North America Nighttime Lights

Overview This map layer prepared by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) presents the cumulative impact of human activities on marine ecosystems across North America based on Halpern et al. 2008. A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems. Science 319 (5865): 948–952. To generate this map, a research team collected or created global maps of 17 different human activities, such as fishing and pollution, that have an impact on marine ecosystems, as well as maps of different marine ecosystems. The team quantified the vulnerability of each marine ecosystem to the different human activities, and this map of human impacts was made by combining the threat maps and the vulnerability scores. Geographic Coverage The coverage spans North American marine areas, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Data Sources and Licensing Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, Halpern et al. (2008). The data is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), allowing redistribution and adaptation with appropriate attribution. Update frequency: Not planned Limitations of use: Acknowledgment of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation and/or the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis is appreciated in products derived from these data. Vintage: 2007–2008 Applications (Intended Use) Marine spatial planning and ecosystem-based management. Allocation of conservation resources and identification of priority areas for protection. Assessing cumulative human pressures on ocean ecosystems for research and education. Supporting cross-border environmental cooperation and policy-making among North American nations. Files Download

Overview This layer shows North America classified into "anthropogenic biomes," also known as "anthromes" or "human biomes." Biomes are major global ecosystem types, characterized by particular climate and soil conditions and distinctive forms of life adapted to these conditions. Incorporating the significant role of humans in altering ecosystems, this layer offers a new way of classifying the parts of the earth in which life exists.  Geographic Coverage The coverage spans the entire North American continent, including Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Data Sources and Licensing Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), based on the anthropogenic biomes classification developed by Erle C. Ellis and Navin Ramankutty in 2008, Putting people in the map: Anthropogenic biomes of the world. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 6, doi:10.1890/070062. The data is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), allowing redistribution and adaptation, including for commercial purposes, with appropriate attribution. Update frequency: Not planned Limitations of use: None. Acknowledgment of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation and/or Ellis & Ramankutty (2008) would be appreciated in products derived from these data. Vintage: 2008 Applications (Intended Use) Research on human influence on terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity. Land use and land cover analysis integrating human population patterns. Conservation planning that accounts for the degree of human alteration of natural systems. Integration with other thematic layers in the North American Environmental Atlas for comprehensive continental analysis. Files Download

Overview This dataset shows North American land cover for 2005 at a spatial resolution of 250 meters, based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite imagery. It provides a harmonized view of the physical cover of Earth's surface across the continent, classified into nineteen Level II land cover classes defined using the Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) standard developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The dataset was produced as part of the North American Land Change Monitoring System (NALCMS), a trilateral effort between Natural Resources Canada, the United States Geological Survey, and three Mexican organizations: the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía), the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad), and the National Forestry Commission of Mexico (Comisión Nacional Forestal). The collaboration is facilitated by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), an international organization created by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation to promote environmental collaboration between the three countries. Land Cover Classes The raster attribute table provides 19 thematic land cover classes: 1: Temperate or sub-polar needleleaf forest 2: Sub-polar taiga needleleaf forest 3: Tropical or sub-tropical broadleaf evergreen forest 4: Tropical or sub-tropical broadleaf deciduous forest 5: Temperate or sub-polar broadleaf deciduous forest 6: Mixed forest 7: Tropical or sub-tropical shrubland 8: Temperate or sub-polar shrubland 9: Tropical or sub-tropical grassland 10: Temperate or sub-polar grassland 11: Sub-polar or polar shrubland-lichen-moss 12: Sub-polar or polar grassland-lichen-moss 13: Sub-polar or polar barren-lichen-moss 14: Wetland 15: Cropland 16: Barren land 17: Urban and built-up 18: Water 19: Snow and ice Geographic Coverage This dataset covers Canada, Alaska, the conterminous United States, and Mexico. Data Sources and Licensing This dataset represents the baseline North American Land Cover product for 2005, later updated to produce the 2010 edition. This version (3.0) supersedes Edition 2.0, correcting labeling and classification errors identified after the initial release, and removes the water buffer along the coastline of North America to ensure consistent statistics for the water class. The dataset is produced by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), derived from national land cover maps provided by Natural Resources Canada, the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, the National Forestry Commission; and the United States Geological Survey. The compiled dataset is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), allowing redistribution and adaptation with appropriate attribution. Update frequency: As needed Limitations of use: Intended for continental-scale reference. Vintage: 2005 Applications (Intended Use) Land cover review and continental- to national-scale mapping. Environmental monitoring and change detection over time. Spatial analysis and integration with other thematic layers in the North American Environmental Atlas. Supporting cross-border environmental cooperation and policy-making among North American nations. Files Download

