic material. See file 10, code O.

50 OC Organic Cryosolic soil. See file 12, code O.

51 OT Ortstein. See file 16, code O.

52 P Dystric Brunisolic soil. See file 12, code P.

53 PD Poorly drained soil. See file 18, code P.

54 PP Poorly drained, peat soil. Poorly drained soil with a peaty

surface layer (\<40 cm thick).

55 R1 Soft rock outcrops. See file 5, code R1.

56 R2 Hard rock outcrops, acidic. Granite rock outcrops.

57 R3 Hard rock outcrops, basic. Limestone rock outcrops.

58 R4 Hard rock outcrops, undifferentiated. See attribute number

03, code R4.

59 RD Rapidly drained soil. See file 18, code R.

60 RG Regosolic soil. See file 12, code R.

61 SA Saline soil. Soil causing an obvious reduction in crop

growth, may have white surface crust.

62 SC Static Cryosolic soil. See file 12, code S.

63 SD Sandy marine material. Marine material with a sand texture

class; see files 10 (code A) and 11.

64 SF Sandy alluvium. See attribute numbers 09 (code A) and 10.

65 SG Sandy fluvioglacial material. Fluvioglacial material but

with a sand texture class; see files 10 (code F) and 11.

66 SH Gravelly shoreline. See file 11.

67 SL Silty alluvium. See files 10 (code A) and 11.

68 SO Sombric Humo-Ferric Podzolic soil. See file 12,

code W.

69 SP Steep surface form. See file 8, code S.

70 SS Silty surface texture. See file 11.

71 ST Stony surface. Sufficient stones to seriously handicap

cultivation.

72 SY Sandy material. See file 11.

73 T Till substrate. Till (or morainal) material forming a

lithologic discontinuity within 1 m of the soil surface.

74 TA Talus. Sloping mass of rock fragments below a cliff or at

the foot of a steep slope.

75 TC Turbic Cryosolic soil. See file 12, code T.

76 TE Terric layer. Unconsolidated mineral substratum occurring

within the normal depth of organic soil development

(40-160 cm).

77 TR Terraced surface form. See file 8, code T.

78 TT Anthropogenic material. See file 10, code T.

79 VA Volcanic ash. Deposition of fine, wind-transported material

of volcanic origin deposited in thin layers that persist for

along time in bogs, river terraces, talus slopes, and kettle

holes.

80 VS Very shallow lithic layer. Rock material occurring at \<50

cm from the surface.

81 WD Well-drained soil. See file 18, code W.

82 WE Wind erosion. Removal of surface soil particles caused by

wind action.

83 WT Wetlands. Lands dominated by the persistent presence of

excess water indicated by Gleysolic and shallow Organic

soils under a cover of hydrophytic vegetation.

84 X Fibrisol. See file 12, code X.

85 Y Mesisol. See file 12, code Y.

86 Z Humisol. See file 12, code Z.

87 11 Fibric-sphagnum soil. Sphagnum organic soil in the stage of

decomposition in which fibric materials are readily

identifiable as to botanical origin.

88 14 Patterned ground. See file 25.

89 17 Bouldery material. Rounded or irregular coarse fragments

\>60 cm in diameter.

90 21 Mesic-sedge material. Sedge organic material in a mesic (or

intermediate) degree of decomposition.

91 23 Mesic woody-forest material. Woody-forest organic material

in a mesic degree of decomposition; the material is partly

altered physically and biochemically.

92 \# Not applicable.

93 - Attribute does not occur.

94 22 (Not in original documentation.)

Inclusions 2: The secondary type of inclusions found. In the dominant
and subdominant inclusions files, the same values are used as for
inclusions 1 described previously.

Vegetative cover or land use, or both: The category of vegetative cover
or type of land use in the area. In the dominant and subdominant
vegetative cover or land use files, the following values are used to
represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 A Agricultural crops. Annual field crops.

2 B Bog. Bogs may be treed or treeless and are usually covered

with sphagnum spp. and ericaceous shrubs.

3 C Coniferous forest. Dominated by needle-leaved, cone-bearing

species.

4 D Deciduous forest. Dominated by broadleaf species.

5 E Fen. Dominated by sedges, grasses, reeds, and brown mosses

with some shrubs and, at times, a sparse tree layer.

6 G Grassland. Perennial native grassland or improved pasture.

7 H Arctic desert. Unvegetated areas in the polar desert of the

high Arctic; may be caused by either climatic (too cold or

too dry) or edaphic (low soil nutrients or toxic substrate)

factors, or a combination of both.

8 M Mixed deciduous and coniferous forest. See codes C and D.

9 P Parkland. A forest-grassland transition comprising a mosaic

of trembling aspen stands interspersed with patches of

cropland, grassland, and meadow.

10 R Marshland. A mosaic surface pattern composed of pools or

channels interspersed with clumps of emergent sedges,

grasses, rushes, and reeds, bordering grassy meadows, and

peripheral bands of shrubs or trees; submerged and floating

aquatics flourish in open water areas.

11 S Shrubland. Dominated by shrub species.

12 SP Sedge peat. Dominated by Carex spp. and generally

moderately decomposed and matted; the sedge leaves are

readily identifiable to the naked eye.

13 TA Tundra, alpine. Treeless terrain found at high altitudes

occurring immediately above the forest zone and the upper

altitudinal timberline; tundra vegetation comprises lichens,

mosses, sedges, grasses, forbs, and low shrubs (\<20 cm)

including heaths, dwarf willows, and birches.

14 TL Tundra, low shrub. Treeless terrain found at high latitudes

occurring most widely in the zone immediately north of the

boreal forest including the treeless parts of the forest-

tundra ecotone adjacent to the treeline; tundra vegetation

comprises lichens, mosses, sedges, grasses, forbs and low

shrubs (\<20 cm) including heaths, dwarf willows, and

birches.

15 TM Tundra, medium shrub. Similar to low-shrub tundra (see code

TL) except for medium (\>20 cm) instead of low shrubs.

16 U Unvegetated surface.

17 \# Not applicable.

18 - Attribute does not occur.

Lake size estimated from Landsat imagery: The size category of a lake
that exists over the area. In the dominant and subdominant lake size
files, the following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 S Small \<1 km2 (not visible on 1:1,000,000 scale Landsat

imagery)

2 M Medium 1-10 km2

3 L Large 11-50 km2

4 V Very large \>50 km2

5 \# Not applicable.

6 - Attribute does not occur.

