NASA/TMm2000-209891, Vol. 110

Technical Report Series on the

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS)

Forrest G. Hall, Editor

Volume 110

CanSIS Regional Soils Data in

Vector Format

Bryan Monette, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

David Knapp, Raytheon ITSS, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt, Maryland

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

September 2000

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20010022585 2018-05-15T06:36:34+00:00Z
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NASA/TMm2000-209891, Vol. 110

Technical Report Series on the

Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS)

Forrest G. Hall, Editor

Volume 110

CanSIS Regional Soils Data in

Vector Format

Bryan Monette, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

David Knapp, Raytheon ITSS, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt, Maryland

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

September 2000
NASA Center for AeroSpace Information

7121 Standard Drive

Hanover, MD 21076-1320

Price Code: A17

Available from:

National Technical Information Service

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

Price Code: A10
CanSIS Regional Soils Data in Vector Format

Bryan Monette, David Knapp

Summary

This data set is the original vector data set received from CanSIS. The data include the provinces of

Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Attribute tables provide the various soil data for the polygons; there is

one attribute table for Saskatchewan and one for Manitoba. The data are stored in ARC/INFO export

format files.

Based on agreements made with Agriculture Canada, these data are available only to individuals

and groups that have an official relationship with the BOREAS project. These data are not included on

the BOREAS CD-ROM set. A raster version of this data set titled 'BOREAS Regional Soils Data in

Raster Format and AEAC Projection' is publicly available and is included on the BOREAS CD-ROM

set. See Section 15 for current details on data availability.

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

CanSIS Regional Soils Data in Vector Format

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 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 that 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

Page 1
landform,slope,watertable,permafrost,andlakes,is calledasoil landscape.A polygonmaycontain

oneor two distinctivesoil landscapes,aswell assmallbutcontrastinginclusions.Thesevectordata

from LRRCservedasthebasisforthisrasterformatdataproductTheoriginalmanualdocumentsthe

standardmethodsanddescriptorsusedby all provincesfor compilationof anationalsoillandscape

databaseat ascaleof 1:1,000,000.

1.3 Objective/Purpose

These vector format soils data are provided as part of the BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

(BOREAS) Staff" Science Geographic Information System (GIS) Data Collection Program, which

included the collection of pertinent map data in both hardcopy and digital form. These vector data were

originally distributed by Agriculture Canada to BOREAS Information System (BORIS) staff, and are

in ARC/INFO EXPORT format. This data product may be useful to someone who is interested in

studying this area at a regional scale. The various soil properties that are included in this data set could

also be used for some modeling along with satellite imagery at a similar scale.

1.4 Summary of Parameters

The parameters contained in the various files of the vector soil data include:

Provincial Code

Polygon Number

Kind of Rock Outcrop or other material at the surface

Percentage distribution of dominant and subdominant soil landscapes

Grid code for locating polygons

Regional landform

Local surface form

Slope gradient class

Parent material mode of deposition (or origin)

Parent material texture

Soil development

Surface texture of mineral soil to 15 cm

Coarse fragment content in control section 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

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 (CaCI2)

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

Page 2
Complexityclassof polygon

Soil name1

Soil name2

Parentmaterialtexturalgroup

Areaof Polygon(kilohectares)

1.5 Discussion

Thedocumentationfortheoriginaldatalistedthefollowingusesfor whichthesedatawere

intended:

• Assesstheproductivityof thelandnationallyoroverlargeregions.

• Findareasthathaveactualorpotentialproblemsaffectinglanduse,suchassalinityor

susceptibilityto erosion,andassesstheseverityof theproblems.

• Locategeneralareasthatmaybesuitablefor particulartypesof landusethatcanbeselected

for moredetailedinvestigations.

• Apply generalresearchfindingsandagrotechnologyproceduresthataresuccessfulin onepart

of thecountryto otherareasthathavesimilarattributes.

• Link soil andlandinformationwith otherdatabases,suchasinformationonclimate,

economics,or census,for assessinglanduseonaregional,national,or evenaninternational

scale.

• Educategeographystudentsatcollegesoruniversities.

Theframeworkforthelegenddevelopment,mapcompilation,andattributecharacterizationis

establishedby thefollowing conceptsanddefinitions:

• Themapsarecomposedof mapdelineationscalledpolygons,eachof whichis describedin

termsof astandardsetof attributes.

• Thefull arrayof polygonattributesthatdescribeadistincttypeof soil andits associated

landscapeattributes,suchassurfaceform, slope,watertable,permafrost,andlakes,is called

asoil landscape.

• A polygonmaycontainoneor twodistinctivesoil landscapes(dominantor subdominant)and

mayalsocontaina smallbutcontrastingproportionof inclusions.

• Thedominant(ormostprominent)soil landscaperepresentsatleast40%of thepolygonarea,

whereasthesubdominantsoillandscaperepresentsonly from 16to <40%of thepolygon;

inclusionsrepresentamaximumof 15%of thepolygon.A moredetaileddescriptionof the

complexmappolygonsis givenin Section7.3.2.

• Oneor twoinclusionscanberecordedfor eachdominantandsubdominantsoillandscape,but

in totaltheyrepresentamaximumof only 15%of thepolygonarea.

• Theattributesthatseparateonepolygonfrom anotherinclude(a)soildevelopment,(b) soil

parentmaterialmodeof deposition,(c) textureclassof parentmaterial,(d)localsurfaceform,

(e)slopegradientclassin percent,(f) kind ofrock or surfacematerialexceptwater,and(g)

spatialoccurrenceof theseattributeswithin apolygon.Theseattributesmayapplyto eitherthe

dominantor thesubdominantsoil landscape.

• Theminimumsizeof thesoillandscapearea(orpolygon)shouldbeabout1cmx 1cm atthe

1:1,000,000scale(100km2);however,smaller,isolatedareasthatcanbeconveniently

displayedandlabeledonthemaparepermittedwhenneeded.

1.6 Related Data Sets

BOREASRegionalSoilsDatainRasterFormatandAEAC Projection

AgricultureCanadaCentralSaskatchewanVectorSoilsData

BOREASSoilsDataovertheSSAin RasterFormatandAEAC Projection

Page3
2. Investigator(s)

2.1 Investigator(s) Name and Title

BOREAS Staff Science

2.2 Title of Investigation

BOREAS Staff Science GIS Data Collection Program

2.3 Contact Information

Contact 1:

Bryan Monette

Agriculture Canada

Ottawa, Ontario

Canada K1A 0C6

(613) 995-5011

Contact 2:

David Knapp

Raytheon ITSS

Code 923

NASA GSFC

Greenbelt, MD 20771

(301) 286-1424

(301) 286-0239 (fax)

David.Knapp@ 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 assess the severity of those problems.

