Identification_Information:
  Citation:
    Citation_Information:

      Originator: Pat S. Chavez, Jr
      Originator: Miguel G. Velasco

      Publication_Date: August 2000
      Title: Using Remote Sensing to Detect Active Dust Storms and Map Areas Vulnerable to Eolian Erosion

      Publication_Information:
        Publication_Place: USGS Flagstaff Field Center
        Publisher: United States Geological Survey
      Online_Linkage: http://TerraWeb.wr.usgs.gov/projects/RSDust/

  Description:
    Abstract:
      Wind-induced emission of dust from the land surface is a process of
      degradation: depleting fine-grained minerals critical for optimum
      vegetation growth, creating potentially hazardous air quality to
      humans on a local and regional scale, and adversely affecting climate
      on a regional and world-wide scale. The continued predictions of
      increasing concentrations in greenhouse gases also include
      predictions of increased aridification of continental interiors and the
      likelihood of enhanced dust emission. At this stage it is not
      understood how regional and global climate change will affect dust
      emissions and, in turn, how dust emission will affect the climate.

      Landsat TM data can be used to generate a detailed regional
      and somewhat local eolian erosion vulnerability image maps. Like the
      MSS data, its temporal resolution makes the data not useful for
      monitoring and detecting active dust storms, but when an active dust
      storm is captured on a TM image it should be quite detailed and
      dramatic. Also, because of the relatively high spatial resolution
      compared to GOES, SeaWiFS, WiFS, and Landsat MSS data, the
      Landsat TM data can be used for detailed analysis of vegetation
      dynamics at dust source sites. In the deserts, with the two week
      revisit time and commonly cloud free conditions it is usually not
      diffcult to find multitemporal TM data for change analysis between
      different years and/or seasons to evaluate vegetation changes
      caused by climate variations at both regional and relatively local
      scales.

      See http://TerraWeb.wr.usgs.gov:78/TRS/projects/RSDust/ for more details.

    Purpose: Mojave Desert and arid climates studies

    Supplemental_Information: This metadata file covers the full resolution mosaic.
  Time_Period_of_Content:
    Time_Period_Information:
      Range_of_Dates/Times:
        Beginning_Date: 20 June 1997
        Ending_Date: 15 July 1997
    Currentness_Reference: Landsat TM acquisition dates

  Status:
    Progress: complete
    Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: none planned


  Spatial_Domain:
    Bounding_Coordinates:
      West_Bounding_Coordinate: -117.5
      East_Bounding_Coordinate: -110.5
      North_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.75
      South_Bounding_Coordinate: 32.25

  Keywords:
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword: satellite
      Theme_Keyword: image
      Theme_Keyword: map
      Theme_Keyword: mosaic
      Theme_Keyword: dust
      Theme_Keyword: dynamics
      Theme_Keyword: climate change
      Theme_Keyword: climate
      Theme_Keyword: Earth surface
      Theme_Keyword: sands
      Theme_Keyword: environmental monitoring
      Theme_Keyword: ecological systems
      Theme_Keyword: ecology
      Theme_Keyword: wind erosion
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: NASA Thesaurus, http://www.sti.nasa.gov/thesfrm1.htm
    Place:
      Place_Keyword: Mojave Desert
      Place_Keyword: Arizona
      Place_Keyword: California
      Place_Keyword: Nevada
      Place_Keyword: Twenty-Nine Palms
      Place_Keyword: Las Vegas
      Place_Keyword: Death Valley
      Place_Keyword: Soda Lake
      Place_Keyword: Devils Playground
      Place_Keyword: Balch
      Place_Keyword: Baker
      Place_Keyword: Crucero
      Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: Geographic Names Information System, http://www-nmd.usgs.gov/www/gnis/gnisform.html
    Stratum:
      Stratum_Keyword: surface
      Stratum_Keyword_Thesaurus: NASA Thesaurus, http://www.sti.nasa.gov/thesfrm1.htm

  Access_Constraints:
    Public domain. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the
    accuracy and functioning of the data nor shall the fact of distribution constitute
    any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in connection
    therewith. Any use of trade names and trademarks in these pages is for identification
    purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the USGS.