7 F (Not in original documentation.)

The percent levels of the area covered by water bodies that are wholly
contained within the polygon as estimated from Landsat images. In the
dominant and subdominant percent water body files, the following values
are used to represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 F Few. Water bodies cover 0-10% area of polygon.

2 C Common. Water bodies cover 11-25% area of polygon.

3 M Many. Water bodies cover 26-50% area of polygon.

4 A Abundant. Water bodies cover \>50% area of polygon.

5 \# Not applicable.

6 - Attribute does not occur.

Reliability class of polygon: The relative reliability of the
information provided for the polygon. In the dominant and subdominant
reliability class files, the following values are used to represent the
various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 V Very low. Compiled from interpretation of Landsat data

only; no ground data are collected for verification of these

areas.

2 L Low. Compiled from soil survey maps produced from field

traverses at wide intervals (up to 10 km) and without the

use of aerial photographs, or compiled from maps produced by

inspections using fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter and

aided by interpretation of Landsat imagery.

3 M Medium. Produced from systematic traverses by helicopter

and by interpretation of stereoscopic aerial photographs,

or compiled from modern soil survey procedures, which

include traversing existing accessible roads in wilderness

areas, and aided by interpretation of stereoscopic aerial

photographs.

4 H High. Compiled from modern soil survey maps produced from

field traverses at \<1.6-km intervals and with the aid of

stereoscopic aerial photographs.

5 \# Not applicable.

6 - Attribute does not occur.

Complexity class of polygon (8-bit integers): The relative complexity or
variability of the soil in the area. In the dominant and subdominant
complexity class files, the following values are used to represent the
various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 L Low. Soil and landscape attributes within the polygon are

uniform for most interpretations; in most cases the polygon

has only a dominant component.

2 M Medium. Soil and landscape attributes are moderately

variable but predictable; there are generally dominant and

subdominant components, each of which usually has been

generalized from no more than two classes of parent material

or soil development, or both; there may also be an inclusion

in the polygon.

3 H High. Soil and landscape attributes are highly variable and

unpredictable; dominant, subdominant, and inclusion

components are present, each of which has been generalized

from more than two classes of parent material or soil

development, or both; use this class to warn of extreme

oversimplification in any interpretations from the extended

legend.

4 \# Not applicable.

5 - Attribute does not occur.

Soil name numbers (files 1 and 2): The binary number in the dominant and
subdominant soil name number raster files for Saskatchewan and Manitoba
that are used to look up pertinent information in the American Standard
Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) soil name files.

Parent material textural group: The texture group of the parent
material. In the dominant and subdominant parent material texture files,
the following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Pixel Original

Value Code Description

\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 sd Sand. Group includes CBS, CBLS, CS, S, LS, LFS, FS, GS,

VGS, LVFS, VS, GLS, VGLS

2 sl Sandy loam. Group includes CBSL, SL, FL, GSL, VGSL, and

GFL.

3 lm Loam. Group includes GL, CBL, L, GSIL, VL, SIL.

4 cl Clay loam. Group includes CBCL. GSCL, GCL, SCL, VCL, CL,

and SICL.

5 cy Clay. Group includes SC, GSIC, SIC, C, and HC.

6 \# Not applicable.

7 - Attribute does not occur.

The following describes the soil names files and how to decode the
various columns of data that they contain.

Soil Names Supplemental Information for Saskatchewan (ASCII): The
columns of this file are listed in the following order:

Image Value

Soil Code

Undocumented variable

Province

Soil Name

Modifier

Land Use

Kind of Soil

Water Table

Soil layer that restricts root growth

Type of Root Restricting Layer

Soil Drainage class

Mode of Deposition 1

Mode of Deposition 2

Mode of Deposition 3

Soil Order

Soil Sub-Group

Soil Great Group

Profile

Date

A-Thick (cm)

Soil Thickness (cm)

Soil Chemistry

Parent Material Modifier

Parent Material Complex

Parent Material Deposition 2

Parent Material Chemistry

Parent Material Textural Class

Texture Modifier

Family Particle Size

Physiographic

Soil Names Supplemental Information for Manitoba (ASCII): The columns of
this file are listed in the following order:

Image Value

Soil Code

Province

Soil Name

Modifier

Land Use

Kind of Soil

Water Table

Soil layer that restricts root growth

Type of Root Restricting Layer

Soil Drainage class

Mode of Deposition 1

Mode of Deposition 2

Mode of Deposition 3

Soil Order

Soil Sub-Group

Soil Great Group

Profile

Date

Soil Layer File Availability

The following information describes the codes for the column values in
the soil names files:

Soil Name

File Column Description

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

IMAGE VALUE The value assigned to each pixel on the Soil Name layers.

The soil name file for a province should be used only with

the soil name layer for that province. For example, the soil

name file for Manitoba should not be used with a soil name

layer for Saskatchewan.

SOIL_CODE Three character code for the soil name.

PROVINCE BC British Columbia

AB Alberta

SK Saskatchewan

MB Manitoba

ON Ontario

QU Quebec

NF Newfoundland

NB New Brunswick

NS Nova Scotia

PE Prince Edward Island

YU Yukon

NW North West Territories

SOILNAME Assigned by correlator.

MODIFIER Three-character code to show soil variations. The modifier

applies to the soil name and the soil code.

LU Land use:

N Native conditions

A Agriculture

KIND Kind of soil.

M Mineral

O Organic

N Nonsoil

U Unclassified or incomplete

WATERTBL Water table characteristics:

\- Not applicable

NO Not present at any time

YU Present during unspecified time

YG Present during growing season

YN Present during nongrowing season

YB Present during both seasons

ROOTRESTR Soil layer that restricts root growth:

\- Not applicable

0 Not present

1-9 Restricting layer number (in SLF)

RESTR_TYPE Type of root restricting layer:

\- Not applicable

UN Undifferentiated

BN Solonetzic B

SA EC\>4dS/m

CT Compact (Basal) Till

OR Ortstein

FP Fragipan

LI Lithic

CR Cryic

DU Duric

PL Placic

DRAINAGE Soil drainage class:

\- Not applicable

VR Very Rapidly

R Rapidly

W Well

MW Moderately Well

I Imperfectly

P Poorly

VP Very Poorly

MDEP Mode of deposition (and MDEP1, MDEP2, MDEP3)