• Locate general areas that may be suitable for particular types of land use that 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.

Page 4
4. Equipment

4.1 Sensor/Instrument Description

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 dominant and subdominant soil landscapes

Grid code for locating polygons

Regional landform

Local surface form

Slope gradient class

Parent material mode of deposition (or origin)

Parent material texture

Soil development

Surface texture of mineral soil to 15 cm

Coarse fragment content in control section 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

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 (CaCI2)

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

Page 5
Reliability classof polygon

Complexityclassof polygon

Soil name1

Soil name2

Parentmaterialtexturalgroup

Areaof Polygon(kilohectares)

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. The data

sources and techniques included:

• Interpretation of Landsat images (it is unknown whether the Landsat images were from the

Multispectral Scanner (MSS) or Thematic Mapper (TM) instruments).

• Soil survey maps produced from field traverses at wide intervals (up to 10 kin) and without

the use of aerial photographs.

• Maps produced by inspections using fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter and aided by

interpretation of Landsat imagery.

• Systematic traverses by helicopter and interpretation of stereoscopic aerial photographs.

• Modern soil survey procedures, which include traversing existing accessible roads in

wilderness areas, and aided by interpretation of stereoscopic aerial photographs.

• Modern soil survey maps produced from field traverses at <l.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.

Page 6
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. Tamocai,

K.W.G. Valentine, and K.B. MacDonald Land Resource Research Centre Ottawa, Ontario Canada

6.2 Field Notes

Notes are based on information derived from reading:

Soil Landscapes of Canada Procedures Manual and User's Handbook J.A. Shields, C. Tamocai,

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

7.1 Spatial Characteristics

The original data were digitized from maps at a scale of 1:1,000,000. The cell size at which these

data were gridded is 1,000 meters on a side. There are 41 attributes or "items" that describe the

dominant soil characteristics and 40 of the same attributes for the subdominant ones.

7.1.1 Spatial Coverage

There are separate data files for Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The data for Saskatchewan cover the

entire province with the following approximate map comers:

Longitude Latitude

Northwest II0.000W 60.000N

Northeast 102.000W 60.000N

Southeast 102.000W 49.000N

Southwest II0.000W 49.000N

The data for Manitoba cover the entire province with the following approximate map comers:

Longitude Latitude

Northwest 102.000W 60.000N

Northeast 89.000W 60.000N

Southeast 89.000W 49.000N

Southwest 102.000W 49.000N

7.1.2 Spatial Coverage Map

Not available.

7.1.3 Spatial Resolution

These vector data were mapped at a scale of 1"1,000,000. Therefore, the vector polygons are only

of sufficient detail to describe the soil properties at that scale.

Page 7
7.1.4 Projection

Thevectordatafor bothManitobaandSaskatchewanareprovidedin theLambertConformalConic

(LCC)projection.However,theprojectionparametersfor eachprovincearedifferent.

ForManitoba,thefollowingpr_ectionparameterswereused:

Datum: North American Datum of 1927 (NAD27)

Ellipsoid: Clarke 1866

Origin: 98.000°W 0.000°N

Standard Parallels: 50°N 50' 00"

58°N i0' 00"

Units of Measure: meters

For Saska_hewan, the following pr_ection paramemrs were used:

Datum: NAD27

Ellipsoid: Clarke 1866

Origin: I05.5958333°W 0.000°N

Standard Parallels: 50°N 50' 00"

58°N i0' 00"

Units of Measure: meters

7.1.5 Grid Description

Not applicable.

7.2 Temporal Characteristics

7.2.1 Temporal Coverage

The booklet that describes the original vector data set was published in 199 l:

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

Canada

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 staff views the data set as a single-point reference source that can be used for

soil and other studies. BORIS staff is not aware of any updates that have been made to this data set.

7.3 Data Characteristics

The various gridded layers and the codes that describe their characteristics are list under Section 7,

Dma Description.

7.3.1 Parameter/Variable

Provincial Code

Polygon Number

Kind of Rock Outcrop or

Percentage distribution

Grid code for locating

Regional landform

other material at the surface

of dominant and subdominant soil

polygons

landscapes

Page 8
Local surface form

Slope gradient class

Parent material mode of deposition (or origin)

Parent material texture

Soil development

Surface texture of mineral soil to 15 cm

Coarse fragment content in control section 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

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 (CaCI2)

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

Area of Polygon (kilohectares)

7.3.2 Variable Description/Definition

The following information was ex_ac_d (with modific_ions) _om:

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 CenWe

OUawa, Ontario

Provincial Code - The value that designa_s whether the area is geographically loca_d within

Saska_hewan or Manitoba. In the provinci_ code attribu_, the following values are used to represent

Saska_hewan and Manitoba:

Code Description

SK Saskatchewan

MN Manitoba

Page 9
PolygonNumber- In theoriginaldatasets,theseriesof polygonscomposingtheentireareawere

numbered1to n.

Surfacematerial- Thetypeof materialatthetopof thesoilin thearea.In thedominantand

subdominantsurfacematerialattributes,thefollowing valuesareusedto representthevarious

groupings:

Code Description

IC

OR

R1

R2

R3

R4

SO

WA

UR

Ice and Snow.

Organic Soil. Contains >30% organic matter by weight.

Soft rock, undifferentiated. Rock that can be dug with

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

materials.

Hard rock, acidic. Granite.

Hard rock, carbonaceous. Limestone.

Hard rock, undifferentiated. Hard rock of unspecified

origin and properties.

Mineral soil. Dominantly mineral particles, contains <30%

organic matter by weight.

Water.

Urban areas.

Note: Only a few major urban area polygons are shown on

maps; do not use for tabulating urban areas.

Not applicable.

Attribute does not occur.

Percentage distribution of dominant and subdominant soil landscapes - The values in the dominant and

subdominant columns represent the percentage of that soil landscape in the area.

Regional landform - The type of landform on which this area exists (e.g., mountain, hill, tableland). In

the dominant and subdominant regional landform attributes, the following values are used to represent

the various groupings:

Code Description

Tableland (or plateau) dominated. Comparatively flat areas

of great extent commonly bounded on at least one side by an

abrupt escarpment, or may be terminated by mountains; may be

dissected by deep valleys and deeply incised rivers; may be

tectonic, erosional, or volcanic in origin; may be stepfaulted; slopes generally <10%, in some places 10-15%;

relief generally <50 m.

Hilland dominated. Natural elevations rising prominently

above the surrounding plain and having a recognizably denser

pattern of generally higher knolls or crest lines with an

irregular or chaotic surface form composed of upper surface

convexity and lower concavity; includes hummocky morainal

material, volcanic cones, and conical hills of lava; slopes

generally 10-30%; relief generally <i00 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

Page 10
V

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 and

straight cliff-like slopes of considerable linear extent

separating surfaces such as plateaus lying at different

levels.

