Metadata:
  Identification_Information:
    Citation:
      Citation_Information:
        Originator:
          Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Canada Centre for Remote
          Sensing, The Atlas of Canada
        Originator: Instituto Nacional de Estadstica Geografa e Informtica
        Originator: U.S. Geological Survey
        Publication_Date: 200406
        Title: North American Atlas - Sea Ice
        Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Vector digital data
        Publication_Information:
          Publication_Place: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
          Publisher: Government of Canada
        Online_Linkage: http://geogratis.cgdi.gc.ca/download/frameworkdata/North_America_Atlas10M/seaice/
        Publication_Information:
          Publication_Place: Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
          Publisher: Instituto Nacional de Estadstica, Geografa e Informtica (INEGI)
        Online_Linkage: http://antares.inegi.gob.mx/atlas_norteamerica/
        Publication_Information:
          Publication_Place: Reston, Virginia, USA
          Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey
        Online_Linkage: http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html

    Description:
      Abstract:
        A joint venture involving the National Atlas programs in Canada (Natural
        Resources Canada), Mexico (Instituto Nacional de Estadstica Geografa e
        Informtica), and the United States (U.S. Geological Survey), as well as
        the North American Commission for Environmental Co-operation, has led to
        the release (June 2004) of several new products: an updated paper map of
        North America, and its associated geospatial data sets and their metadata.
        These data sets are available online from each of the partner countries
        both for visualization and download.

        The North American Atlas data are standardized geospatial data sets at
        1:10,000,000 scale.  A variety of basic data layers (e.g. roads,
        railroads, populated places, political boundaries, hydrography,
        bathymetry, sea ice and glaciers) have been integrated so that their
        relative positions are correct.  This collection of data sets forms a base
        with which other North American thematic data may be integrated.  Any data
        outside of Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America included in
        the North American Atlas data sets is strictly to complete the context of
        the data.

        The North American Atlas  Sea Ice data set shows the approximate extent
        of marine areas in the Arctic covered by permanent polar ice.  The data
        originated from the Canadian Ice Service and was used in the 1:6,000,000
        National Atlas of Canada Reference Map Series.  It is represented by
        polygons showing the average minimum ice limit over a 30 year period,
        1969-1999.

      Purpose:
        The North American Atlas data are intended for geographic display and
        analysis at the national and continental level.  The data should be
        displayed and analyzed at scales appropriate for 1:10,000,000-scale data.
        No responsibility is assumed by Natural Resources Canada, Instituto
        Nacional de Estadstica Geografa e Informtica, or the U.S. Geological
        Survey in the use of these data.
      Supplemental_Information:
        The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is an international
        organization created by Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America
        under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC).
        The CEC was established to address regional environmental concerns, help
        prevent potential trade and environmental conflicts, and to promote the
        effective enforcement of environmental law.  The Agreement complements the
        environmental provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement
        (NAFTA).  Further information on the CEC is available from
        http://www.cec.org/ or from
        >Commission for Environmental Cooperation
        >393, rue St-Jacques Ouest
        >Bureau 200
        >Montral (Qubec)
        >H2Y 1N9 Canada
        >
        >Telephone: 514 350 4300
        >Facsimile: 514 350 4314
        >Electronic mail: info@ccemtl.org
        >
        All North American Atlas data sets are available in four data formats:
        Arc/INFO Export format (e00), ArcView Shapefile, Geography Markup Language
        (GML) and Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS).

        Although these data are distributed in geographic coordinates, the North
        American Atlas Map uses a Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area projection.  The
        following parameters were used for the map:
        >Longitude_of_Projection_Center: -100.00
        >Latitude_of_Projection_Center: 45.00
        >False_Easting (metres): 0.0
        >False_Northing (metres): 0.0
        >Semi-major_Axis: 6370997.0
        >Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 1.0
        >Ellipsoid_Name: Sphere
        >Units: metres
    Time_Period_of_Content:
      Time_Period_Information:
        Single_Date/Time:
          Calendar_Date: 200406
      Currentness_Reference: Publication date

    Status:
      Progress: Complete
      Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: Irregular

    Spatial_Domain:
      Bounding_Coordinates:
        West_Bounding_Coordinate: 152.0
        East_Bounding_Coordinate: 4.0
        North_Bounding_Coordinate: 90.0
        South_Bounding_Coordinate: -5.0
    Keywords:
      Theme:
        Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
        Theme_Keyword: Sea Ice
        Theme_Keyword: Ice

      Place:
        Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
        Place_Keyword: Mid-latitude
        Place_Keyword: Western Hemisphere
        Place_Keyword: Northern Hemisphere
        Place_Keyword: North America
        Place_Keyword: NAFTA
        Place_Keyword: North America Free Trade Agreement
        Place_Keyword: Canada
        Place_Keyword: Mexico
        Place_Keyword: United States

    Access_Constraints: None
    Use_Constraints:
      All data for Canada and other areas outside of Mexico and the United
      States of America are covered by the Geogratis User Agreement for Digital
      Data; see http://geogratis.cgdi.gc.ca/e_license.html.