\- Not Applicable

ANTH Anthropogenic

COLL Colluvial

EOLI Eolian

FLEO Fluvioeolian

FLLC Fluviolacustrine

FLUV Fluvial

FNPT Fen Peat

FOPT Forest Peat

GLFL Glaciofluvial

GLLC Glaciolacustrine

GLMA Glaciomarine

LACU Lacustrine

LATL Lacustro-Till

MARI Marine

RESD Residual

SAPR Saprolite

SEPT Sedimentary Peat

SPPT Sphagnum Peat

TILL Till (Morainal)

UNDM Undifferentiated mineral

UNDO Undifferentiated organic

VOLC Volcanic

ORDER Soil Order:

\- Not applicable

BR Brunisolic

CH Chernozemic

CY Cryosolic

GL Gleysolic

LU Luvisolic

OR Organic

PZ Podzolic

RG Regosolic

SZ Solonetzic

S_GROUP AND G_GROUP Soil Subgroup and Great Group characters before the
dot (.) go into the S_GROUP field; characters after the dot go into the
G_GROUP field):

-.- Not applicable

A.SZ Alkaline Solonetz

B.SO Brown Solod

B.SS Brown Solodized Solonetz

B.SZ Brown Solonetz

BL.SO Black Solod

BL.SS Black Solodized Solonetz

BL.SZ Black Solonetz

BR.GBL Brunisolic Gray Brown Luvisol

BR.GL Brunisolic Gray Luvisol

BR.SC Brunisolic Static Cryosol

BR.TC Brunisolic Turbic Cryosol

CA.B Calcareous Brown

CA.BL Calcareous Black

CA.DB Calcareous Dark Brown

CA.DG Calcareous Dark

CU.F Cumulo Fibrisol

CU.H Cumulo Humisol

CU.HR Cumulic Humic Regosol

CU.M Cumulo Mesisol

CU.R Cumulic Regosol

D.GL Dark Gray Luvisol

DB.SO Dark Brown Solod

DB.SS Dark Brown Solodized Solonetz

DB.SZ Dark Brown Solonetz

DG.SO Dark Gray Solod

DG.SS Dark Gray Solodized Solonetz

DU.DYB Duric Dystric Brunisol

DU.FHP Duric Ferro-Humic Podzol

DU.HFP Duric Humo-Ferric Podzol

DU.HP Duric Humic Podzol

DU.SB Duric Sombric Brunisol

E.B Eluviated Brown

E.BL Eluviated Black

E.DB Eluviated Dark Brown

E.DYB Eluviated Dystric Brunisol

E.EB Eluviated Eutric Brunisol

E.LG Fera Luvic Gleysol

E.MB Eluviated Melanic Brunisol

E.SB Eluviated Sombric Brunisol

FE.G Fera Gleysol

FE.HG Fera Humic Gleysol

FI.H Fibric Humisol

FI.M Fibric Mesisol

FI.OC Fibric Organic Cryosol

FR.FHP Fragic Ferro-Humic Podzol

FR.GL Fragic Gray Luvisol

FR.HFP Fragic Humo-Ferric Podzol

FR.HP Fragic Humic Podzol

FR.LG Fragic Luvic Gleysol

G.SO Gray Solod

G.SS Gray Solodized Solonetz

GC.OC Glacic Organic Cryosol

GL.B Gleyed Brown

GL.BL Gleyed Black

GL.DB Gleyed Dark Brown

GL.DG Gleyed Dark Gray

GL.DYB Gleyed Dystric Brunisol

GL.EB Gleyed Eutric Brunisol

GL.FHP Gleyed Ferro-Humic Podzol

GL.GBL Gleyed Gray Brown Luvisol

GL.GL Gleyed Gray Luvisol

GL.HFP Gleyed Humo-Ferric Podzol

GL.HR Gleyed Humic Regosol

GL.MB Gleyed Melanic Brunisol

GL.R Gleyed Regosol

GL.SB Gleyed Sombric Brunisol

GL.SC Gleysolic Static Cryosol

GL.TC Gleysolic Turbic Cryosol

GLB.SO Gleyed Brown Solod

GLB.SS Gleyed Brown Solodized Solonetz

GLB.SZ Gleyed Brown Solonetz

GLBL.SO Gleyed Black Solod

GLBL.SS Gleyed Black Solodized Solonetz

GLBL.SZ Gleyed Black Solonetz

GLBR.GBL Gleyed Brunisolic Gray Brown Luvisol

GLBR.GL Gleyed Brunisolic Gray Luvisol

GLCA.B Gleyed Calcareous Brown

GLCA.BL Gleyed Calcareous Black

GLCA.DB Gleyed Calcareous Dark Brown

GLCA.DG Gleyed Calcareous Dark Gray

GLCU.HR Gleyed Cumulic Humic Regosol

GLCU.R Gleyed Cumulic Regosol

GLD.GL Gleyed Dark Gray Luvisol

GLDB.SO Gleyed Dark Brown Solod

GLDB.SS Gleyed Dark Brown Solodized Solonetz

GLDB.SZ Gleyed Dark Brown Solonetz

GLDG.SO Gleyed Dark Gray Solod

GLDG.SS Gleyed Dark Gray Solodized Solonetz

GLE.B Gleyed Eluviated Brown

GLE.BL Gleyed Eluviated Black

GLE.DB Gleyed Eluviated Dark Brown

GLE.DYB Gleyed Eluviated Dystric Brunisol

GLE.EB Gleyed Eluviated Eutric Brunisol

GLE.MB Gleyed Eluviated Melanic Brunisol

GLE.SB Gleyed Eluviated Sombric Brunisol

GLFR.GL Gleyed Fragic Gray Luvisol

GLG.SO Gleyed Gray Solod

GLG.SS Gleyed Gray Solodized Solonetz

GLOT.FHP Gleyed Ortstein Ferro-Humic Podzol

GLOT.HFP Gleyed Ortstein Humo-Ferric Podzol

GLPZ.GBL Gleyed Podzolic Gray Brown Luvisol

GLPZ.GL Gleyed Podzolic Gray Luvisol

GLR.B Gleyed Rego Brown

GLR.BL Gleyed Rego Black

GLR.DB Gleyed Rego Dark Brown

GLR.DG Gleyed Rego Dark Gray

GLSM.FHP Gleyed Sombric Ferro-Humic Podzol

GLSM.HFP Gleyed Sombric Humo-Ferric Podzol

GLSZ.B Gleyed Solonetzic Brown

GLSZ.BL Gleyed Solonetzic Black

GLSZ.DB Gleyed Solonetzic Dark Brown

GLSZ.DG Gleyed Solonetzic Dark Gray

GLSZ.GL Gleyed Solonetzic Gray Luvisol

HE.FO Hemic Folisol

HI.FO Histic Folisol

HU.F Humic Fibrisol

HU.FO Humic Folisol

HU.LG Humic Luvic Gleysol

HU.M Humic Mesisol

HU.OC Humic Organic Cryosol

HY.F Hydric Fibrisol

HY.H Hydric Humisol

HY.M Hydric Mesisol

LI.FO Lignic Folisol

LM.F Limno Fibrisol

