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North American Atlas – Sea Ice |
What this map layer shows:
The approximate extent of marine areas in the Arctic covered by permanent
polar ice.
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Background Information |
Sample Map
The North American Atlas is a cooperative project involving the Atlas
of Canada, which is part of Natural
Resources Canada; Mexico's
National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Instituto
Nacional de Estadística Geografía e Informática – INEGI);
and the National Atlas of the United
States®.
Initial North American Atlas efforts have focused on production of standardized
geospatial data sets at 1:10,000,000 scale, such as boundaries, water
features, and transportation networks. These basic data layers
have been integrated so that their relative positions are correct. The
data are intended to provide a continental view useful for studying issues
that cross political boundaries, such as energy use, the generation of
greenhouse gases, water quality, avian migration, and biodiversity. Wall
maps and additional data layers are planned for the future.
This collection of data sets forms a base with which other North American
thematic data may be integrated. Any data outside of Canada, Mexico,
and the United States of America included in the North American Atlas
data sets is strictly to complete the context of the data.
The three national atlas programs work collaboratively to produce the trilingual data and documentation and to make the data sets available
online. The North American
Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) provides coordination activities, and is adopting the North American
Atlas frameworks (fundamental map layers, such as streams, roads, and
boundaries) as an integral piece of its information management strategy. The
CEC is an international organization created by Canada, Mexico, and
the United States of America under the North American Agreement on
Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC). It was established to address
regional environmental concerns, help prevent potential trade and environmental
conflicts, and to promote the effective enforcement of environmental
law. The
Agreement complements the environmental provisions of the North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
The North American Atlas – Sea Ice data set shows the approximate
extent of marine areas in the Arctic covered by permanent polar ice. The
data originated from the Canadian Ice Service and shows the average minimum
ice limit over a 30 year period, 1969-1999. This data set was compiled
by the Atlas of Canada, INEGI, and the National Atlas of the United States®. This
data set is available for download only; it cannot be viewed in the
National Atlas Map Maker.
The North American Atlas also includes data sets showing bathymetry,
glaciers, hydrography, political
boundaries, populated places, railroads,
and roads. |
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