Universal Transverse Mercator Grid Research Articles

A Study of Land Use and Gully Erosion in Nekede Community, Owerri West, Imo State, Nigeria Using the GIS

Land use and gully erosion incidence in Nekede community, Owerri Imo state was studied using some digital tools of the GIS and remote sensing. The Nigeria sat. 2 imagery sourced from the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) was acquired from the Landsat ETM sensor with a resolution of 30m. Landsat TM and ETM data obtained had cloud cover of less than 20%. The images were geo-referenced to a Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid using the software to allow compatibility and comparison with other data sets. The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) 30m DEM of the study area was downloaded from the CIAT-CSI SRTM website. These data were projected to the UTM coordinates system and clipped to the extent of the study area. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was equally used to show some details since a ratio of red and near infra-red bands from a remotely-sensed image-greenness can be defined. Results are that the colour differences found in a large part of the south-west indicated built-up but were much earlier in time covered by dense forest cover which the inhabitants cleared in the process of urbanization and agricultural activities exposing the fragile soil to heavy rainfall and concentrated run off. The high speed of the surface runoff leads to rapid washing away of the soil and weakening the soil strata bringing in effect gullies. Land use zoning using digital GIS and remote sensing models in monitoring land use/cover changes following existing master plans was among others recommended.

Inventory of the terrestrial isopods in Belgium (2011-2020).

This data paper describes a recent and spatially complete inventory of the terrestrial isopods of Belgium between 2011 and 2020. During these 10 years every 10 × 10 km² cell of the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid in Belgium (373 grid cells) was visited in search for terrestrial isopods. Inventories covered different habitat types in every grid cell such as forest, wetlands or stream sides, and urban areas. Most of the dataset records were obtained by hand-collection methods such as turning stones and dead wood, or by sieving litter and through casual observations. These inventories were carried out by specialists from Spinicornis, the Belgian Terrestrial Isopod Group. Their data is complemented with pitfall trap data from scientific projects and verified citizen science data collected via waarnemingen.be and observations.be from the same time period. This resulted in 19,406 dataset records of 35 terrestrial isopod species. All dataset records are georeferenced using the centroid of their respective 5 × 5 km² UTM grid cell. The dataset is published as open data and available through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Direct link to the dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/mw9c66.

Slope, aspect, and hillshade algorithms for non‐square digital elevation models

AbstractCommon global digital elevation models (DEMs) at 1 to 3 arc‐second resolution use geographic coordinates for grid definition, and while cells are square (equal dx and dy spacing) near the equator, they become increasingly rectangular at higher latitudes. Some GIS software cannot handle rectangular grid cells, but minor modifications to slope, aspect, and hillshade algorithms can handle them. The algorithms can also handle grids with other projections, including Equi‐7, Lambert conformal conic, Lambert azimuthal equal area, and polar stereographic, converting aspect to true north instead of the potentially rotated grid. Computed slope varies with grid spacing with a logarithmic relationship and negative slope. Slope maps and distributions from rectangular DEMs, or DEMs where the actual grid spacing varies from the nominal values because points are far from the undistorted region, have characteristics equal to those of a Universal Transverse Mercator grid with spacing equal to the average dx and dy spacing of the DEM.

Distribution patterns and conservation status of Crocus species in Iran, one of the diversity centers of Crocus in the Middle East

Abstract Assessing distribution patterns of valuable taxa plays an important role in the biodiversity conservation of these taxa. The genus Crocus L. (Iridaceae) comprises about 100 species that are distributed mainly in the Mediterranean region and western Asia. The present study purposed to assess the distribution patterns of Iranian Crocus species (including C. sativus L. and 8 wild species) and their conservation status in Iran as one of diversity centers of Crocus in the Middle East. A set of geographic distribution data was compiled through field studies, and reviews of herbarium specimens, iNaturalist, and various Flora. Localities were marked on geo-referenced maps (1/106) of Iran using ArcView version 3.2 (Esri, 2000). The distribution patterns of the taxa were mapped per 0.25° × 0.25° universal transverse Mercator grid cells (25 km2 with the exception of boundary area). Based on the species distribution (SDI) (33%) and species specialization (SSI) (44%) indices, those Iranian Crocus species that are threatened are mainly distributed in Irano-Turanian region. The mountainous ecosystems of Almeh and Western Alborz are important distribution centers of these taxa. Iranian Crocus species with SSI < 0.5 (C. almehensis, C. gilanicus, C. michelsonii, and C. caspius) have the highest conservation value.