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.

Plain dominated. Flat to very gently undulating areas

having few or no prominent irregularities; formed by

erosional or by depositional (or constructional) processes;

includes 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 <i0 m; extent generally >5 km in one direction.

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.

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.

Not applicable. (urban area).

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 attributes, the following values are

used to represent the various groupings:

Code Description

K

Dissected. A dissected (or gullied) pattern providing

external drainage for an area.

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.

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.

Knoll and kettle. A very chaotic sequence of knolls and

Page 11
M

R

BO4

BO5

BO7

BO9

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

area and have no external drainage; slopes are

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Terraced. Scarp face and the horizontal or gently inclined

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

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.

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 the 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.

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.

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.

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

Page 12
BI3

BI4

BI5

BI6

BI8

BI9

FOI

FO7

FII

FI3

SOl

SO4

MO6

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.

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

occurring in broad, poorly defined depressions; the depth of

peat is generally uniform.

String bog. A pattern of narrow (2-3 m wide), low (<i 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 is >i m.

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.

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.

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.

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 >i m.

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.

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.

Horizontal fen. A fen with a very gently sloping,

featureless surface; this fen occupies broad, often illdefined depressions and may interconnect with other fens;

peat accumulation is generally uniform.

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.

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.

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.

Page 13
Hll

MI4

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.

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.

Not applicable (urban area).

Attribute does not occur.

Slope gradient class - The slope category of the land surface area. In the dominant and subdominant

slope gradient class attributes, the following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Code Description

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

B 4-9%

C 10-15%

D 16-30%

E 31-60%

F >60%

# Not applicable (water)

- Attribute does not occur

Soil parent material mode of deposition - 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 attributes,

the following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Code Description

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.

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

consistence, 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

Page 14
M

of ericaceous shrubs.

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 (excepting

snow avalanches); processes include slow displacements such

as creep and solifluction and rapid movements such as Earth

flows.

Residual. Unconsolidated, weathered, or partly weathered

soil mineral material that accumulates by disintegration of

bedrock in place.

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 sand and

coarse silt, and loess but not tuffs.

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.

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 Gleysols, 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 openwater areas occur.

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 have either settled from suspension in bodies of

standing freshwater or accumulated at their margins

through wave action; examples: lake sediments and beaches.

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 preexisting,

unconsolidated sediments reworked by a glacier so that their

Page 15
N

R

V

W

ii

original character is largely or completely destroyed.

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.

Organic, undifferentiated. A layered sequence of more than

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

weight).

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.

Swamp. Minerotrophic wetland 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.

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.

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.

Volcanic. Volcanic pumice and ash.

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.

Fibric Sphagnum. Sphagnum organic material in a fibric

Page 16
21

22

23

25

31

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mesic sphagnum. Sphagnum organic material in a mesic (or

intermediate) degree of decomposition.

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.

Not applicable (urban area).

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 attributes, the

following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Code Description

CBS

VGS

GS

S

CS

FS

VS

LFS

LVFS

CBLS

VGLS

GLS

LS

CBSL

VGSL

GSL

SL

GFL

Cobbly sand. 15-35% cobbles by volume.

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

Gravelly sand. 15-35% gravel by volume.

Sand.

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

Fine sand. 50% or more fine sand.

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

Loamy fine sand. 50% or more fine sand.

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

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

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

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

Loamy sand.

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

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

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

Sandy loam.

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

Page 17
FL

CBL

GL

L

VL

GSIL

SIL

GSCL

SCL

VCL

CBCL

GCL

CL

SICL

SC

C

GSIC

SIC

HC

#

Fine sandy loam. 30% or more fine sand.

Cobbly loam. 15-35% cobbles by volume.

Gravelly loam. 15-35% gravel by volume.

Loam.

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

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

Silt loam.

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

Sandy clay loam.

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

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

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

Clay loam.

Silty clay loam.

Sandy clay.

Clay.

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

Silty clay.

Heavy clay.

Not applicable.

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 attributes, the following values are

used to represent the various groupings:

Code Description

A

B

Brown Chernozemic. Dominantly Orthic Brown subgroup with

inclusions of other subgroups within the Brown great group.

Dark Brown Chernozemic. Dominantly Orthic Dark Brown

subgroup with inclusions of other subgroups within the Dark

Brown great group.

Black Chernozemic. Dominantly Orthic Black subgroup with

inclusions of other subgroups within the Black great group.

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.

Gray Brown Luvisolic. Dominantly Orthic Gray Brown Luvisol

subgroup with inclusions of other subgroups within the Gray

Brown Luvisol great group.

Gray Luvisolic. Dominantly Orthic Gray Luvisol subgroup

with inclusions of other Gray Luvisol subgroups.

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.

Dark Brown Solonetzic. May be dominantly Dark Brown

Solonetz or Dark Brown Solodized Solonetz or Dark Brown

Solod subgroup with inclusions of these subgroups.

Brunisolic Gray Luvisolic. Dominantly Brunisolic Gray

Luvisol subgroup with inclusions of its gleyed subgroup.

Page 18
J

K

H

N

0

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

Black Solonetzic. May be dominantly Black Solonetz or Black

Solodized Solonetz or Black Solod subgroup with inclusions

of these subgroups and their gleyed subgroups.

Gray Solonetzic. Dominantly Gray Solodized Solonetz or Gray

Solod subgroups with inclusions of their gleyed subgroups.

Melanic Brunisolic. Dominantly Melanic Brunisol great

group.

Eutric Brunisolic.

Sombric Brunisolic.

group.

Organic Cryosolic.

Dystric Brunisolic.

group.

Dominantly Eutric Brunisol great group.

Dominantly Sombric Brunisol great

Dominantly Organic Cryosol great group.

Dominantly Dystric Brunisol great

Humic Podzolic. Dominantly Humic Podzol great group.

Regosolic. Dominantly Regosolic order.

Static Cryosolic. Dominantly Static Cryosol great group.

Turbic Cryosolic. Dominantly Turbic Cryosol great group.

Gleysolic. Dominantly Gleysolic order.

Ferro-Humic Podzolic. Dominantly Ferro-Humic Podzol great

group.

Humo-Ferric Podzolic. Dominantly Humo-Ferric Podzol great

group.

X Fibrisol.

Y Mesisol.

Z Humisol.

2 Folisol.

3

Dominantly Fibrisol great group.

Dominantly Mesisol great group.

Dominantly Humisol great group.

Dominantly Folisol great group.

Podzolic Gray. Podzolic Gray Luvisol subgroup; only occurs

as subdominant.

Not applicable. (water, rock, or ice).