LM.H Limno Humisol

LM.M Limno Mesisol

LU.FHP Luvisolic Ferro-Humic Podzol

LU.HFP Luvisolic Humo-Ferric Podzol

ME.F Mesic Fibrisol

ME.H Mesic Humisol

ME.OC Mesic Organic Cryosol

O.B Orthic Brown

O.BL Orthic Black

O.DB Orthic Dark Brown

O.DG Orthic Dark Gray

O.DYB Orthic Dystric Brunisol

O.EB Orthic Eutric Brunisol

O.FHP Orthic Ferro-Humic Podzol

O.G Orthic Gleysol

O.GBL Orthic Gray Brown Luvisol

O.GL Orthic Gray Luvisol

O.HFP Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzol

O.HG Orthic Humic Gleysol

O.HP Orthic Humic Podzol

O.HR Orthic Humic Regosol

O.LG Orthic Luvic Gleysol

O.MB Orthic Melanic Brunisolic

O.R Orthic Regosol

O.SB Orthic Sombric Brunisol

O.SC Orthic Static Cryosol

O.TC Orthic Turbic Cryosol

OT.FHP Ortstein Ferro-Humic Podzol

OT.HFP Ortstein Humo-Ferric Podzol

OT.HP Ortstein Humic Podzol

P.FHP Placic Ferro-Humic Podzol

P.HFP Placic Humo-Ferric Podzol

P.HP Placic Humic Podzol

PZ.GBL Podzolic Gray Brown Luvisol

PZ.GL Podzolic Gray Luvisol

R.B Rego Brown

R.BL Rego Black

R.DB Rego Dark Brown

R.DG Rego Dark Gray

R.G Rego Gleysol

R.HG Rego Humic Gleysol

R.SC Regosolic Static Cryosol

R.TC Rego Turbic Cryosol

SM.FHP Sombric Ferro-Humic Podzol

SM.HFP Sombric Humo-Ferric Podzol

SZ.B Solonetzic Brown

SZ.BL Solonetzic Black

SZ.DB Solonetzic Dark Brown

SZ.DG Solonetzic Dark Gray

SZ.G Solonetzic Gleysol

SZ.GL Solonetzic Gray Luvisol

SZ.HG Solonetzic Humic Gleysol

SZ.LG Solonetzic Luvic Gleysol

T.F Terric Fibrisol

T.H Terric Humisol

T.M Terric Mesisol

TFI.H Terric Fibric Humisol

TFI.M Terric Fibric Mesisol

TFI.OC Terric Fibric Organic Cryosol

THU.F Terric Humic Fibrisol

THU.M Terric Humic Mesisol

THU.OC Terric Humic Organic Cryosol

TME.F Terric Mesic Fibrisol

TME.H Terric Mesic Humisol

TME.OC Terric Mesic Organic Cryosol

TY.F Typic Fibrisol

TY.H Typic Humisol

TY.M Typic Mesisol

PROFILE Header from Detail II File, may be blank or \'-\'.

DATE YY.MM.DD Date of last revision for each record in the file.

A-THICK The thickness of the A-horizon:

L20 - less than 20 cm

G20 - greater than 20 cm

NA - not applicable

SOL-THICK (cm)

-9 - not applicable

SOL-CHEM The general chemistry of the soil:

AN - medium acid to neutral

EA - extremely acid

EC - extremely calcareous

WC - weakly calcareous

UD - undifferentiated

VC - very calcareous

SA - saline

NA - not applicable

PM-MODIFY SHAL - shale

CRET - cretaceous

TERT - tertiary

STON - stony contact

LIME - limestone

TECR - tertiary-cretaceous

NA - not applicable

PM-COMPLEX COM - complex

NA - not applicable

PMDEP2 \-- - not applicable

ANTH - anthropogenic

COLL - colluvial

EOLI - eolian

FLEO - fluvioeolian

FLLC - fluviolacustrine

FLUV - fluvial

FNPT - fen peat

FOPT - forest peat

GLFL - glaciofluvial

GLLC - glaciolacustrine

GLMA - glaciomarine

LACU - lacustrine

LATL - lacustro-till

MARI - marine

RESD - residual

SAPR - saprolite

SEPT - sedimentary peat

SPPT - sphagnum peat

TILL - till (morainal)

UNDM - undifferentiated mineral

UNDO - undifferentiated organic

VOLC - volcanic

PM-CHEM UD - undifferentiated

EA - extremely acid

AN - medium acid to neutral

WC - weakly calcareous

VC - very calcareous

EC - extremely calcareous

SA - saline

NA - not applicable

PMTEXCLASS VCS - very coarse sand

CS - coarse sand

LCS - loamy coarse sand

S - sand

FS - fine sand

LS - loamy sand

LFS - loamy fine sand

VFS - very fine sand

LVFS - loamy very fine sand

CSL - coarse sandy loam

SL - sandy loam

FSL - fine sandy loam

VFSL - very fine sandy loam

L - loam

SIL - silt loam

SCL - sandy clay loam

SICL - silty clay loam

CL - clay loam

C - clay

HC - heavy clay

O - organic

F - fibric

M - mesic

H - humic

NA - not applicable

TEXMODIFY GR - gravelly

VG - very gravelly

WY - woody

NA - not applicable

FAMPARTS12 UD - undifferentiated

FR - fragmental

SK - skeletal

SY - sandy

CL - coarse loamy

FL - fine loamy

LY - loamy

CY - clayey

SM - stratified mineral

SU - stratified mineral and organic

SO - stratified organic

OG - organic

WY - woody

FI - fibric

ME - mesic

HU - humic

RU - bedrock undifferentiated

RA - bedrock acid

RB - bedrock basic

RS - bedrock soft

NA - not applicable

PHYSIOG PHY - physiographic

NA - not applicable

7.3.3 Unit of Measurement

Provincial Code - Unitless but coded value.

Polygon Number - Unitless but coded value.

Surface material - Unitless but coded value.

Percentage distribution of dominant and subdominant soil landscapes -
Percent.

Regional landform - Unitless but coded value.