Percent frequency of light detections (pct_lights) in cloud-free observations. The number of light detections is not provided but can be calculated by multiplying pct_lights by the number of cloud-free observations (cf_cvg). Data values range from 0-100. This composite set is a component of the DMSP-OLS nighttime lights imagery for the years 1992-2013. The individual images are cloud-free composites made using all the available archived DMSP-OLS (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program - Operational Linescan System) smooth resolution data for calendar years. In cases where two satellites were collecting data - two composites were produced. The products are 30 arc second grids, spanning -180 to 180 degrees longitude and -65 to 75 degrees latitude. Each composite set is named with the satellite and the year (F121995 is from DMSP satellite number F12 for the year 1995). Five ArcGIS image services are available, each containing images from 1992-2013. **Data creation:** 2016-01-01 **Contact points:** Metadata Contact: [National Geophysical Data Center](mailto:ncei.info@noaa.gov) Resource Contact: NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center NOAA Resource Contact: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) **Data lineage:** The products are 30 arc second grids, spanning -180 to 180 degrees longitude and -65 to 75 degrees latitude. A number of constraints are used to select the highest quality data for entry into the composites: * Data are from the center half of the 3000 km wide OLS swaths. Lights in the center half have better geolocation, are smaller, and have more consistent radiometry. * Sunlit data are excluded based on the solar elevation angle. * Glare is excluded based on solar elevation angle. * Moonlit data are excluded based on a calculation of lunar illuminance. * Observations with clouds are excluded based on clouds identified with the OLS thermal band data and NCEP surface temperature grids. * Lighting features from the aurora have been excluded in the northern hemisphere on an orbit-by-orbit manner using visual inspection. More information on the attached file (gcv4_readme.txt) in the Distribution info section of this metadata. **Resource constraints:** Terms of Use: Whenever using or distributing DMSP data or derived images, please credit NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). In details: Image and data processing by NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center. DMSP data collected by US Air Force Weather Agency. **Online resources:** NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) DMSP Data Download

Overview This map layer presents a dataset of named populated places across North America, encompassing Canada, the United States, and Mexico, suitable for use at a continental scale of 1:10,000,000. The information is derived from the national mapping and census agencies of each country: Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It is a revised version of the 2004 data set, released as part of a joint venture coordinated by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). Places, which refer to individual municipalities, are represented as points fitted to the North American Environmental Atlas roads, railroads, and hydrography layers, so that each point reflects the approximate location of a place relative to those features. The selection of populated places was based on local importance as indicated by population size, importance as a cross-border point, and occasionally other factors. All capital cities (national, provincial, territorial, or state) are included for Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The dataset supports multiple languages for attribute names, including English, Spanish, and French, facilitating accessibility across North America. It also includes standardized identifiers and classification codes for population class, capital status, country, and state or province for each place. Geographic Coverage The coverage spans North America, including the continental territories of Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Features located outside these three countries are included only to provide geographic context and carry no completeness or accuracy guarantees from the contributing agencies. Data Sources and Licensing This data is produced by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), derived from national atlas and census programs in Canada (Natural Resources Canada, Statistics Canada), Mexico (INEGI), and the United States (U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Census Bureau). The compiled dataset is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), allowing redistribution and adaptation with appropriate attribution. Update frequency: Irregular Limitations of use: Intended for continental-scale reference. Positional accuracy is dependent on the source data and integration processes. Data outside Canada, Mexico, and the United States is provided for context only; the CEC and partner agencies assume no responsibility for its completeness or accuracy. Vintage: The information presented in the map layer represents data compiled in 2009, based on national census records from 2000–2001. Applications (Intended Use) Continental-scale reference and base mapping Transportation and cross-border connectivity analysis Population distribution and urban settlement research Environmental and policy research requiring geographic context Educational and reference purposes Files Download

Overview This map layer prepared by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) shows the direct influence of humans on terrestrial ecosystems across North America. The Human Influence Index (HII) is based on population density, built-up areas, roads, railroads, navigable rivers, coastlines, land use/land cover, and nighttime lights. HII values range from 0 to 64, with 0 representing no human influence and 64 representing maximum human influence, based on all eight measures of human influence. The data layer was compiled by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN).  Geographic Coverage The coverage spans terrestrial areas of North America, including Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Data Sources and Licensing Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). The Last of the Wild, Version Two. 2005. Global human influence index (HII). Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN). The data is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), allowing redistribution and adaptation with appropriate attribution. Update frequency: Not planned Limitations of use: Acknowledgment of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) is appreciated in products derived from these data. Vintage: 2005 Applications (Intended Use) Conservation planning and identification of low-impact/wilderness areas. Assessing human pressure on biomes and ecoregions across North America. Supporting natural resource management and sustainability research. Cross-border environmental cooperation and policy-making among North American nations. Files Download