Using converted WW1 Army Grid Referencing Systems to identify locations where Australian soldiers fell Europe

ABSTRACT Topographic maps (1:40,000) used by the British Army on the Western Front in World War 1 had a five-part Grid Reference System consisting of: (1) Map Number; (2) Letter-Square – 24 letter squaresA to X on each map; (3) Number-Square – 36 (and sometimes 30) 1000-yard squares in each letter square; (4) Minor-Square – four 500-yard squares denoted a, b, c, d in each number square; (5) Small-Square – 10 × 10 = 100 small-squares in a minor-square. Letter and number grid Woesten references (e.g. X: 28.A.6.b.73) cannot be used by modern GPS navigation devices that require geographical coordinates (latitude and longitude) or current map grid coordinates. This paper provides the background behind this project and demonstrates a method of transforming WW1 grid references to Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid coordinates using Google Maps to obtain geographical coordinates, Geographic to UTM grid conversion and a 2D Conformal transformation. As well, it provides a ‘snapshot’ of practical methods that were used to develop a software package that would allow amateur military historians to convert the WW1 Grid Reference System to contemporary coordinates.

Spatial Measurements on USGS Topo Maps

United States Geological Survey topographic maps provide a variety of geospatial measurement tools thanks to their built-in georeferencing capabilities. Georeferencing facilitates display of geographic coordinates and measurement of distances, perimeters, and areas on PDFs using the measure tools built into Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat. This 7-page fact sheet written by Hartwig H. Hochmair and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation explains and showcases the use of these geospatial readout functions. It also provides background information about and assistance with estimating point coordinates on the Universal Transverse Mercator grid cast on USGS topographic maps as an optional layer.

Ecological correlates of Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos breeding occurrence in Sardinia

ABSTRACT Capsule Golden Eagles Aquila chrysaetos in Sardinia are clustered across the main mountain ranges of the island, with a preference for undisturbed and homogeneous inland habitats. Aims To analyse habitat preferences of the Golden Eagle in Sardinia, Italy, at the landscape and home range spatial scales. Methods Landscape scale habitat preferences were analysed using the 10 × 10 km Universal Transverse Mercator grid and the home range scale was based on the spatial distribution of breeding territories. Generalized linear models were fitted with three different sets of environmental predictors (topographic, bioclimatic and land use variables) to analyse the spatial distribution of Golden Eagles with a case–control design. Results Eagles showed a preference for rugged and elevated areas, characterized by a certain degree of humidity and surrounded by areas of forest. The distribution of Golden Eagles on this Mediterranean island was negatively affected by the occurrence of arable farmland and coastal areas, as well as by the effects of habitat fragmentation. Conclusions The results of this study could contribute to future management strategies and conservation projects aimed to protect this species, and may be used to identify the most suitable conservation areas for this and other competing species, such as the Bonelli’s Eagle Aquila fasciata, which is currently the subject of a reintroduction project in Sardinia.

Quantitative biogeography of Orthoptera does not support classical qualitative regionalization of the Carpathian Mountains

Abstract The first biogeographical division of the Carpathians, the second largest mountain range in Europe, was based on qualitative observational floristic data > 100 years ago and has also been applied for the regional zoogeography. In this study, the recent availability of detailed quantitative data allowed us to perform a more powerful evaluation of the classical biogeographical regions of the area. Thus, we analysed updated distribution patterns of 137 Orthoptera species native to the Carpathian Mountains and, by using published species range maps, we compiled data on species presence or absence within 2576 cells of a 10 km × 10 km universal transverse mercator grid in the area. Pattern analysis of the data was based on non-metric multidimensional scaling and clustering using six different algorithms applied to a β sim dissimilarity matrix. The unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic averages, which gave the best performance in the analysis of species turnover, delineated four regions. Environmental variables and species richness were used in logistic regression as predictors of delineated clusters, and indicator species were identified for each of the inferred regions. The pattern can be explained, in part, by environmental variables and species richness (34.2%) and was also influenced by connections with the orthopterofauna from adjacent areas. The observed discrepancy between regionalization based on expert knowledge and the pattern revealed using quantitative data provides a warning that the biogeography of the Carpathians might also have been revised in other taxa, where only classical qualitative regionalization exists.