Local surface form - Unitless but coded value.

Slope gradient class - Unitless but coded value.

Soil parent material mode of deposition (or origin) - Unitless but coded
value.

Parent material texture - Unitless but coded value.

Soil development - Unitless but coded value.

Surface texture of mineral soil to 15 cm - Unitless but coded value.

Coarse fragment content of mineral soils - Unitless but coded value.

Rooting depth, unrestricted - Unitless but coded value.

Kind of compacted, consolidated, or contrasting layer - None.

Depth to compacted, consolidated, or contrasting layer - None.

Drainage class - Unitless but coded value.

Available water capacity in upper 120 cm - Unitless but coded value.

Average depth to water table - Unitless but coded value.

Ice type - Unitless but coded value.

Ice content - Unitless but coded value.

Permafrost occurrence - Unitless but coded value.

Active layer depth in soils with permafrost - centimeters.

Kind of patterned ground in soils with permafrost - Unitless but coded
value.

pH of upper 15 cm of soil measured in CaCl2 - Tenths of pH units. Divide
by 10.

pH of upper 15 cm of soil measured in water - Tenths of pH units. Divide
by 10.

Organic carbon of upper 15 cm of soil - Percent.

Nitrogen content of upper 15 cm of soil - Unitless but coded value.

Thickness of humus layer (L, F, H) - Unitless but coded value.

Calcareous class of parent material - Unitless but coded value.

Inclusions 1 - Unitless but coded value.

Inclusions 2 - Unitless but coded value.

Vegetative cover or land use, or both - Unitless but coded value.

Lake size estimated from Landsat imagery - Unitless but coded value.

Reliability class of polygon - Unitless but coded value.

Complexity class of polygon - Unitless but coded value.

Soil name 1 - Unitless but coded value.

Soil name 2 - Unitless but coded value.

Parent material textural group - Unitless but coded value.

Soil Names Supplemental Information for Saskatchewan - See the end of
section

7.3.2 for descriptions of the columns in the file.

Soil Names Supplemental Information for Manitoba - See the end of
Section 7.3.2 for descriptions of the columns in the file.

7.3.4 Data Source

The original vector data set was produced by Agriculture Canada and was
acquired from:

CanSIS Project Leader

Land Resource Research Centre

Research Branch, Agriculture Canada

Central Experiment Farm

K.W. Neatby Building

Ottawa, Ont. K1A 0C6

7.3.5 Data Range

The various data layers have different data ranges. Some of the
potential values are listed under the variable descriptions provided in
Section 7.3.2.

7.4 Sample Data Record

Not applicable for raster data files.

8\. Data Organization

8.1 Data Granularity

The smallest amount of obtainable data is the entire data set containing
all of the raster layers and their supporting files.

8.2 Data Format(s)

8.2.1 Uncompressed Data Files

The regional soils product contains 83 total files, of which some
contain ASCII information and others contain binary numbers. The first
file is a descriptive ASCII header file that describes the content of
the other files. The next three binary files (files 2 to 4) contain
information about the data for the respective provinces. Files 5 to 43
(39 files) contain binary values for the dominant soil landscape
features. The last 39 files (files 44 to 81) contain binary values for
the subdominant soil landscape features. Files 82 and 83 contain the
soil name files for Saskatchewan and Manitoba, respectively.

Separate binary files exist for each of the various parameters and
contain a mixture of 8-bit and 16-bit values. The bytes in the 16-bit
(2-byte) values are ordered as low-order byte first. The following two
blocks of information describe the various files and give needed size
and storage information.