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 fragments from 0.2 to 60 cm or more in size. In the

dominant and subdominant coarse fragment content attributes, the following values are used to

represent the various groupings:

Code Description

A

B

C

D

#

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

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

10-30%.

31-65%.

>65%.

Not applicable.

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 attributes, the following values are used to represent

the various groupings:

Page 19
Code Description

0

50

i00

200

#

<20 cm

20-75 cm

76-150 cm

>150 cm

Not applicable (e.g., rock, ice)

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, Ortstein). In the dominant and subdominant compacted,

consolidated, or contrasting layer attributes, the following values are used to represent the various

groupings:

Code Description

A

B

C

D

R

G

Compacted parent material. Compacted glacial till or other

material.

Basal till. Compacted glacial till deposited beneath a

moving glacier.

Compacted material (anthropogenic) . Soil material compacted

by human activities that adversely affect crop production.

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.

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.

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.

Placic horizon. This layer (commonly <5 ram 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.

Rock. Consolidated bedrock too hard either to break with

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

Gravel. A layer of coarse fragments with diameters of

Page 20
0.2-7.5 cm.

Colluvium. See attribute number 09, code C.

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%.

Silt. Soil texture class in which the material contains

>80% silt and <12% clay.

Clay. Soil texture class in which the material contains

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

Not applicable.

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 attributes, the following values are used to represent the various

groupings:

Code Description

0-49 cm

50-100 cm

>i00 cm

<i00 cm for mineral overlays

<160 cm for shall (terric) organic

Not applicable

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 attributes, the following values are used to represent the

various groupings:

Code Description

R

W

M

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.

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.

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.

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

Page 21
V

by subsurface flow are necessary in coarse-textured soils.

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 ground water, or both, is the main

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

a significant part of the growing season.

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 ground water

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

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

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; ground water flow and subsurface

flow are the major sources of water; precipitation is less

important except where there is a perched water table.

Not applicable.

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. Most people consider it 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 attributes, the

following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Code Description

50 mm

i00 mm

150 mm

200 mm

250 mm

Not applicable (Solonetzic or saline soils)

Not applicable (high water table)

Not applicable (perennially frozen subsoils)

Not applicable (water, ice, rock)

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 attributes, the following values are used to represent the various

groupings:

Code Description

0-2 m Most shallow water table during growing season

2-3 m

>3 m

0-i m

1-2 m

0-i m With perennially frozen subsoil

Not applicable (water, ice, rock)

Attribute does not occur

Page 22
Ice type- Thetypeof icefoundin thesoil.In thedominantandsubdominanticetypeattributes,the

following valuesareusedto representhevariousgroupings:

Code Description

1 Ice crystals and ice lenses

2 Ice wedges

3 Massive ground ice

4 Undifferentiated

# Not applicable

- Attribute does not occur

Ice content - The relative amount of ice contained in the soil. In the dominant and subdominant ice

content attributes, the following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Code Description

L Low

M Medium

H High

# Not applicable

- Attribute does not occur

Permafrost occurrence - The relative occurrence of permafrost in the soil of the area. In the dominant

and subdominant permafrost occurrence attributes, the following values are used to represent the

various groupings:

Code Description

V Very sporadic. Sparse patches of permafrost occurring near

the southern limit of permafrost.

S Sporadic. The occurrence of isolated patches or islands of

permafrost near the southern boundary of discontinuous

permafrost zone.

D Discontinuous. Permafrost occurring in some areas beneath

the exposed land surface throughout a geographic region

where other areas are free of permafrost.

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.

# Not applicable.

- 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 attribute 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 attributes, the

following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Page 23
Code Description

01 Sorted circle. Patterned ground having a dominantly

circular mesh and a sorted appearance commonly produced by a

border of stones surrounding finer material.

02 Sorted net. Patterned ground having a mesh neither

dominantly circular nor polygonal; a sorted appearance

results from borders of stones surrounding finer material.

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.

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 >i m.

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

diameter is <i m.

06 Nonsorted circle. Patterned ground having a dominantly

circular mesh but lacking a border of stones.

07 Nonsorted net. Patterned ground having neither a

dominantly circular or polygonal mesh nor a border of

stones.

08 Nonsorted large polygon. Patterned ground having a

dominantly polygonal mesh but lacking a border of stones;

polygon diameter is >i m.

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

diameter is <i m.

i0 Earth hummock. Hummock having a core of silty and clayey

mineral soil and showing signs of cryoturbation.

ii 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 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 No pattern. Unpatterned ground.

# Not applicable.

- Attribute does not occur.

pH of upper 15 cm of soil measured in CaC12 - The pH of the upper 15 cm of soil as measured using

CaC12. The value in the attribute 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 attribute 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 attribute 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 attributes, the following values are used to represent

the various groupings:

Page 24
Code Description

0 <0.1%

i 0.1-0.5%

2 0 .6-1 .5%

3 >i .5%

# Not applicable (water, rock,

- Attribute does not occur

ice)

Thickness of humus layer (L, F, H) - The thickness categories for the humus layer. In the dominant

and subdominant thickness of humus layer attributes, the following values are used to represent the

various groupings:

Code Description

0 <5 cm

1 5-10 cm

2 11-20 cm

3 21-40 cm

4 >40 cm

# Not applicable

- Attribute does

(e.g., cultivated, eroded)

not occur

Calcareous class of parent material - The calcareous class of the parent material. In the dominant and

subdominant calcareous class attributes, the following values are used to represent the various

groupings:

Code Description

0 Noncalcareous. No CaCO3 detectable with dilute HCI.

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

dilute HCl) .

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

effervescence with dilute HCl) .

3 Extremely. >40% CaCO3 equivalents (very strong

effervescence with dilute HCl) .

# Not applicable (water, rock, ice) .

- 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 attributes, the

following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Page 25
Code Description

A

BG

BL

BC

BR

BS

C

CA

CC

CH

CY

D

DB

DC

DG

DU

E

EO

ES

F

FH

FO

G

GG

GG

GL

GM

GV

GY

HC

Acid surface soil. pH <6.0.

Bog. See attribute number 09, code B.

Black Chernozemic soil. See attribute number ii, code C.

Brown Chernozemic soil. See attribute number ii, code A.

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.

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

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

Clay substrate. Clay material forming a lithologic

discontinuity within 1 m of the soil surface.

Calcareous surface soil. Indicated by visible effervescence

when dilute HCl is added.

Colluvium. See attribute number 09, code C.

Chernozemic soil. Unspecified Chernozemic soils; more than

one subgroup present.

Clay. See attribute number i0.

Dissected surface form. See attribute number 07, code D.

Dark Brown Chernozemic soil. See attribute number ii,

code B.

Deep colluvium. Colluvial material (see attribute number

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

Deep gravelly fluvioglacial. Gravelly fluvioglacial

material to a depth of >i m; see attribute numbers 09 (code

F) and i0.