  Use_Constraints:
    Public domain. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the
    accuracy and functioning of the data nor shall the fact of distribution constitute
    any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in connection
    therewith. Any use of trade names and trademarks in these pages is for identification
    purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the USGS.

  Point_of_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Person_Primary:
        Contact_Person: Pat S. Chavez, Jr.
        Contact_Organization: USGS
      Contact_Position: Research Scientist
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing and physical address
        Address: 2255 N. Gemini Dr.
        City: Flagstaff
        State_or_Province: Arizona
        Postal_Code: 86001
        Country: USA
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: (520) 556-7221
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: pchavez@TerraWeb.wr.usgs.gov
      Contact_Instructions:

  Browse_Graphic:
    Browse_Graphic_File_Name: http://TerraWeb.wr.usgs.gov/projects/RSDust/1997mosaic/images/RSDustMap.gif
    Browse_Graphic_File_Description:
      false color composite thumbnail of data
      (Landsat bands 2, 4, and 5 in blue, green, and red channels) 
    Browse_Graphic_File_Type: Compuserve Graphics Image Format

  Native_Data_Set_Environment:

    Software - USGS Mini Image Processing System (MIPS)
    OS - VMS, UNIX
    Freeware
    http://TerraWeb.wr.usgs.gov/TRS/software/mips/

    The data archive contains the following file types:

    *.tif image data, named for Landsat band number
    *.lbl cartographic projection and other
    image header information (MIPS, text file)


Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
  Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: raster
  Raster_Object_Information:
    Raster_Object_Type: pixel
    Row_Count: 15775
    Column_Count: 21000


Spatial_Reference_Information:
  Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
    Planar:
      Planar_Coordinate_Information:
        Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: 8-bit raster
        Coordinate_Representation:
          Abscissa_Resolution: 30
          Ordinate_Resolution: 30
        Planar_Distance_Units: meters
      Grid_Coordinate_System:
        Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
          UTM_Zone_Number: 11
          Transverse_Mercator:
            Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: .9996
            Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -117
            Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0
            False_Easting: 0
            False_Northing: 0
    Geodetic_Model:
      Ellipsoid_Name: GRS80
      Semi-major_Axis: 6378137
      Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257


Distribution_Information:
  Distributor:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Person_Primary:
        Contact_Person: Pat S. Chavez, Jr.
        Contact_Organization: USGS
      Contact_Position: Research Scientist
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing and physical address
        Address: 2255 N. Gemini Dr.
        City: Flagstaff
        State_or_Province: Arizona
        Postal_Code: 86001
        Country: USA
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: (520) 556-7221
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: pchavez@TerraWeb.wr.usgs.gov
      Contact_Instructions:

  Standard_Order_Process:
    Digital_Form:
      Digital_Transfer_Information:
        Format_Name: Interactive viewing via web-based application
        File_Decompression_Technique: n/a

      Digital_Transfer_Option:
        Online_Option:
          Computer_Contact_Information:
            Network_Address:
              Network_Resource_Name: http://TerraWeb.wr.usgs.gov/projects/RSDust/landsattm.html

    Fees: No fees or costs for the digital data.

    Ordering_Instructions:
      Data may be viewed through an interactive web interface linked on the following page
      as "Southwestern U.S. 1997 Landsat TM Mosiac":
      
      http://TerraWeb.wr.usgs.gov/projects/RSDust/landsattm.html
      
      The data is not available on CD, hardcopy, download, or any other format.
  Distribution_Liability:
    No warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the
    accessibility of the data, nor shall the fact of distribution constitute
    any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in connection
    therewith.

Metadata_Reference_Information:
  Metadata_Date: 21 February 2001
  Metadata_Review_Date: 21 February 2001
  Metadata_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Person_Primary:
        Contact_Person: Deborah Lee Soltesz
        Contact_Organization: United States Geological Survey
      Contact_Position: Computer Clerk
      Contact_Voice_Telephone: (520)556-7146
      Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: webmistress@TerraWeb.wr.usgs.gov
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing and physical address
        Address: 2255 N. Gemini Dr.
        City: Flagstaff
        State_or_Province: Arizona
        Postal_Code: 86001
        Country: USA

  Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
  Metadata_Standard_Version: 2.0