File Description

\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

File 1 ASCII header file with file descriptions

File 2 Provincial Code

File 3 Polygon Number for Saskatchewan data

File 4 Polygon Number for Manitoba data

File 5 Surface material for dominant soil landscape

File 6 Percentage distribution of dominant soil landscape

File 7 Regional landform for dominant soil landscape

File 8 Local surface form for dominant soil landscape

File 9 Slope gradient class for dominant soil landscape

File 10 Soil parent material mode of deposition for dominant soil
landscape

File 11 Parent material texture for dominant soil landscape

File 12 Soil development for dominant soil landscape

File 13 Surface texture of soil for dominant soil landscape

File 14 Coarse fragment content for dominant soil landscape

File 15 Rooting depth for dominant soil landscape

File 16 Kind of compacted, consolidated, or contrasting layer

for dominant soil landscape

File 17 Depth to compacted, consolidated, or contrasting layer

for dominant soil landscape

File 18 Drainage class for dominant soil landscape

File 19 Available water capacity for dominant soil landscape

File 20 Average depth to water table for dominant soil landscape

File 21 Ice type for dominant soil landscape

File 22 Ice content for dominant soil landscape

File 23 Permafrost occurrence for dominant soil landscape

File 24 Active layer depth for dominant soil landscape

File 25 Kind of patterned ground for dominant soil landscape

File 26 pH of upper 15 cm measured with CaCl2 for dominant soil
landscape

File 27 pH of upper 15 cm measured with water for dominant soil
landscape

File 28 Organic carbon content of upper 15 cm for dominant soil
landscape

File 29 Nitrogen content of upper 15 cm for dominant soil landscape

File 30 Thickness of humus layer for dominant soil landscape

File 31 Calcareous class of parent material for dominant soil landscape

File 32 Inclusions 1 for dominant soil landscape

File 33 Inclusions 2 for dominant soil landscape

File 34 Vegetative cover or land use for dominant soil landscape

File 35 Lake size estimate from Landsat images for dominant soil
landscape

File 36 Percent of area covered by water bodies for dominant soil
landscape

File 37 Reliability class for dominant soil landscape

File 38 Complexity class for dominant soil landscape

File 39 Soil name numbers for first dominant soil landscape in
Saskatchewan

File 40 Soil name numbers for first dominant soil landscape in Manitoba

File 41 Soil name numbers for second dominant soil landscape in
Saskatchewan

File 42 Soil name numbers for second dominant soil landscape in Manitoba

File 43 Parent material texture group for dominant soil landscape

File 44 Surface material for subdominant soil landscape

File 45 Percentage distribution of subdominant soil landscape

File 46 Regional landform for subdominant soil landscape

File 47 Local surface form for subdominant soil landscape

File 48 Slope gradient class for subdominant soil landscape

File 49 Soil parent material mode of deposition for subdominant soil

landscape

File 50 Parent material texture for subdominant soil landscape

File 51 Soil development for subdominant soil landscape

File 52 Surface texture of soil for subdominant soil landscape

File 53 Coarse fragment content for subdominant soil landscape

File 54 Rooting depth for subdominant soil landscape

File 55 Kind of compacted, consolidated, or contrasting layer

for subdominant soil landscape

File 56 Depth to compacted, consolidated, or contrasting layer

for subdominant soil landscape

File 57 Drainage class for subdominant soil landscape

File 58 Available water capacity for subdominant soil landscape

File 59 Average depth to water table for subdominant soil landscape

File 60 Ice type for subdominant soil landscape

File 61 Ice content for subdominant soil landscape

File 62 Permafrost occurrence for subdominant soil landscape

File 63 Active layer depth for subdominant soil landscape

File 64 Kind of patterned ground for subdominant soil landscape

File 65 pH of upper 15 cm measured with CaCl2 for subdominant soil
landscape

File 66 pH of upper 15 cm measured with water for subdominant soil
landscape

File 67 Organic carbon content of upper 15 cm for subdominant soil
landscape

File 68 Nitrogen content of upper 15 cm for subdominant soil landscape

File 69 Thickness of humus layer for subdominant soil landscape

File 70 Calcareous class of parent material for subdominant soil
landscape

File 71 Inclusions 1 for subdominant soil landscape

File 72 Inclusions 2 for subdominant soil landscape

File 73 Vegetative cover or land use for subdominant soil landscape

File 74 Lake size estimate from Landsat images for subdominant soil

landscape

File 75 Percent of area covered by water bodies for subdominant soil

landscape

File 76 Reliability class for subdominant soil landscape

File 77 Complexity class for subdominant soil landscape

File 78 Soil name numbers for first subdominant soil landscape in

Saskatchewan

File 79 Soil name numbers for first subdominant soil landscape in
Manitoba

File 80 Soil name numbers for second subdominant soil landscape in

Saskatchewan

File 81 Soil name numbers for second subdominant soil landscape in
Manitoba

File 82 ASCII Soil Names Supplemental Information for Saskatchewan

File 83 ASCII Soil Names Supplemental Information for Manitoba

File Original Record Number Number Bytes per

Number Attribute Name size (bytes) of pixels of lines pixel

\-\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\-- \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