Duric material. See attribute number 15, code D.

Eroded knolls. Relatively light-colored knolls compared to

other slope positions, occurring in hummocky or knoll-andkettle surface forms.

Eolian material. >50 cm of eolian material (see attribute

number 09, code E) .

Eroded slopes. Slopes eroded by water.

Fluvioglacial substrate. Substrate of fluvioglacial

material (see attribute number 09, code F

Ferro-Humic Podzolic soil. See attribute number ii, code V.

Folisol. See attribute number ii, code 2

Sandy loam morainal material. Morainal material with a

sandy loam texture (see attribute number i0) .

Gravelly alluvium. See attribute numbers 09 (code A) and

i0.

Gravelly fluvioglacial material. See attribute numbers 09

(code F) and i0.

Gleyed soil. Presence of faint to distinct mottles (or

blotches) of different color interspersed within the

dominant matrix color.

Gravelly marine material. See attribute number 09 (code W)

and i0.

Orthic Gray Luvisolic soil. See attribute number ii,

code F.

Gleysolic soil. See attribute number ii, code U.

Shallow lithic colluvium. Colluvial material (see attribute

number 09, code C) overlying a lithic contact 50-100 cm from

Page 26
HP

HU

I

IC

ID

L

LC

LF

LI

LM

LO

LS

LU

H

HL

MP

N

NN

O

OC

OT

P

PD

PP

RI

R2

R3

R4

RD

RG

SA

SC

SD

SF

SG

SH

SL

SO

the surface.

Humo-Ferric Podzolic soil. See attribute number ii, code W.

Hummocky surface form. See attribute number 07, code H.

Brunisolic Gray Luvisolic soil. See attribute number ii,

code I.

Ice. See attribute number 03, code C.

Imperfectly drained soil. See attribute number 17, code I.

Melanic Brunisolic soil. See attribute number ii, code L.

Lacustrine material. See attribute number 09, code L.

Loamy alluvium material. See attribute numbers 09 (code A)

and i0.

Lithic layer. Bedrock occurring within the normal depth of

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

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

soil separates contain <35% clay and coarse fragments occupy

<35% by volume.

Loamy marine material. See attribute numbers 09 (code W)

and i0.

Silty lacustrine material. See attribute numbers 09

(code L) and i0.

Luvisolic soil. See attribute number ii, code E or F.

Eutric Brunisolic soil. See attribute number ii, code M.

Clay loam marine material. See attribute numbers 09

(code W) and i0.

Moss peat. Relatively undecomposed, spongy organic

material.

Sombric Brunisolic soil. See attribute number ii, code N.

None.

Organic material. See attribute number 09, code O.

Organic Cryosolic soil. See attribute number ii, code O.

Ortstein. See attribute number 15, code O.

Dystric Brunisolic soil. See attribute number ii, code P.

Poorly drained soil. See attribute number 17, code P.

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

surface layer (<40-cm thick) .

Soft rock outcrops. See attribute number 03, code RI.

Hard rock outcrops, acidic. Granite rock outcrops.

Hard rock outcrops, basic. Limestone rock outcrops.

Hard rock outcrops, undifferentiated. See attribute number

03, code R4.

Rapidly drained soil. See attribute number 17, code R.

Regosolic soil. See attribute number ii, code R.

Saline soil. Soil causing an obvious reduction in crop

growth, may have white surface crust.

Static Cryosolic soil. See attribute number ii, code S.

Sandy marine material. Marine material with a sand texture

class; see attribute numbers 09 (code A) and i0.

Sandy alluvium. See attribute numbers 09 (code A) and i0.

Sandy fluvioglacial material. Fluvioglacial material but

with a sand texture class; see attribute numbers 09 (code F)

and i0.

Gravelly shoreline. See attribute number i0.

Silty alluvium. See attribute numbers 09 (code A) and i0.

Sombric Humo-Ferric Podzolic soil. See attribute number ii,

Page 27
SP

SS

ST

SY

T

TA

TC

TE

TR

TT

VA

VS

WD

WE

WT

X

Y

Z

ii

14

17

21

23

#

22

code W.

Steep surface form. See attribute number 07, code S.

Silty surface texture. See attribute number i0.

Stony surface. Sufficient stones to seriously handicap

cultivation.

Sandy material. See attribute number i0.

Till substrate. Till (or morainal) material forming a

lithologic discontinuity within 1 m of the soil surface

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

the foot of a steep slope.

Turbic Cryosolic soil. See attribute number ii, code T

Terric layer. Unconsolidated mineral substratum occurring

within the normal depth of organic soil development

(40-160 cm) .

Terraced surface form. See attribute number 07, code T.

Anthropogenic material. See attribute number 09, Code T.

Volcanic ash. Deposition of fine, wind-transported material

of volcanic origin deposited in thin layers that persist for

a long time in bogs, river terraces, talus slopes, and kettle

holes.

Very shallow lithic layer. Rock material occurring at <50

cm from the surface.

Well-drained soil. See attribute number 17, code W.

Wind erosion. Removal of surface soil particles caused by

wind action.

Wetlands. Lands dominated by the persistent presence of

excess water indicated by Gleysolic and shallow Organic

soils under a cover of hydrophytic vegetation.

Fibrisol. See attribute number ii, code X.

Mesisol. See attribute number ii, code Y.

Humisol. See attribute number ii, code Z.

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

decomposition in which fibric materials are readily

identifiable as to botanical origin.

Patterned ground. See attribute number 24.

Bouldery material. Rounded or irregular coarse fragments

>60 cm in diameter.

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

intermediate) degree of decomposition.

Mesic-woody forest material. Woody-forest organic material

in a mesic degree of decomposition; the material is partly

altered physically and biochemically.

Not applicable.

Attribute does not occur.

(Not in original documentation.)

Inclusions 2 - The secondary type of inclusions found. In the dominant and subdominant inclusions

attributes, 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 attributes, the following values are used

to represent the various groupings:

Page 28
Code Description

A

B

C

D

E

G

H

M

P

R

S

SP

TA

TL

TM

U

#

Agricultural crops. Annual field crops.

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

with Sphagnum spp. and ericaceous shrubs.

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

species.

Deciduous forest. Dominated by broadleaf species.

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

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

Grassland. Perennial native grassland or improved pasture.

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.

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

Parkland. A forest-grassland transition comprising a mosaic

of trembling aspen stands interspersed with patches of

cropland, grassland, and meadow.

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.

Shrubland. Dominated by shrub species.

Sedge peat. Dominated by Carex spp. and generally

moderately decomposed and matted; the sedge leaves are

readily identifiable to the naked eye.

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.

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 foresttundra ecotone adjacent to the treeline; tundra vegetation

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

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

birches.