      No use constraints are applied to data for Mexico and the United States of
      America.  Acknowledgment of the North American Atlas, Instituto Nacional de
      Estadstica Geografa e Informtica, Natural Resources Canada, and (or) the
      U.S. Geological Survey would be appreciated in products derived from these
      data.

    Point_of_Contact:
      Contact_Information:
        Contact_Organization_Primary:
          Contact_Organization:
            Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Canada Centre for
            Remote Sensing, The Atlas of Canada
        Contact_Position: Atlas of Canada Client Services
        Contact_Address:
          Address_Type: Mailing address
          Address: Room 650-615 Booth Street
          City: Ottawa
          State_or_Province: Ontario
          Country: Canada
          Postal_Code: K1A 0E9
        Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: +01 613 947 2410
        Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: info@atlas.gc.ca
    Point_of_Contact:
      Contact_Information:
        Contact_Person_Primary:
          Contact_Person: Jorge Padilla Noriega
          Contact_Organization: Direccin General de Geografa, INEGI
        Contact_Address:
          Address_Type: Mailing address
          Address: Av Heroe de Nacozari Sur 2301
          Address: Fracc Jardines del Parque
          City: Aguascalientes
          State_or_Province: Aguascalientes
          Country: Mexico
          Postal_Code: 20270
        Contact_Voice_Telephone: 52 449 910 5349
        Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: jorge.padilla@inegi.gob.mx
    Point_of_Contact:
      Contact_Information:
        Contact_Organization_Primary:
          Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
          Contact_Person: John Hutchinson
        Contact_Address:
          Address_Type: Mailing address
          Address: USGS EROS Data Center
          City: Sioux Falls
          State_or_Province: South Dakota
          Country: USA
          Postal_Code: 57198-0001
        Contact_Voice_Telephone: 605 594 6049
        Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 605 594 6529
        Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: atlasmail@usgs.gov

  Data_Quality_Information:
    Attribute_Accuracy:
      Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
        Where possible, attribute data were quality controlled by creating
        symbolized digital displays or hard copy plots, which were visually
        verified with digital or hard copy reference data.  Attribute data that
        could not be verified in such a manner were interactively queried to check
        for anomalies such as duplication of data in fields requiring unique
        values and incorrect feature coding.  Data for areas outside of Canada,
        Mexico, and the United States of America are only provided for context;
        Natural Resources Canada, Instituto Nacional de Estadstica Geografa e
        Informtica, and the U.S. Geological Survey assume no responsibility
        for the completeness, accuracy, or presentation of this data.
    Logical_Consistency_Report:
      Topology was built and a quality control of the sea ice polygon data was
      done in order to ensure topological polygon structure.
    Completeness_Report:
      This data set includes the average minimum limit of sea ice over a 30 year
      period, 1969-1999, for all of North America and the Arctic as shown at
      1:10,000,000 scale.  The data completeness reflects the content of the
      source data, the integration done by the cartographers, and the quality
      control of the content performed by each country.
    Positional_Accuracy:
      Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
        Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:
          Positional accuracy of the data is unknown.  Positions are dependent on
          the accuracy of the source data and on the result of the generalization
          and integration processes.  Data for areas outside of Canada, Mexico,
          and the United States of America are only provided for context; Natural
          Resources Canada, Instituto Nacional de Estadstica Geografa e
          Informtica, and the U.S. Geological Survey assume no responsibility for
          the completeness, accuracy, or presentation of this data.

    Lineage:
      Source_Information:
        Source_Citation:
          Citation_Information:
            Originator:
              Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Canada Centre for
              Remote Sensing, The Atlas of Canada
            Publication_Date: 2002
            Title: 1:6,000,000 National Atlas of Canada Reference Map Series  Sea Ice
            Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Vector digital data
            Publication_Information:
              Publication_Place: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
              Publisher:
                Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Canada Centre for
                Remote Sensing, The Atlas of Canada
        Source_Scale_Denominator: 6,000,000
        Type_of_Source_Media: Online
        Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
          Time_Period_Information:
            Single_Date/Time:
              Calendar_Date: 1999
          Source_Currentness_Reference: Ground condition
        Source_Citation_Abbreviation: 6M CA Sea Ice
        Source_Contribution: Spatial and attribute information