Identifying areas of aquatic plant richness in a Mediterranean hotspot to improve the conservation of freshwater ecosystems

Abstract Identifying priority conservation areas is essential for minimizing the loss of biodiversity. Aquatic plants are of particular interest because their contribution to biodiversity is poorly understood and they play a central role in aquatic inland ecosystems. This study thus aimed to identify the areas on the Iberian Peninsula that contain the most aquatic plant species. It also explored the effectiveness of the Natura 2000 network in conserving aquatic plants. To describe macroecological patterns of aquatic plant richness, species distribution models based on bioclimatic factors were generated using maximum entropy modelling. The results were used to identify high‐richness areas of potential conservation interest. Employing gap analysis, the overlap between these areas and the Natura 2000 network was examined to evaluate the effectiveness of the network. The species studied had been recorded in just 34.98% (2172/6209) of the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid cells examined, meaning that 65.02% of the cells contained no species records. The gap analysis indicated that at least 2.27% of the cells represented areas of high conservation potential. This research underscores the limited effectiveness of the Natura 2000 network in protecting aquatic plants and shows that a high proportion of the aquatic ecosystems studied are subject to severe human pressures. The results of this work provide highly relevant and valuable information on the less‐studied regions of the Iberian Peninsula. Overall, the findings presented here should greatly inform the development of more objective strategies for conserving zones with a high diversity of aquatic plants. The information acquired should be used in future efforts to identify new priority conservation areas and assess those already in place.

A Boundary Delineation System for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Abstract. Federal government mapping of the offshore areas of the United States in support of the development of oil and gas resources began in 1954. The first mapping system utilized a network of rectangular blocks defined by State Plane coordinates which was later revised to utilize the Universal Transverse Mercator grid. Creation of offshore boundaries directed by the Submerged Lands Act and Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act were mathematically determined using early computer programs that performed the required computations, but required many steps. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has revised these antiquated methods using GIS technology which provide the required accuracy and produce the mapping products needed for leasing of energy resources, including renewable energy projects, on the outer continental shelf. (Note: this is an updated version of a paper of the same title written and published in 2015).

A database on the distribution of butterflies (Lepidoptera) in northern Belgium (Flanders and the Brussels Capital Region).

In this data paper, we describe two datasets derived from two sources, which collectively represent the most complete overview of butterflies in Flanders and the Brussels Capital Region (northern Belgium). The first dataset (further referred to as the INBO dataset – http://doi.org/10.15468/njgbmh) contains 761,660 records of 70 species and is compiled by the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) in cooperation with the Butterfly working group of Natuurpunt (Vlinderwerkgroep). It is derived from the database Vlinderdatabank at the INBO, which consists of (historical) collection and literature data (1830-2001), for which all butterfly specimens in institutional and available personal collections were digitized and all entomological and other relevant publications were checked for butterfly distribution data. It also contains observations and monitoring data for the period 1991-2014. The latter type were collected by a (small) butterfly monitoring network where butterflies were recorded using a standardized protocol. The second dataset (further referred to as the Natuurpunt dataset – http://doi.org/10.15468/ezfbee) contains 612,934 records of 63 species and is derived from the database http://waarnemingen.be, hosted at the nature conservation NGO Natuurpunt in collaboration with Stichting Natuurinformatie. This dataset contains butterfly observations by volunteers (citizen scientists), mainly since 2008. Together, these datasets currently contain a total of 1,374,594 records, which are georeferenced using the centroid of their respective 5 × 5 km² Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid cell. Both datasets are published as open data and are available through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

A Boundary Delineation System for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Federal government mapping of the offshore areas of the USA in support of the development of oil and gas resources began in 1954. The first mapping system utilized a network of rectangular blocks defined by State Plane coordinates which was later revised to utilize the Universal Transverse Mercator grid. Creation of marine boundaries directed by the Submerged Lands Act and Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act were mathematically determined using early computer programs that performed the necessary computations, but required many steps. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is revising these antiquated methods using Geographic Information System technology which will provide the required accuracy and produce the mapping products needed for leasing of energy resources, including renewable energy projects, on the outer continental shelf.