1 Header File 80 N/A N/A N/A

2 PROVINCE 1000 1000 1000 1

3 POLYNUM (SK) 2000 1000 1000 2

4 POLYNUM (MN) 2000 1000 1000 2

5 DOMKDMAT 1000 1000 1000 1

6 DOMDISTR 1000 1000 1000 1

7 DOMREGFM 1000 1000 1000 1

8 DOMLOCSF 1000 1000 1000 1

9 DOMSLOPE 1000 1000 1000 1

10 DOMPMDEP 1000 1000 1000 1

11 DOMPMTEX 1000 1000 1000 1

12 DOMDEVEL 1000 1000 1000 1

13 DOMSRFTX 1000 1000 1000 1

14 DOMCFRAG 1000 1000 1000 1

15 DOMROOT 1000 1000 1000 1

16 DOMCMPLR 1000 1000 1000 1

17 DOMCMPDP 1000 1000 1000 1

18 DOMDRAIN 1000 1000 1000 1

19 DOMAVWAT 1000 1000 1000 1

20 DOMWATAB 1000 1000 1000 1

21 DOMICETY 1000 1000 1000 1

22 DOMICECT 1000 1000 1000 1

23 DOMPERMA 1000 1000 1000 1

24 DOMACTLR 1000 1000 1000 1

25 DOMPATGD 1000 1000 1000 1

26 DOMPHCAL 1000 1000 1000 1

27 DOMPHWAT 1000 1000 1000 1

28 DOMORGAN 1000 1000 1000 1

29 DOMNITRO 1000 1000 1000 1

30 DOMHUMLR 1000 1000 1000 1

31 DOMCALCA 1000 1000 1000 1

32 DINCLUS1 1000 1000 1000 1

33 DINCLUS2 1000 1000 1000 1

34 DOMVEGET 1000 1000 1000 1

35 DOMLAKE 1000 1000 1000 1

36 DOMWATBD 1000 1000 1000 1

37 DOMRELIA 1000 1000 1000 1

38 DOMCOMPL 1000 1000 1000 1

39 DOMNAME1 (SK) 2000 1000 1000 2

40 DOMNAME1 (MN) 2000 1000 1000 2

41 DOMNAME2 (SK) 2000 1000 1000 2

42 DOMNAME2 (MN) 2000 1000 1000 2

43 DOMTEXGP 1000 1000 1000 1

44 SUBKDMAT 1000 1000 1000 1

45 SUBDISTR 1000 1000 1000 1

46 SUBREGFM 1000 1000 1000 1

47 SUBLOCSF 1000 1000 1000 1

48 SUBSLOPE 1000 1000 1000 1

49 SUBPMDEP 1000 1000 1000 1

50 SUBPMTEX 1000 1000 1000 1

51 SUBDEVEL 1000 1000 1000 1

52 SUBSRFTX 1000 1000 1000 1

53 SUBCFRAG 1000 1000 1000 1

54 SUBROOT 1000 1000 1000 1

55 SUBCMPLR 1000 1000 1000 1

56 SUBCMPDP 1000 1000 1000 1

57 SUBDRAIN 1000 1000 1000 1

58 SUBAVWAT 1000 1000 1000 1

59 SUBWATAB 1000 1000 1000 1

60 SUBICETY 1000 1000 1000 1

61 SUBICECT 1000 1000 1000 1

62 SUBPERMA 1000 1000 1000 1

63 SUBACTLR 1000 1000 1000 1

64 SUBPATGD 1000 1000 1000 1

65 SUBPHCAL 1000 1000 1000 1

66 SUBPHWAT 1000 1000 1000 1

67 SUBORGAN 1000 1000 1000 1

68 SUBNITRO 1000 1000 1000 1

69 SUBHUMLR 1000 1000 1000 1

70 SUBCALCA 1000 1000 1000 1

71 SINCLUS1 1000 1000 1000 1

72 SINCLUS2 1000 1000 1000 1

73 SUBVEGET 1000 1000 1000 1

74 SUBLAKE 1000 1000 1000 1

75 SUBWATBD 1000 1000 1000 1

76 SUBRELIA 1000 1000 1000 1

77 SUBCOMPL 1000 1000 1000 1

78 SUBNAME1 (SK) 2000 1000 1000 2

79 SUBNAME1 (MN) 2000 1000 1000 2

80 SUBNAME2 (SK) 2000 1000 1000 2

81 SUBNAME2 (MN) 2000 1000 1000 2

82 Sask Soil Names 150 N/A N/A N/A

83 Mani Soil Names 110 N/A N/A N/A

8.2.2 Compressed CD-ROM Files

On the BOREAS CD-ROMs, files 1, 82, and 83 listed above are stored as
ASCII text files; however, files 2 through 81 have been compressed with
the Gzip compression program (file name \*.gz). These data have been
compressed using gzip version 1.2.4 and the high compression (-9) option
(Copyright (C) 1992-1993 Jean-loup Gailly). Gzip (GNU zip) uses the
Lempel-Ziv algorithm (Welch, 1994) used in the zip and PKZIP programs.
The compressed files may be uncompressed using gzip (-d option) or
gunzip. Gzip is available from many websites (for example, ftp site
prep.ai.mit.edu/pub/gnu/gzip-\*.\*) for a variety of operating systems
in both executable and source code form. Versions of the decompression
software for various systems are included on the CD-ROMs.

9\. Data Manipulations

BORIS staff gridded each attribute for the provinces of Saskatchewan and
Manitoba and combined the layers for these two provinces into one layer
for each attribute, except for the polygon number and soil name layers.

9.1 Formulae

9.1.1 Derivation Techniques and Algorithms

None.

9.2 Data Processing Sequence

9.2.1 Processing Steps

BORIS staff processed the regional soils data by following these steps
for each attribute:

1\) Reproject the vector data for the provinces of Saskatchewan and
Manitoba to

the BOREAS grid projection.

2\) Rasterize the vector files.

3\) Combine the Saskatchewan and Manitoba layers to produce one gridded
layer.

4\) Write the gridded layer to tape.

5\) Copy the ASCII and compress the binary files for release on CD-ROM.

9.2.2 Processing Changes

None.

9.3 Calculations

9.3.1 Special Corrections/Adjustments

None.

9.3.2 Calculated Variables

None.

9.4 Graphs and Plots

None.

10\. Errors

10.1 Sources of Error

Potential sources of error in the original data set include
interpretation or digitizing error as well as coding and keying errors
in the attributes. There is also the possibility that the data could
have been gridded incorrectly, although visual inspection of the data
was done to prevent this.

10.2 Quality Assessment

10.2.1 Data Validation by Source

Each gridded file/layer was spot checked to make sure that the gridding
procedure assigned a digital number (DN) to each attribute value.

10.2.2 Confidence Level/Accuracy Judgment

The accuracy of the gridding procedure is high, although some
consideration should be given to the scale of the data and what will be
inferred from it in order to understand the accuracy of the original
data.

The source in Canada from whom these data were received has strong
caveats about the use of the data. These data are constantly being
updated as new data are collected and become available. These data
represent broad generalizations about the soil characteristics of this
area. Caution should be used when

inferring information from it.

10.2.3 Measurement Error for Parameters

Unknown.

10.2.4 Additional Quality Assessments

Unknown.

10.2.5 Data Verification by Data Center

As noted previously, BORIS personnel reviewed the data layers visually
as vector plots and raster data layers. Direct quantitative checking of
the data was not performed.

11\. Notes

11.1 Limitations of the Data

The original data were received in two parts: Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
The gridded data represents a merging of these two data sets.
Unfortunately, many of the attributes along the border have different
values. Therefore, a sharp discontinuity exists along the border in many
of the files caused by different interpretations by those who created
the maps for the different provinces.

CanSIS has future plans to resolve these problem areas along the
provincial boundaries.

11.2 Known Problems with the Data

The discontinuity of polygons along the provincial boundary can be a
potential problem for some users. See Section 11.1 for more information
on this problem.

11.3 Usage Guidance

Before uncompressing the Gzip files on CD-ROM, be sure that you have
enough disk space to hold the uncompressed data files. Then use the
appropriate decompression program provided on the CD-ROM for your
specific system.

11.4 Other Relevant Information

None.

12\. Application of the Data Set

The documentation for the original data listed the following uses for
which these data were intended:

\- Assess the productivity of the land nationally or over large

regions.

\- Find areas that have actual or potential problems affecting

land use, such as salinity or susceptibility to erosion, and

to assess the severity.

\- Locate general areas that may be suitable for particular

types of land use, which can be selected for more detailed

investigations.

\- Apply general research findings and agrotechnology procedures

that are successful in one part of the country to other areas

that have similar attributes.

\- Link soil and land information with other data bases, such

as information on climate, economics, or census, for assessing

land use on a regional, national, or even an international scale.

\- Educate geography students at colleges or universities.

13\. Future Modifications and Plans

CanSIS HAS future plans by to resolve the problem areas along the
provincial boundaries.

14\. Software

14.1 Software Description

BORIS staff used the ARC/INFO (Version 7) software and related tools to
process the original vector data to this raster form.

The ARC/INFO software is a proprietary package developed and distributed
by:

Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.

380 New York St.

Redlands, CA 92373-8100

Gzip (GNU zip) uses the Lempel-Ziv algorithm (Welch, 1994) used in the
zip and PKZIP commands.

14.2 Software Access

ARC/INFO is a commercial package; contact Environmental Systems Research
Institute (ESRI) 380 New York Street, Redlands, CA, 92373-8100.

Gzip is available from many websites across the net (for example) ftp
site prep.ai.mit.edu/pub/gnu/gzip-\*.\*) for a variety of operating
systems in both executable and source code form. Versions of the
decompression software for various systems are included on the CD-ROMs.

15\. Data Access

15.1 Contact Information

Primary contact:

Ms. Beth Nelson

BOREAS Data Manager

Bldg. 22, Rm. G87

NASA/GSFC

Greenbelt, Maryland

\(301\) 286-4005

\(301\) 286-0239 (fax)

Elizabth.Nelson@gsfc.nasa.gov

15.2 Data Center Identification

See Section 15.1

15.3 Procedures for Obtaining Data

Users may place requests by telephone, electronic mail, fax.

15.4 Data Center Status/Plans

The regional soils raster data are available from the Earth Observing
System Data and Information System (EOSDIS), Oak Ridge National
Laboratory (ORNL), Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC).

The BOREAS contact at ORNL is:

ORNL DAAC User Services

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

\(865\) 241-3952

ornldaac@ornl.gov

ornl@eos.nasa.gov

16\. Output Products and Availability

16.1 Tape Products

These data can be made available on 8-mm, DAT, or 9-track tapes at 6250
or 1600 BPI.