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

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

Unvegetated surface.

Not applicable.

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 attributes, the following values are used to represent the various

groupings:

Page 29
Code Description

M

L

V

#

F

Small. <i km 2 (not visible on i:i,000,000 scale Landsat

imagery).

Medium. i-i0 km 2.

Large. 11-50 km 2.

Very large. >50 km 2.

Not applicable.

Attribute does not occur.

(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 attributes, the

following values are used to represent the various groupings:

Code Description

F

C

M

A

#

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

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

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

Abundant. Water bodies cover >50% area of polygon.

Not applicable.

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 attributes, the following values are used to represent the

various groupings:

Code Description

V

M

Very low. Compiled from interpretation of Landsat data

only; no ground data are collected for verification of these

areas.

Low. Compiled from soil survey maps produced from field

traverses at wide intervals (up to i0 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.

Medium. Produced from systematic traverses by helicopter

and by interpretation of stereoscopic aerial photograph or

compiled from modern soil survey procedures, including

traversing existing accessible roads in wilderness areas,

and aided by interpretation of stereoscopic aerial

photographs.

High. Compiled from modern soil survey maps produced from

field traverses at <l.6-km intervals and with the aid of

stereoscopic aerial photographs.

Not applicable.

Attribute does not occur.

Complexity class of polygon - The relative complexity or variability of the soil in the area. In the

dominant and subdominant complexity class attributes, the following values are used to represent the

various groupings:

Page 30
Code Description

M

Low. Soil and landscape attributes within the polygon are

uniform for most interpretations; in most cases the polygon

has only a dominant component.

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.

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.

Not applicable.

Attribute does not occur.

Soil name - The dominant and subdominant soil name.

Parent material textural group - The texture group of the parent material. In the dominant and

subdominant parent material texture attributes, the following values are used to represent the various

groupings:

Code Description

sd

sl

lm

cl

cy

#

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

VGS, LVFS, VS, GLS, and VGLS.

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

Loam. Group includes GL, CBL, L GSIL, VL, and SIL.

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

SICL.

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

Not applicable.

Attribute does not occur.

Area of Polygon - The area of the polygon in kilohectares to one decimal place.

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.

Grid code for locating polygons - Unitless but coded value.

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.

Page 31
Coarsefragmentcontentof mineralsoils- Unitlessbut codedvalue.

Rootingdepth,unrestricted- Unitlessbutcodedvalue.

Kind of compacted,consolidated,or contrastinglayer- None.

Depthto compacted,consolidated,or contrastinglayer- None.

Drainageclass- Unitlessbut codedvalue.

Availablewatercapacityin upper120cm- Unitlessbutcodedvalue.

Averagedepthto watertable- Unitlessbutcodedvalue.

Ice type- Unitlessbut codedvalue.

Ice content- Unitlessbut codedvalue.

Permafrostoccurrence- Unitlessbutcodedvalue.

Active layerdepthin soilswith permafrost- Centimeters.

Kind of patternedgroundin soilswith permafrost- Unitlessbutcodedvalue.

pH of upper15cm of soil measuredin CaCI2- Tenthsof pHunits.Divideby 10.

pH of upper15cmof soilmeasuredin water- Tenthsof pH units.Divideby 10.

Organiccarbonof upper15cmof soil- Percent.

Nitrogencontentof upper15cmof soil - Unitlessbut codedvalue.

Thicknessof humuslayer(L, F, H) - Unitlessbutcodedvalue.

Calcareousclassof parentmaterial- Unitlessbutcodedvalue.

Inclusions1- Unitlessbutcodedvalue.

Inclusions2 - Unitlessbutcodedvalue.

Vegetativecoverorlanduse,orboth- Unitlessbut codedvalue.

LakesizeestimatedfromLandsatimagery- Unitlessbutcodedvalue.

Reliability classof polygon- Unitlessbut codedvalue.

Complexityclassof polygon- Unitlessbutcodedvalue.

Soil name1- Unitlessbutcodedvalue.

Soil name2 - Unitlessbutcodedvalue.

Parentmaterialtexturalgroup- Unitlessbutcodedvalue.

Areaof polygon- Kilohectares.

7.3.4 Data Source

TheoriginalvectordatasetwasproducedbyAgricultureCanadaandwasacquiredfrom:

CanSISProjectLeader

LandResourceResearchCentre

ResearchBranch,AgricultureCanada

CentralExperimentFarm

K.W. NearbyBuilding

Ottawa,Ontario,CanadaK1A 0C6

7.3.5 Data Range

Thevariousdatalayershavedifferentdataranges.Someof thepotentialvaluesarelistedunderthe

variabledescriptionsprovidedin Section7.3.2.

7.4 Sample Data Record

Not applicablefor thesetypesof datafiles.

Page32
8. Data Organization

8.1 Data Granularity

The smallest amount of obtainable data is the entire data set containing all of the vector layers and

their supporting files.

8.2 Data Format(s)

8.2.1 Uncompressed Data Files

The regional soils product contains 10 total files containing American Standard Code for

Information Interchange (ASCII) information.

The first file is the ARC/INFO EXPORT file for the Saskatchewan data set. This file contains the

soil polygon boundaries. The second file contains the Canada Soil Information System (CanSIS)

documentation for the data. The third file contains information about the projection parameters. The

fourth file is an ARC/INFO EXPORT file containing the INFO dominant attribute table for the

polygons. The fifth file is an ARC/INFO EXPORT file containing the INFO subdominant attribute

table for the polygons.

Files 6 through 10 contain the same type of information, respectively, for the Manitoba data set.

When reading the data from tape, the records should be organized in logical record lengths of 80

bytes each. The data are written to tape in 8,000- or 3,280-byte records to save time and space in

writing to and reading from the tape media.

File Description

1 ARC/INFO EXPORT of polygon coverage of Saskatchewan

2 CanSIS documentation file for the Saskatchewan data

3 Projection parameters for the Saskatchewan data

4 ARC/INFO EXPORT file of INFO table with dominant soil attributes for

Saskatchewan data

5 ARC/INFO EXPORT file of INFO table with subdominant soil attributes for

Saskatchewan data

6 ARC/INFO EXPORT of polygon coverage of Manitoba

7 CanSIS documentation file for the Manitoba data

8 Projection parameters for the Manitoba data

9 ARC/INFO EXPORT file of INFO table with dominant soil attributes for

Manitoba data

i0 ARC/INFO EXPORT file of INFO table with subdominant soil attributes for

Manitoba data

File Max. Record Number

Number size (bytes) of Records

1 8000 1694

2 8000 5

3 3280 1

4 8000 38

5 8000 38

6 8000 789

7 8000 5

8 3280 1

9 8000 17

i0 8000 17

Page 33
Beforeimportingthefiles intoARC/INFO,thenamesof thefiles shouldincludethe.e00extension

sincetheARC/INFOIMPORTcommandexpectsfile namestohavethisextension.