Exploring species attributes and site characteristics to assess plant invasions in Spain

ABSTRACTAim Biological invasions are a major component of global change with increasing effects on natural ecosystems and human societies. Here, we aim to assess the relationship between plant invader species attributes and the extent of their distribution range size, at the same time that we assess the association between environmental factors and plant invader species richness.Location Spain, Mediterranean region.Methods From the species perspective, we calculated the distribution range size of the 106 vascular plant invaders listed in a recently published atlas of alien plant species in Spain. Range size was used as an estimation of the degree of invasion success of the species. To model variation in range size between species as a function of a set of species attributes, we adopted the framework of the generalized linear mixed models because they allow the incorporation of taxonomic categories as nested random factors to control for phylogenetic relationships. From the invaded site perspective, we determined invader plant species richness as the number of species for each 10 × 10 km Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid. For each grid cell, we estimated variables concerning landscape, topography, climate and human settlement. Then, we performed a generalized linear mixed model incorporating a defined spatial correlation structure to assess the relationship between plant invader richness and the environmental predictors.Results From the species perspective, wind dispersal and minimum residence time appeared to favour invasion success. From the invaded site perspective, we identified high anthropogenic disturbance, low altitude, short distance to the coastline and dry, hot weather as the main correlates to UTM grid cell invader richness.Main conclusions According to these results, an increasing importance of man‐modified ecosystems and global warming in the Mediterranean region should facilitate the expansion of plant invaders, especially wind‐dispersed species, leading to the accumulation of invasive species in some sites (i.e. invasion hot spots).

Bias in freshwater biodiversity sampling: the case of Iberian water beetles

ABSTRACTExtensive distributional data bases are key tools in ecological research, and good‐quality data are required to provide reliable conservation strategies and an understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes. Although the evaluation of data bases requires the incorporation of estimates of sampling effort and bias, no studies have focused on these aspects for freshwater biodiversity data. We used here a comprehensive data base of water beetles from the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, and examine whether these data provide an unbiased, reliable picture of their diversity and distribution in the study area. Based on theoretical estimates using the Clench function on the accumulated number of records as a surrogate of sampling effort, about a quarter of the Iberian and Balearic 50 × 50 km Universal Transverse Mercator grid cells can be considered well prospected, with more than 70% of the theoretical species richness actually recorded. These well‐surveyed cells are not evenly distributed across biogeographical and physicoclimatic subregions, reflecting some geographical bias in the distribution of sampling effort. Our results suggest that recording was skewed by relatively simple variables affecting collector activity, such as the perceived ‘attractiveness’ of mountainous landscapes and protected areas with recently described species, and accessibility of sampling sites (distance from main research centres). We emphasize the importance of these evaluation exercises, which are useful to locate areas needed of further sampling as well as to identify potential biases in the distribution of current biodiversity patterns.

Distinguishing the distributions of two cryptic frogs (Anura: Discoglossidae) using molecular data and environmental modeling

Currently, the identification of two cryptic Iberian amphibians, Discoglossus galganoi Capula, Nascetti, Lanza, Bullini and Crespo, 1985 and Discoglossus jeanneae Busack, 1986, relies on molecular characterization. To provide a means to discern the distributions of these species, we used 385-base-pair sequences of the cytochrome b gene to identify 54 Spanish populations of Discoglossus. These data and a series of environmental variables were used to build up a logistic regression model capable of probabilistically designating a specimen of Discoglossus found in any Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid cell of 10 km × 10 km to one of the two species. Western longitudes, wide river basins, and semipermeable (mainly siliceous) and sandstone substrates favored the presence of D. galganoi, while eastern longitudes, mountainous areas, severe floodings, and impermeable (mainly clay) or basic (limestone and gypsum) substrates favored D. jeanneae. Fifteen percent of the UTM cells were predicted to be shared by both species, whereas 51% were clearly in favor of D. galganoi and 34% were in favor of D. jeanneae, considering odds of 4:1. These results suggest that these two species have parapatric distributions and allow for preliminary identification of potential secondary contact areas. The method applied here can be generalized and used for other geographic problems posed by cryptic species.