16.2 Film Products

None available from BORIS. See Other Relevant Information, Section 11.4.

16.3 Other Products

These data are available on the BOREAS CD-ROM series.

17\. References

17.1 Platform/Sensor/Instrument/Data Processing Documentation

ARC/INFO User\'s Guide (Version 7), 1994. Redlands, CA.

Welch, T.A. 1984, A Technique for High Performance Data Compression,
IEEE Computer, Vol. 17, No. 6, pp. 8 - 19.

17.2 Journal Articles and Study Reports

Acton, D.F., G.A. Padbury, and J.A. Shields. 1991. Soil Landscapes of
Canada-Saskatchewan Digital Map Data; Scale 1:1000000; CanSIS No.
SK018200, Version 90.11.30; CLBRR Archive, Agriculture Canada, Research
Branch, Ottawa, Canada.

(CLBRR Contribution No. 91-107D).

Agriculture Canada Expert Committee on Soil Survey. 1987. The Canadian
system of soil classification, 2nd ed. Agric. Can. Publ. 1646, 164 pp.

Brown, R.J.E. 1970. Permafrost in Canada: Its influence on northern
development. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Ont., 234 pp.

Brown, R.J.E. 1978. Permafrost map of Canada. Plate No. 32 in
Hydrological atlas of Canada. Dept. of Fisheries and Environment,
Ottawa, Ont.

De Jong, R., J.A. Shields, and W. K. Sly. 1984. Estimated soil water
reserves applicable to a wheat-fallow rotation for generalized soil
areas mapped in southern Saskatchewan. Canadian Journal of Soil Science
64:667-680.

Expert Committee on Soil Survey. 1982. The Canada soil information
system (CanSIS) manual for describing soils in the field, revised. Land
Resource Research Institute, Research Branch, Agriculture Canada,
Ottawa, Ont. 166 pp.

Geoanalysis Ltd. 1981. Landform descriptive classes for higher levels of
ecological land classification. S. Ringrose, ed. Contract No.
KL229-0-4581, Lands Directorate, Environment Canada, 18 pp.

Manitoba-Canada Soil Survey Unit. 1990. Soil Landscapes of
Canada-Manitoba;

Digital Map Data; Scale 1:1000000; CanSIS No. MN068200, Version
91.03.31; CLBRR Archive, Agriculture Canada, Research Branch, Ottawa,
Canada (CLBRR Contribution No. 91-109D).

Mills G.F., MDA; R.G. Eilers, R.E. Smith, W. Michalyna, H. Veldhuis, W.
Fraser, CDA. 1990. Soil Landscapes of Canada-Manitoba; Soil landscapes
polygon attribute digital data; CanSIS No. MN068200, Version 91.03.31;
CLBRR Archive, Agriculture Canada, Research Branch, Ottawa, Canada
(CLBRR Contribution No. 91-110D).

Padbury, G.A, and J.A. Shields. 1991. Soil Landscapes of
Canada-Saskatchewan Soil Landscapes Polygon Attribute Digital Data.
CanSIS No. SK018200, Version 90.11.30; CLBRR Archive, Agriculture
Canada, Research Branch, Ottawa, Canada (CLBRR Contribution No.
91-108D).

Permafrost Subcommittee, Associate Committee on Geotechnical Research.
1988. Glossary of permafrost and related ground-ice terms. National
Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ont., Technical Memorandum No. 142,
156 pp.

Research Branch, Agriculture Canada. 1976. Glossary of terms in soil
science. Research Branch, Canada Department of Agriculture, Ottawa,
Ont., Publication 1459, 44 pp.

Sellers, P., and F. Hall. 1994. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study:
Experiment Plan. Version 1994-3.0, NASA BOREAS Report (EXPLAN 94).

Sellers, P., and F. Hall. 1996. Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study:
Experiment Plan. Version 1996-2.0, NASA BOREAS Report (EXPLAN 96).

Sellers, P., F. Hall, and K.F. Huemmrich. 1996. Boreal
Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: 1994 Operations. NASA BOREAS Report (OPS DOC
94).

Sellers, P., F. Hall, and K. F. Huemmrich. 1997. Boreal
Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study: 1996 Operations. NASA BOREAS Report (OPS DOC
96).

Sellers, P., F. Hall, H. Margolis, B. Kelly, D. Baldocchi, G. den
Hartog, J. Cihlar, M.G. Ryan, B. Goodison, P. Crill, K.J. Ranson, D.
Lettenmaier, and D.E. Wickland. 1995. The boreal ecosystem-atmosphere
study (BOREAS): an overview and early results from the 1994 field year.
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 76(9):1549-1577.

Sellers, P., and F. Hall. 1997. BOREAS Overview Paper. JGR Special Issue
(in press).

Shields J.A., C. Tarnocai, K.W.G. Valentine, and K.B. MacDonald. 1991.

Soil landscapes of Canada-Procedures Manual and User's Handbook; Land
Resource and Research Centre, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
(Publication 1868/E, LRRC Contribution Number: 88-29).

17.3 Archive/DBMS Usage Documentation

None.

18\. Glossary of Terms

None.

19\. List of Acronyms

AEAC - Albers Equal-Area Conic

ASCII - American Standard Code for Information Interchange

BOREAS - BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

BORIS - BOREAS Information System

BPI - Byte per inch

CANSIS - Canadian Soil Information System

CCRS - Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing

CCT - Computer Compatible Tape

CD-ROM - Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory

DAAC - Distributed Active Archive Center

DAT - Digital Archive Tape

DN - Digital Number

EOS - Earth Observing System

EOSDIS - EOS Data and Information System

ESRI - Environmental Systems Research Institute

GIS - Geographic Information System

GSFC - Goddard Space Flight Center

LRRC - Land Resource Research Branch

NAD83 - North American Datum of 1983

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NSA - Northern Study Area

ORNL - Oak Ridge National Laboratory

PANP - Prince Albert National Park

SSA - Southern Study Area

URL - Uniform Resource Locator

UTM - Universal Transverse Mercator

20\. Document Information

20.1 Document Revision Dates

Written: 02-Dec-1994

Last Updated: 30-Jul-1998

20.2 Document Review Dates

BORIS Review: 28-Jul-1997

Science Review:

20.3 Document ID

20.4 Citation

The original data were provided by Agriculture Canada. The vector data
were processed and gridded by BORIS staff. The contribution of the
vector data by Agriculture Canada and the processing of the data by
BORIS staff are greatly appreciated.

20.5 Document Curator

20.6 Document URL

Keywords

GIS

SOILS