8.2.2 Compressed CD-ROM Files

OntheBOREASCD-ROMs,files 1throughl0 havebeencompressedwiththeGzipcompression

program(file name*.gz).Thesedatahavebeencompressedusinggzipversion1.2.4andthehigh

compression(-9) option(Copyright(C) 1992-1993Jean-loupGailly). Gzip(GNU zip) usesthe

Lempel-Zivalgorithm(Welch,1994)usedin thezip andPKZIPprograms.Thecompressedfilesmay

beuncompressedusinggzip (-doption)or gunzip.Gzipis availablefrom manyWebsites(for

example,ftp siteprep.ai.mit.edu/pub/gnu/gzip-*.*)for avarietyof operatingsystemsin both

executableandsourcecodeform.Versionsof thedecompressionsoftwarefor varioussystemsare

includedontheCD-ROMs.

Notethataftertheyareuncompressed,thenamesof thefiles shouldincludethe.e00extension

sincetheARC/INFOIMPORTcommandexpectsfile namestohavethisextension.

9. Data Manipulations

9.1 Formulae

No changes were made to the data as they were delivered to BORIS.

9.1.1 Derivation Techniques and Algorithms

None.

9.2 Data Processing Sequence

9.2.1 Processing Steps

BORIS staff" copied and compressed the 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 could be interpretation or digitizing error. There is

also the possibility of coding and keying errors in the attributes.

10.2 Quality Assessment

Page 34
10.2.1 Data Validation by Source

The data were visually inspected to ensure that they were the data indicated in the original

documentation.

10.2.2 Confidence Level/Accuracy Judgment

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 is to be used

when inferring information from these data.

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. 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. Unfortunately, many of

the attributes along the border have different values. Therefore, a sharp discontinuity exists along the

border in many of the files, a result of 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 could 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. Also note that after they are uncompressed, the names of the files

should include the .e00 extension since the ARC/INFO IMPORT command expects file names to have

this extension.

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 assess the severity of the problems.

• Locate general areas that may be suitable for particular types of land use that can be selected

for more detailed investigations.

Page 35
Apply generalresearchfindingsandagrotechnologyproceduresthataresuccessfulin onepart

of thecountryto otherareasthathavesimilarattributes.

Link soil andlandinformationwith otherdatabases,suchasinformationonclimate,

economics,or census,for assessinglanduseonaregional,national,or evenaninternational

scale.

Educategeographystudentsatcollegesoruniversities.

13. Future Modifications and Plans

CanSIS has future plans to resolve these 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 import and visually

inspect the data. 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 ESRI for details. Gzip is available from many Web

sites across the Internet (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

The CanSIS regional soils data in vector format are available from the Earth Observing System Data

and Information System (EOSDIS) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active

Archive Center (DAAC).

15.1 Contact Information

For BOREAS data and documentation please contact:

ORNL DAAC User Services

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

P.O. Box 2008 MS-6407

Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6407

Phone: (423) 241-3952

Fax: (423) 574-4665

E-mail: ornldaac@ornl.gov or ornl@eos.nasa.gov

15.2 Data Center Identification

Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Oak Ridge National Laboratory

(ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) for Biogeochemical Dynamics

http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/.

Page 36
15.3 Procedures for Obtaining Data

Based on agreements made with Agriculture Canada, these data are available only to individuals

and groups that have an official relationship with the BOREAS project. A raster version of this data set

titled 'BOREAS Regional Soils Data in Raster Format and AEAC Projection' is publicly available and

is included on the BOREAS CD-ROM set.

Users may obtain data directly through the ORNL DAAC online search and order system

[http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/] and the anonymous FTP site [ftp://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/data/] or by

contacting User Services by electronic mail, telephone, fax, letter, or personal visit using the contact

information in Section 15.1.

15.4 Data Center Status/Plans

The ORNL DAAC is the primary source for BOREAS field measurement, image, GIS, and

hardcopy data products. The BOREAS CD-ROM and data referenced or listed in inventories on the

CD-ROM are available from the ORNL DAAC.

16. Output Products and Availability

16.1 Tape Products

These data can be made available on 8-ram, Digital Archive Tape (DAT), or 9-track tapes at 1600

or 6250 Bytes Per Inch (BPI).

16.2 Film Products

None.

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

Page 37
of Soil Science64:667-680.

ExpertCommitteeonSoilSurvey.1982.TheCanadasoilinformationsystem(CanSIS)manualfor

describingsoilsin thefield,revised.LandResourceResearchInstitute,ResearchBranch,Agriculture

Canada,Ottawa,Ont. 166pp.

GeoanalysisLtd. 1981.Landformdescriptiveclassesfor higherlevelsof ecologicallandclassification.

S.Ringrose,ed.ContractNo.KL229-0-4581,LandsDirectorate,EnvironmentCanada,18pp.

Manitoba-CanadaSoilSurveyUnit. 1990.Soil Landscapesof Canada-Manitoba; Digital MapData;

Scale1:1000000;CanSISNo. MN068200,version91.03.31;CLBRRArchive,AgricultureCanada,

ResearchBranch,Ottawa,Canada.CLBRRContributionNo. 91-109D.

Mills G.F.,MDA; R.G. Eilers,R.E.Smith,W. Michalyna,H.Veldhuis,andW. Fraser,CDA. 1990.

Soil Landscapesof Canada-Manitoba; Soil landscapespolygonattributedigitaldata;CanSISNo.

MN068200,version91.03.31;CLBRRArchive,AgricultureCanada,ResearchBranch,Ottawa,

Canada.CLBRR ContributionNo. 91-110D.

Newcomer,J.,D. Landis,S.Conrad,S.Curd,K. Huemmrich,D. Knapp,A. Morrell, J.Nickeson,

A. Papagno,D. Rinker,R.Strub,T. Twine,F. Hall, andP.Sellers,eds.2000.CollectedDataof The

BorealEcosystem-AtmosphereStudy.NASA. CD-ROM.

Padbury,G.A. andJ.A. Shields.1991.Soil Landscapesof Canada-SaskatchewanSoil Landscapes

PolygonAttributeDigital Data.CanSISNo. SK018200,version90.11.30;CLBRRArchive,

AgricultureCanada,ResearchBranch,Ottawa,Canada.CLBRRContributionNo. 91-108D.

PermafrostSubcommittee,AssociateCommitteeonGeotechnicalResearch.1988.Glossaryof

permafrostandrelatedground-iceterms.NationalResearchCouncilof Canada,Ottawa,Ont.,

TechnicalMemorandumNo. 142,156pp.