      Source_Information:
        Source_Citation:
          Citation_Information:
            Originator:
              Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Canada Centre for
              Remote Sensing, The Atlas of Canada
            Originator: Instituto Nacional de Estadstica Geografa e Informtica
            Originator: U.S. Geological Survey
            Publication_Date: 200406
            Title: North American Atlas  Hydrography
            Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Vector digital data
            Publication_Information:
              Publication_Place: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
              Publisher:
                Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Canada Centre for
                Remote Sensing, The Atlas of Canada
            Publication_Information:
              Publication_Place: Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
              Publisher:
                Instituto Nacional de Estadstica, Geografa e Informtica
                (INEGI)
            Publication_Information:
              Publication_Place: Reston, Virginia, USA
              Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey
        Source_Scale_Denominator: 10,000,000
        Type_of_Source_Media: Online
        Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
          Time_Period_Information:
            Single_Date/Time:
              Calendar_Date: 2004
          Source_Currentness_Reference: Publication date
        Source_Citation_Abbreviation: NAA Hydro
        Source_Contribution: Spatial information

      Process_Step:
        Process_Description:
          Linework from the 1:6,000,000 Atlas of Canada reference map was
          projected and fitted to the 1:10,000,000 North American Atlas 
          Hydrography.  Cartographers at The Atlas of Canada did the integration
          and generalization of the data, maintaining a cartographic
          representation suitable for 1:10,000,000 scale.  Polygon topology was
          created so the sea ice could be shown as polygons and an area fill could
          be used for cartographic representation.  Quality control of the
          cartographic representation was performed by each country.
        Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: 6M CA Sea Ice
        Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: NAA Hydro
        Process_Date: 2004

  Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
    Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
    Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
      SDTS_Terms_Description:
        SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: GT-polygon composed of chains
        Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 81

  Spatial_Reference_Information:
    Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
      Geographic:
        Latitude_Resolution: 0.000001
        Longitude_Resolution: 0.000001
        Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees
      Geodetic_Model:
        Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
        Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80
        Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000
        Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222

  Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
    Detailed_Description:
      Entity_Type:
        Entity_Type_Label: Sea Ice
        Entity_Type_Definition:
          Marine areas covered by permanent ice.  The area shown represents the
          average minimum ice limit over a 30 year period, 1969-1999.
        Entity_Type_Definition_Source: North American Atlas GIS Group
      Attribute:
        Attribute_Label: UIDENT
        Attribute_Definition:
          The unique identifier.  A unique number that is assigned to each feature
          in the North American Atlas data.  The last two digits of the identifier
          are a suffix indicating the map layer.
        Attribute_Definition_Source: North American Atlas GIS Group
        Attribute_Domain_Values:
          Range_Domain:
            Range_Domain_Minimum: 110
            Range_Domain_Maximum: 8110
      Attribute:
        Attribute_Label: Type
        Attribute_Definition: Whether the area represents sea ice or islands.
        Attribute_Definition_Source: North American Atlas GIS Group
        Attribute_Domain_Values:
          Enumerated_Domain:
            Enumerated_Domain_Value: 28
            Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: The approximate extent of permanent polar ice.
            Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: North American Atlas GIS Group
          Enumerated_Domain:
            Enumerated_Domain_Value: 9999
            Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: An island fully surrounded by permanent polar ice.
            Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: North American Atlas GIS Group

  Distribution_Information:
    Distributor:
      Contact_Information:
        Contact_Organization_Primary:
          Contact_Organization:
            Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Canada Centre for
            Remote Sensing, GeoAccess Division
        Contact_Address:
          Address_Type: Mailing address
          Address: Room 650-615 Booth Street
          City: Ottawa
          State_or_Province: Ontario
          Country: Canada
          Postal_Code: K1A 0E9
        Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: +01 613 947 2410
        Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: info@GeoGratis.cgdi.gc.ca
  Distribution_Information:
    Distributor:
      Contact_Information:
        Contact_Organization_Primary:
          Contact_Organization: INEGI
          Contact_Person: Jose Luis Ornelas de Anda
        Contact_Address:
          Address_Type: Mailing address
          Address: Avenida Hroe de Nacozari Sur 2301
          Address: Fraccionamiento Jardines del Parque
          City: Aguascalientes
          State_or_Province: Aguascalientes
          Country: Mexico
          Postal_Code: 20270
        Contact_Voice_Telephone: 52 449 910 5300 ext 5856
        Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: jornelas@antares.inegi.gob.mx
        Hours_of_Service: 8:30 - 16:00 (CST)
  Distribution_Information:
    Distributor:
      Contact_Information:
        Contact_Organization_Primary:
          Contact_Organization: EROS Data Center, U.S. Geological Survey
        Contact_Address:
          Address_Type: Mailing address
          Address: 47914 252nd Street
          City: Sioux Falls
          State_or_Province: South Dakota
          Country: USA
          Postal_Code: 57198-0001
        Contact_Voice_Telephone: 800 252 4547
        Contact_Voice_Telephone: 605 594 6151
        Contact_TDD/TTY_Telephone: 605 594 6933
        Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 605 594 6589
        Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: custserv@usgs.gov
        Hours_of_Service: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Central Time

