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ABoVE: Permafrost Measurements and Distribution Across the Y-K Delta, Alaska, 2016

Published by ORNL_DAAC | National Aeronautics and Space Administration | Catalog Last Checked: June 23, 2026 at 09:43 PM | Dataset Last Updated: June 22, 2026
This dataset provides field observations of thaw depth and dominant vegetation types, a LiDAR-derived elevation map, and permafrost distribution and probability maps for an area on the coastal plain of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD), in western Alaska, USA. Field data were collected during July 8-17, 2016 to parameterize and to validate the derived permafrost maps. The YKD is in the sporadic to isolated permafrost zone where permafrost forms extensive elevated plateaus on abandoned floodplains. The region is extremely flat and vulnerable to eustatic sea-level rise and inland storm surges. These high-resolution permafrost maps support landscape change analyses and assessments of the impacts of climate change on permafrost in this region of high biological productivity, critical wildlife habitats, and subsistence-based human economy.

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Complete Metadata
@type dcat:Dataset
accessLevel public
bureauCode 
[
  "026:00"
]
contactPoint 
{
  "fn": "Earthdata Forum",
  "@type": "vcard:Contact",
  "hasEmail": "mailto:earthdata-support@nasa.gov"
}
description This dataset provides field observations of thaw depth and dominant vegetation types, a LiDAR-derived elevation map, and permafrost distribution and probability maps for an area on the coastal plain of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD), in western Alaska, USA. Field data were collected during July 8-17, 2016 to parameterize and to validate the derived permafrost maps. The YKD is in the sporadic to isolated permafrost zone where permafrost forms extensive elevated plateaus on abandoned floodplains. The region is extremely flat and vulnerable to eustatic sea-level rise and inland storm surges. These high-resolution permafrost maps support landscape change analyses and assessments of the impacts of climate change on permafrost in this region of high biological productivity, critical wildlife habitats, and subsistence-based human economy.
distribution 
[
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "Original Metadata",
    "format": "ISO",
    "mediaType": "text/xml",
    "conformsTo": "http://www.isotc211.org/2005/gmi",
    "description": "The metadata's original source.",
    "downloadURL": "https://cmr.earthdata.nasa.gov/search/concepts/C2162142273-ORNL_CLOUD.iso19115"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "format": "BIN",
    "mediaType": "application/octet-stream",
    "downloadURL": "https://above.nasa.gov"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "format": "PNG",
    "mediaType": "image/png",
    "downloadURL": "https://daac.ornl.gov/ABOVE/guides/Permafrost_Thaw_Depth_YK_fig1.png"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "format": "ZIP",
    "mediaType": "application/zip",
    "downloadURL": "https://data.ornldaac.earthdata.nasa.gov/protected/bundle/Permafrost_Thaw_Depth_YK_1598.zip"
  },
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    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "format": "PDF",
    "mediaType": "application/pdf",
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    "mediaType": "application/zip",
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  },
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    "downloadURL": "https://data.ornldaac.earthdata.nasa.gov/public/above/Permafrost_Thaw_Depth_YK/comp/Tutakoke_Permafrost_Plateau_Transects.kmz"
  },
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  },
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    "mediaType": "text/html",
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    "format": "BIN",
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]
identifier 10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1598
keyword 
[
  "earth-science-frozen-ground-cryosphere-permafrost",
  "earth-science-soils-land-surface-permafrost",
  "earth-science-topography-land-surface-terrain-elevation",
  "earth-science-vegetation-biosphere-vegetation-cover"
]
license https://www.usa.gov/government-works
modified 2026-06-22
programCode 
[
  "026:000"
]
publisher 
{
  "name": "ORNL_DAAC",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
spatial 
"["CARTESIAN", [{"WestBoundingCoordinate": -165.69, "NorthBoundingCoordinate": 61.2881, "EastBoundingCoordinate": -165.03, "SouthBoundingCoordinate": 61.1694}]]"
temporal 2009-06-27/2016-07-17
theme 
[
  "Earth Science"
]
title ABoVE: Permafrost Measurements and Distribution Across the Y-K Delta, Alaska, 2016

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