{ "culture": "en-US", "name": "", "guid": "", "catalogPath": "", "snippet": "The objective of this study was to characterize the nature\n and distribution of \"meso\" level landforms and associated\n features for the entire park (2,196,480 acres (889,574 ha)).\n Although landforms and their differentiating characteristics are\n very useful in themselves for the prediction of landscape behavior,\n knowledge of accessory properties can enhance their value. If we\n know the dominant rock type and the regolith (surficial,\n unconsolidated material mantling unweathered bedrock), we can infer\n information about soil properties. For example, if the surficial\n material is glacial till (assumed from knowing the landform is a\n glaciated valley) and the regolith composition is dominated by\n rhyolitic rocks, then we can infer that the soil parent material is\n glacial till derived from rhyolite-flow bedrock, and the soil\n properties will reflect the nature of that bedrock composition.\n Likewise, if two otherwise similar landforms are differentiated by\n the presence of seasonally wet depressions, interpretations can be\n made about the possible presence of wetlands, which may influence\n habitat potential for species that use wetlands or depend on species\n that do.", "description": "

This study aims to introduce readers to the diversity and complexity of Yellowstone's surface features. Within applied geomorphology, a landform is defined as \"any physical, recognizable form or feature of the Earth's surface having a characteristic shape, and produced by natural causes; it includes major forms such as a plain, plateau, or mountain, and minor forms such as a hill, valley, slope, esker, or dune. Taken together, landforms make up the surface configuration of the Earth.\". The surface configuration of Yellowstone National Park (YNP) is a complex continuum of slopes and surficial materials. To make sense of this complexity, we classify groups of slopes and materials into a set of relatively homogeneous classes. Note that this scheme reduces the continuous landscape picture to a set of classes (albeit a large number of them) within each of which surface features are relatively similar. These classes are termed \"landforms.\" The objective of this study was to characterize the nature and distribution of \"meso\" level landforms and associated features for the entire park (2,196,480 acres (889,574 ha)). \"Meso\" level landforms are on the order of 2.5 to 250 acres (10,000 to 1,000,000 m2), and include valleys, moraine, hills, and scarps. \"Micro\" level landforms of 0.0025 to 2.5 acres (10 to 10,000 m2) include features such as footslopes, kettles, small terrace scarps. We judged these too detailed for the kinds of landscape level work needed in the park. We selected a mapping scale of 1:62,500 to give the best combination of readability, publication practicality, and appropriate use of available data. We characterized landforms in terms of both visible and inferred characteristics. These characteristics include: genetic origin, kind and degree of stream drainage dissection, slope gradient distribution, slope curvature (profile and plan), relief, proportion and shape of bedrock exposure, and the nature of included surficial materials. These terms are described in Differentiation of Landforms (Shovic, H. F. 1996. Landforms and Associated Surficial Materials of Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone National Park, Center for Resources, Mammoth, WY). Their definitions follow concepts used in geomorphology, as modified by mapping specialists. Results include an ARC/INFO coverage, with 6,214 polygons, and about 800 different map units, each a combination of landform, matrix composition, and presence of wet areas.<\/SPAN><\/P>

Data were downloaded in December, 2020 by the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) for display on the interactive Geology of Yellowstone Map. The WSGS has not formally reviewed or quality-controlled these data; users are encouraged to consult the original data source.<\/SPAN><\/P><\/DIV><\/DIV>", "summary": "The objective of this study was to characterize the nature\n and distribution of \"meso\" level landforms and associated\n features for the entire park (2,196,480 acres (889,574 ha)).\n Although landforms and their differentiating characteristics are\n very useful in themselves for the prediction of landscape behavior,\n knowledge of accessory properties can enhance their value. If we\n know the dominant rock type and the regolith (surficial,\n unconsolidated material mantling unweathered bedrock), we can infer\n information about soil properties. For example, if the surficial\n material is glacial till (assumed from knowing the landform is a\n glaciated valley) and the regolith composition is dominated by\n rhyolitic rocks, then we can infer that the soil parent material is\n glacial till derived from rhyolite-flow bedrock, and the soil\n properties will reflect the nature of that bedrock composition.\n Likewise, if two otherwise similar landforms are differentiated by\n the presence of seasonally wet depressions, interpretations can be\n made about the possible presence of wetlands, which may influence\n habitat potential for species that use wetlands or depend on species\n that do.", "title": "Landforms and Associated Surficial Materials of Yellowstone\n National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho", "tags": [ "Landforms", "Geomorphology", "Landscape Components", "Landscape", "Ecology", "Surficial Materials", "Yellowstone National Park", "YNP", "YELL", "Greater Yellowstone", "Area", "GYA", "Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem", "GYE", "Park County", "Teton", "County", "Fremont County", "Gallatin County", "Montana", "Idaho", "Wyoming", "Northern Rocky Mountains", "NPS", "National Park Service", "United States of America", "US", "USA", "North America", "Land Surface", "Regolith", "Surficial Material", "Present", "Holocene", "Post-glacial", "YELL", "Yellowstone National Park", "Landform", "Geoscientific Information" ], "type": "", "typeKeywords": [], "thumbnail": "", "url": "", "minScale": 125000, "maxScale": "NaN", "spatialReference": "", "accessInformation": "Landforms and Associated Surficial Materials of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho\nSpatial Analysis Center - Yellowstone National Park, October 1, 1996\nhttps://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/1021274", "licenseInfo": "

This data should be used in a manner consistent with its accuracy and precision. No claims are made for uses at scales larger than its publication scale (see Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report).<\/SPAN><\/P><\/DIV><\/DIV>", "portalUrl": "" }