    Distribution_Liability:
      Although these data have been processed successfully on computer systems at
      Natural Resources Canada, Instituto Nacional de Estadstica Geografa e
      Informtica, and the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or
      implied is made by these agencies regarding the utility of the data on any
      other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such
      warranty.  No responsibility is assumed by these agencies in the use of
      these data.
    Standard_Order_Process:
      Digital_Form:
        Digital_Transfer_Information:
          Format_Name: ARCE
        Digital_Transfer_Option:
          Online_Option:
            Computer_Contact_Information:
              Network_Address:
                Network_Resource_Name: http://geogratis.cgdi.gc.ca/download/frameworkdata/North_America_Atlas10M/seaice/
                Network_Resource_Name: http://antares.inegi.gob.mx/atlas_norteamerica/
                Network_Resource_Name: http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html

      Digital_Form:
        Digital_Transfer_Information:
          Format_Name: GML
        Digital_Transfer_Option:
          Online_Option:
            Computer_Contact_Information:
              Network_Address:
                Network_Resource_Name: http://geogratis.cgdi.gc.ca/download/frameworkdata/North_America_Atlas10M/seaice/
                Network_Resource_Name: http://antares.inegi.gob.mx/atlas_norteamerica/
                Network_Resource_Name: http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html
      Digital_Form:
        Digital_Transfer_Information:
          Format_Name: ESRI Shapefile
        Digital_Transfer_Option:
          Online_Option:
            Computer_Contact_Information:
              Network_Address:
                Network_Resource_Name: http://geogratis.cgdi.gc.ca/download/frameworkdata/North_America_Atlas10M/seaice/
                Network_Resource_Name: http://antares.inegi.gob.mx/atlas_norteamerica/
                Network_Resource_Name: http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html

      Digital_Form:
        Digital_Transfer_Information:
          Format_Name: SDTS
        Digital_Transfer_Option:
          Online_Option:
            Computer_Contact_Information:
              Network_Address:
                Network_Resource_Name: http://geogratis.cgdi.gc.ca/download/frameworkdata/North_America_Atlas10M/seaice/
                Network_Resource_Name: http://antares.inegi.gob.mx/atlas_norteamerica/
                Network_Resource_Name: http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html
      Fees: Gratuit-Free

  Metadata_Reference_Information:
    Metadata_Date: 20040709
    Metadata_Contact:
      Contact_Information:
        Contact_Organization_Primary:
          Contact_Organization:
            Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Canada Centre for
            Remote Sensing, The Atlas of Canada
        Contact_Position: Atlas of Canada Client Services
        Contact_Address:
          Address_Type: Mailing address
          Address: Room 650-615 Booth Street
          City: Ottawa
          State_or_Province: Ontario
          Country: Canada
          Postal_Code: K1A 0E9
        Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: +01 613 947 2410
        Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: info@atlas.gc.ca
    Metadata_Contact:
      Contact_Information:
        Contact_Organization_Primary:
          Contact_Organization: Direccin General de Geografa, INEGI
        Contact_Position: Administrador de Metadatos Geogrficos
        Contact_Address:
          Address_Type: Mailing address
          Address: Av Heroe de Nacozari Sur 2301
          Address: Fracc Jardines del Parque
          City: Aguascalientes
          State_or_Province: Aguascalientes
          Country: Mexico
          Postal_Code: 20270
        Contact_Voice_Telephone: 52 449 910 53 00 ext 5856
        Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: rarrioja@dgg.inegi.gob.mx
    Metadata_Contact:
      Contact_Information:
        Contact_Person_Primary:
          Contact_Person: Peg Rawson
          Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
        Contact_Address:
          Address_Type: Mailing address
          Address: 561 National Center
          City: Reston
          State_or_Province: Virginia
          Country: USA
          Postal_Code: 20192
        Contact_Voice_Telephone: 703 648 4183
        Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: atlasmail@usgs.gov
    Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
    Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
    Metadata_Security_Information:
      Metadata_Security_Classification_System: None
      Metadata_Security_Classification: Unclassified
      Metadata_Security_Handling_Description: None