Major rivers (vector) of North America, Central America and the Caribbean

Source: Lauretta Burke and Jon Maidens and contributing authors: Mark Spalding, Philip Kramer, Edmund Green, Suzie Greenhalgh, Hillary Nobles, Johnathan Kool. 2004. Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean.

Major rivers (vector) of North America, Central America and the Caribbean

Metadata also available as

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: U. S. Geological Survey
Publication_Date: 102502
Title:: Major rivers (vector) of North America, Central America and the Caribbean
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Publication_Information:
Online_Linkage: <http://edcdaac.usgs.gov/gtopo30/hydro/index.asp>

Description:

Abstract:: This vector dataset consists of the stream netwok derived from USGS' HYDRO1k digital elevation model (DEM). HYDRO1k is a geographic database developed to provide comprehensive and consistent global coverage of topographically derived data sets, including streams, drainage basins and ancillary layers derived from digital elevation models (DEMs). Developed from the USGS' recently released 30 arc-second digital elevation model of the world (GTOPO30), HYDRO1k provides a suite of geo-referenced data sets, both raster and vector, which will be of value for all users who need to organize, evaluate, or process hydrologic information on a continental scale. Eight derivative data sets, six raster and two vector, are being extracted from GTOPO30 for each continent. The six raster data sets are (1). Hydrologically correct DEM, (2). Slope, (3). Aspect, (4). Flow Directions, (5). Flow Accumulations, and (6). the Compound Topographic (Wetness) Index. The derived stream network and drainage basins are being distributed as vector data sets.
Purpose:: The HYDRO1k data set provides many of the derivative products useful in earth science applications. The hydrologically correct DEM and ancillary data layers are useful in studies of earth systems including watershed analysis, landform studies and global change scenarios. Development of a standard set of data layers minimizes duplication of effort and will provide consistent global coverage.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: unknown

Currentness_Reference: publication date

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -113.513962
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -53.371935
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 51.807423
South_Bounding_Coordinate: -0.775627

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword: elevation
Theme_Keyword: rivers

Place:

Place_Keyword: Caribbean
Place_Keyword: north america
Place_Keyword: central america

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints:

Data set is not for use in litigation. While efforts have been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the state of the art, WRI, cannot assume liability for any damages, or misrepresentations, caused by any inaccuracies in the data, or as a result of the data to be used on a particular system. WRI makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: USGS
Contact_Organization: United States Geologic Survey

Contact_Address:

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Version 5.0 (Build 2195) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.0.0.535

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) EROS Data Center
Originator:: United Nations Environment Programme/Global Resource Information Database (UNEP/GRID) located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Publication_Date: 2000
Title: HYDRO1k
Publication_Information:

Type_of_Source_Media: data download

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Multiple_Dates/Times:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date:

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: HYDRO1k

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The stream line data layer distributed with the HYDRO1k data set is derived from the flow accumulation and flow direction layers. Cells with upstream drainage areas greater than 1000 km2 are selected from the flow accumulation layer and processed through the STREAMLINK function. The resulting links are attributed with the maximum flow accumulation occurring within that link and the result is vectorized using the STREAMLINE function. These procedures result in a vector data layer of streamlines with each segment of stream attributed with the upstream contributing drainage area. The vector streamlines are attributed with the following fields:

Flowacc = The maximum flow accumulation value of the stream segment. This value corresponds directly with the upstream watershed contributing area. (10-3 km2)

Pf_type = The Pfafstetter level at which the stream segment is considered "main stem".

Level1 to Level6 = The Pfafstetter units in which the stream segment lie.

Frmelevation = The elevation value of the stream segment's from-node (m)

Toelevation = The elevation value of the stream segment's to-node (m)

Strorder = Strahler stream order of the segment

Gradient = Gradient of the stream segment calculated as the difference of the from and to-node elevations divided by the length of the segment

Frmup_flowlen = The upstream flowlength from the from-node. Calculated using ARC/INFO's FLOWLENGTH function, it is the longest path from the from-node to the drainage basin divide. (m)

Toup_flowlen = The upstream flowlength from the to-node. (m)

Frmdn_flowlen = The downstream flowlength from the from-node. Again from ARC/INFO's FLOWLENGTH function, it is the length from the from-node to the ocean or a terminal sink. (m)

Todn_flowlen = The downstream flowlength from the to-node. (m)

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: HYDRO1k

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The complete HYDRO1k North America dataset was merged with a subset of the HYDRO1k South America dataset to create one dataset of rivers that drain into the western north atlantic ocean, specifically the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.

Process_Date: 2002

Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: World Resources Institute

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: String
Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 4867

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: 0.000001
Longitude_Resolution: 0.000001
Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: D_WGS_1984
Ellipsoid_Name: WGS_1984
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257224

Continued.

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