ResearchBranch,AgricultureCanada.1976.Glossaryof termsin soil science.ResearchBranch,

CanadaDepartmentof Agriculture,Ottawa,Ont.,Publication1459,44pp.

Sellers,P.andF.Hall. 1994.BorealEcosystem-AtmosphereStudy:ExperimentPlan.Version

1994-3.0,NASA BOREASReport(EXPLAN 94).

Sellers,P.andF.Hall. 1996.BorealEcosystem-AtmosphereStudy:ExperimentPlan.Version

1996-2.0,NASA BOREASReport(EXPLAN 96).

Sellers,P.,F. Hall, andK.F. Huemmrich.1996.BorealEcosystem-AtmosphereStudy:1994

Operations.NASA BOREASReport(OPSDOC94).

Sellers,P.,F. Hall, andK.F. Huemmrich.1997.BorealEcosystem-AtmosphereStudy:1996

Operations.NASA BOREASReport(OPSDOC96).

Sellers,P.,F. Hall, H. Margolis,B. Kelly, D. Baldocchi,G. denHartog,J.Cihlar, M.G. Ryan,B.

Goodison,P.Crill, K.J.Ranson,D. Lettenmaier,andD.E. Wickland. 1995.Theboreal

ecosystem-atmospherestudy(BOREAS):anoverviewandearlyresultsfrom the1994field year.

Bulletinof theAmericanMeteorologicalSociety.76(9):1549-1577.

Page38
Sellers,P.J.,F.G.Hall, R.D.Kelly, A. Black, D. Baldocchi,J. Berry, M. Ryan,K.J. Ranson,P.M.

Crill, D.P.Lettenmaier,H. Margolis,J.Cihlar, J.Newcomer,D. Fitzjarrald,P.G.Jarvis,S.T.

Gower,D. Halliwell, D. Williams, B. Goodison,D.E.Wickland, andF.E.Guertin.1997.BOREAS

in 1997:ExperimentOverview,ScientificResultsandFutureDirections.Journalof Geophysical

Research102(D24):28,731-28,770.

ShieldsJ.A., C. Tarnocai,K.W.G. Valentine,andK.B. MacDonald.1991.Soil landscapesof

Canada-ProceduresManualandUser'sHandbook.LandResourceandResearchCentre,Agriculture

Canada,Ottawa,Canada.Publication1868/E,LRRC ContributionNumber:88-29.

17.3 Archive/DBMS Usage Documentation

None.

None.

18. Glossary of Terms

AEAC

ASCII

BOREAS

BORIS

BPI

CanSIS

CCRS

CCT

CD-ROM

DAAC

DAT

EOS

EOSDIS

ESRI

GIS

GSFC

LCC

LRRC

MSS

NAD27

NASA

NSA

ORNL

PANP

SSA

TM

URL

UTM

19. List of Acronyms

- Albers Equal-Area Conic

- American Standard Code for Information Interchange

- BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study

- BOREAS Information System

- Bytes Per Inch

- Canada Soil Information System

- Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing

- Computer Compatible Tape

- Compact Disk-Read-Only Memory

- Distributed Active Archive Center

- Digital Archive Tape

- Earth Observing System

- EOS Data and Information System

- Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.

- Geographic Information System

- Goddard Space Flight Center

- Lambert Conformal Conic

- Land Resource Research Centre

- Multispectral Scanner

- North American Datum of 1927

- National Aeronautics and Space Administration

- Northern Study Area

- Oak Ridge National Laboratory

- Prince Albert National Park

- Southern Study Area

- Thematic Mapper

- Uniform Resource Locator

- Universal Transverse Mercator

Page 39
20. Document Information

20.1 Document Revision Date(s)

Written: 02-Dec- 1994

Last Updated: 15-Dec- 1999

20.2 Document Review Date(s)

BORIS Review: 05-Jun- 1997

Science Review:

20.3 Document ID

20.4 Citation

When using these data, please include the following acknowledgment as well as citations of

relevant papers in Section 17.2:

The original data were provided by Agriculture Canada. The contribution of the vector data by

Agriculture Canada is greatly appreciated.

If using data from the BOREAS CD-ROM series, also reference the data as:

BOREAS Staff Science, "BOREAS Staff Science GIS Data Collection Program." In Collected

Data of The Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study. Eds. J. Newcomer, D. Landis, S. Conrad, S.

Curd, K. Huemmrich, D. Knapp, A. Morrell, J. Nickeson, A. Papagno, D. Rinker, R. Strub, T.

Twine, F. Hall, and P. Sellers. CD-ROM. NASA, 2000.

Also, cite the BOREAS CD-ROM set as:

Newcomer, J., D. Landis, S. Conrad, S. Curd, K. Huemmrich, D. Knapp, A. Morrell, J.

Nickeson, A. Papagno, D. Rinker, R. Strub, T. Twine, F. Hall, and P. Sellers, eds. Collected Data of

The Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study. NASA. CD-ROM. NASA, 2000.

20.5 Document Curator

20.6 Document URL

Page 40
REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE FormApproved

OMB No. 0704-0188

Public reporting burden for this collection of informationis estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources,

gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this

collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson

Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188), Washington, DC 20503.

1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED

September 2000 Technical Memorandum

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS

Technical Report Series on the Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS)

CanSIS Regional Soils Data in Vector Format 923

6. AUTHOR(S) RTOP: 923-462-33-01

Bryan Monette and David Knapp

Forrest G. Hall, Editor

7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS (ES)

Goddard Space Flight Center

Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

9. SPONSORING / MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS (ES)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Washington, DC 20546-0001

8. PEFORMING ORGANIZATION

REPORT NUMBER

2000-03136-0

10. SPONSORING / MONITORING

AGENCY REPORT NUMBER

TM--2000-209891

Vol. ll0

11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

B. Monette: Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada;

D. Knapp: Raytheon ITSS, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland

12a. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Unclassifie_Unlimited

Subject Category: 43

Report available from the NASA Center for AeroSpace Information,

7121 Standard Drive, Hanover, MD 21076-1320. (301) 621-0390.

12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE

13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)

This data set is the original vector data set received from CanSIS. The data include the provinces of

Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Attribute tables provide the various soil data for the polygons; there is

one attribute table for Saskatchewan and one for Manitoba. The data are stored in ARC/INFO export

format files. Based on agreements made with Agriculture Canada, these data are available only to

individuals and groups that have an official relationship with the BOREAS project. These data are not

included on the BOREAS CD-ROM set. A raster version of this data set titled 'BOREAS Regional

Soils Data in Raster Format and AEAC Projection' is publicly available and is included on the

BOREAS CD-ROM set. See Section 15 for current details on data availability.

14. SUBJECT TERMS

BOREAS, remote sensing science, CanSIS.

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