Modeling global Hammond landform regions from 250-m elevation data
In 1964, E.H. Hammond proposed criteria for classifying and mapping physiographic regions of the United States. Hammond produced a map entitled “Classes of Land Surface Form in the Forty-Eight States, USA”, which is regarded as a pioneering and rigorous treatment of regional physiography. Several researchers automated Hammond?s model in GIS. However, these were local or regional in application, and resulted in inadequate characterization of tablelands. We used a global 250 m DEM to produce a new characterization of global Hammond landform regions. The improved algorithm we developed for the regional landform modeling: (1) incorporated a profile parameter for the delineation of tablelands; (2) accommodated negative elevation data values; (3) allowed neighborhood analysis window (NAW) size to vary between parameters; (4) more accurately bounded plains regions; and (5) mapped landform regions as opposed to discrete landform features. The new global Hammond landform regions product builds on an existing global Hammond landform features product developed by the U.S. Geological Survey, which, while globally comprehensive, did not include tablelands, used a fixed NAW size, and essentially classified pixels rather than regions. Our algorithm also permits the disaggregation of “mixed” Hammond types (e.g. plains with high mountains) into their component parts.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2017 |
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Title | Modeling global Hammond landform regions from 250-m elevation data |
DOI | 10.1111/tgis.12265 |
Authors | Deniz Karagulle, Charlie Frye, Roger Sayre, Sean P. Breyer, Peter Aniello, Randy Vaughan, Dawn J. Wright |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Transactions in GIS |
Index ID | 70193965 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Office of the AD Climate and Land-Use Change |