Prediction of butterfly diversity hotspots in Belgium: a comparison of statistically focused and land use‐focused models

AbstractAim We evaluate differences between and the applicability of three linear predictive models to determine butterfly hotspots in Belgium for nature conservation purposes.Location The study is carried out in Belgium for records located to Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid cells of 5 × 5 km.Methods We first determine the relationship between factors correlated to butterfly diversity by means of modified t‐tests and principal components analysis; subsequently, we predict hotspots using linear models based on land use, climate and topographical variables of well‐surveyed UTM grid cells (n = 197). The well‐surveyed squares are divided into a training set and an evaluation set to test the model predictions. We apply three different models: (1) a ‘statistically focused’ model where variables are entered in descending order of statistical significance, (2) a ‘land use‐focused’ model where land use variables known to be related to butterfly diversity are forced into the model and (3) a ‘hybrid’ model where the variables of the ‘land use‐focused model’ are entered first and subsequently complemented by the remaining variables entered in descending order of statistical significance.Results A principal components analyses reveals that climate, and to a large extent, land use are locked into topography, and that topography and climate are the variables most strongly correlated with butterfly diversity in Belgium. In the statistically focused model, biogeographical region alone explains 65% of the variability; other variables entering the statistically focused model are the area of coniferous and deciduous woodland, elevation and the number of frost days; the statistically focused model explains 77% of the variability in the training set and 66% in the evaluation set. In the land use‐focused model, biogeographical region, deciduous and mixed woodland, natural grassland, heathland and bog, woodland edge, urban and agricultural area and biotope diversity are forced into the model; the land use‐focused model explains 68% of the variability in the training set and 57% in the evaluation set. In the hybrid model, all variables from the land use‐focused model are entered first and the covariates elevation, number of frost days and natural grassland area are added on statistical grounds; the hybrid model explains 78% of the variability in the training set and 67% in the evaluation set. Applying the different models to determine butterfly diversity hotspots resulted in the delimitation of spatially different areas.Main conclusions The best predictions of butterfly diversity in Belgium are obtained by the hybrid model in which land use variables relevant to butterfly richness are entered first after which climatic and topographic variables were added on strictly statistical grounds. The land use‐focused model does not predict butterfly diversity in a satisfactory manner. When using predictive models to determine butterfly diversity, conservation biologists need to be aware of the consequences of applying such models. Although, in conservation biology, land use‐focused models are preferable to statistically focused models, one should always check whether the applied model makes sense on the ground. Predictive models can target mapping efforts towards potentially species‐rich sites and permits the incorporation of un‐surveyed sites into nature conservancy policies. Species richness distribution maps produced by predictive modelling should therefore be used as pro‐active conservation tools.

Forest change monitoring of a remote biosphere reserve

A forest monitoring framework using Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid cells to report forest change estimates derived from time-series satellite imagery was established for the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR) in northern Guatemala. Five dates of Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery were acquired and digitally processed to quantify forest change for four time periods: 1986 to 1990, 1990 to 1993, 1993 to 1995, and 1995 to 1997. Time-series change estimates are reported for 215 UTM grid cells approximately 100 km2 each. For the period 1990 to 1997, after the designation of the MBR, the percentage of grid cells with detectable annual forest clearing increased from 38% (1990-93) to 41% (1993-95) and 45% (1995-97). Prior to the establishment of the MBR (1986-90), none of the grid cells exhibited greater than 4.0% annual forest clearing. However in the next three time periods, 7.0%, 8.8% and 9.3% of the grid cells had clearing rates exceeding 4.0% per year. The accuracy of detecting forest clearing was 86.5% over all time periods (Kappa 0.82). Estimates of forest change and user's and producer's accuracy are reported for each time period between 1990 and 1997. The time-series forest change and spatial arrangement of grid locations indicate hot spots where rates and trends of agricultural expansion can be monitored. The baseline survey and the establishment of the UTM grid network to localize forest change estimates provides a framework for future satellite estimates of forest and land cover conversion to be monitored through time. The UTM grid is proposed as the first level in a multi-level ecological monitoring system for the Maya Biosphere Reserve where there are few permanent landmarks in the remote forest region.

Forest change monitoring of a remote biosphere reserve

A forest monitoring framework using Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid cells to report forest change estimates derived from time-series satellite imagery was established for the Maya Biosphere Reserve (MBR) in northern Guatemala. Five dates of Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery were acquired and digitally processed to quantify forest change for four time periods: 1986 to 1990, 1990 to 1993, 1993 to 1995, and 1995 to 1997. Time-series change estimates are reported for 215 UTM grid cells approximately 100 km2 each. For the period 1990 to 1997, after the designation of the MBR, the percentage of grid cells with detectable annual forest clearing increased from 38% (1990-93) to 41% (1993-95) and 45% (1995-97). Prior to the establishment of the MBR (1986-90), none of the grid cells exhibited greater than 4.0% annual forest clearing. However in the next three time periods, 7.0%, 8.8% and 9.3% of the grid cells had clearing rates exceeding 4.0% per year. The accuracy of detecting forest clearing was 86.5% over all time periods (Kappa 0.82). Estimates of forest change and user's and producer's accuracy are reported for each time period between 1990 and 1997. The time-series forest change and spatial arrangement of grid locations indicate hot spots where rates and trends of agricultural expansion can be monitored. The baseline survey and the establishment of the UTM grid network to localize forest change estimates provides a framework for future satellite estimates of forest and land cover conversion to be monitored through time. The UTM grid is proposed as the first level in a multi-level ecological monitoring system for the Maya Biosphere Reserve where there are few permanent landmarks in the remote forest region.

Push broom microwave radiometer observations of surface soil moisture in Monsoon '90

The push broom microwave radiometer (PBMR) was flown on six flights of the NASA C‐130 to map the surface soil moisture over the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service Walnut Gulch experimental watershed in southeastern Arizona. The PBMR operates at a wavelength of 21 cm and has four horizontally polarized beams which cover a swath of 1.2 times the aircraft altitude. By flying a series of parallel flight lines it was possible to map the microwave brightness temperature (TB), and thus the soil moisture, over a large area. In this case the area was approximately 8 by 20 km. The moisture conditions ranged from very dry, <2% by volume, to quite wet, >15%, after a heavy rain. The rain amounts ranged from less than 10 mm to more than 50 mm over the area mapped with the PBMR. With the PBMR we were able to observe the spatial variations of the rain amounts and the temporal variation as the soil dried. The TB values were registered to a Universal Transverse Mercator grid so that they could be compared to the rain gage readings and to the ground measurements of soil moisture in the 0‐ to 5‐cm layer. The decreases in TB were well correlated with the rainfall amounts, R2 = 0.9, and the comparison of Tg with soil moisture was also good with an R2 of about 0.8. For the latter, there was some dependence of the relation on location, which may be due to soil or vegetation variations over the area mapped. The application of these data to runoff forecasts and flux estimates will be discussed.

Identification of Tundra Land Cover near Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska Using SPOT Satellite Data

Tundra vegetation in the Teshekpuk Lake area of the Alaskan Arctic Coastal Plain was mapped to assess distribution and abundance of waterfowl habitats. Three SPOT satellite scenes were acquired and registered to a 20 m Universal Transverse Mercator grid. Two clustering techniques were used to develop statistical parameters by which the SPOT data were spectrally classified. A maximum likelihood algorithm that correlated spectral classes with land cover types was applied to the SPOT data. Field data were used to assist in spectral class labeling and vegetation descriptions. Twelve cover classes were mapped. The most common type was moist sedge meadow tundra (13.5%); the least common was moss/peat shoreline (0.2%). The moss/peat shoreline type, important to moulting geese and other waterfowl, was spectrally identified using supervised clustering techniques. All other land cover types were identified using unsupervised clustering techniques. Cover classes were described, and a tundra landscape profile produced.Key words: tundra land cover mapping, SPOT satellite data, Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska