Work on the Atlas of Antarctic Research began in December 1998. The Antarctic Atlas has been developed using software from the National Atlas of the United States. It has been designed to promote greater geographic awareness of the continent and the digital geospatial data that describe it. It provides a common base for displaying research results and data collected, as well as descriptions of ongoing and past projects, when they become available for display. The Atlas is intended to serve the interests and needs of a diverse community as a reference, an information framework, an education tool, and a research aid. Its primary focus is as a tool for Antarctic researchers, but others are invited to use it. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides ongoing development and maintenance of the Atlas through its Antarctic Program. The National Science Foundation provides funding, logistical support and program oversight to this project.

The polar stereographic projection was selected for display of data. Click here to see the full set of parameters used for the Atlas. To be added to the main map display window of the Atlas, all layers must be converted to that projection. Source materials for the base data in the Atlas range from scales of 1:30,000,000 to 1:10,000 (Seymour Island) and come from several sources. As the user zooms in, the Atlas automatically replaces low-resolution layers with those of higher resolution and removes layers when the scale of display exceeds the resolution of the data.

Lidar high-resolution elevation INTERIM data download site!!

McMurdo Dry Valleys Declassified Image now Georeferenced - DEM also available!!!

This Satellite Image replaces the two images previously displayed here and covers the McMurdo Dry Valleys as well as portions of the Royal Society and Convoy Ranges of Antarctica.

View a: low-resolution version or a brief description of the satellite image.

Two Digital Elevation Models were created to match the image coverage. They have 30- and 100-meter post spacing.

Download the compressed Satellite Image (200mb) or 30-meter DEM (80mb) or 100-meter DEM (8mb)

NEW LAYERS: Index Map layers have been added for the USGS-produced maps available from our Earth Science Information Centers. The Research Stations (winter-over) layer provides access to existing Web sites for both research stations and national Antarctic Programs.

The Raster Graphic layer is currently under construction. To view the DRG, search for Ross Island using the names query button. Display the feature on the map, click the layer button to redisplay the layer list, and select the Raster Graphic layer for display. Zoom in and the DRG will become visible when the scale of the display exceeds 1:500,000. Seymour Island can also be located using the query button. The layers from the 1:10,000-scale map will start to become visible when the display scale exceeds 1:100,000 (rock outcrops, sand/gravel, manmade features, snow/ice, lakes, and spot elevations), and the more detailed layers (contours and streams) will display when the scale exceeds 1:20,000.

The Atlas includes a full resolution viewer that displays 1:250,000-scale topographic reconnaissance map DRG's individually in a separate window. To find the individual DRG's, display the Topographic Reconnaissance Map index (1:250,000-scale) layer, activate the identify button, and click in one of the boxes on the map. An active link to the DRG site will be displayed if the DRG is available. This procedure will also display an active link to a site developed by NASA that contains descriptions of geodetic control for that map if they are available. DRG links exist for all of the maps in that index, while geodetic control information is currently available for maps in the Marie Byrd Land region. As more control descriptions become available links will be added to the Atlas. When other DRG's become available, they can be similarly reached through their map index. All DRG's should be viewed at high resolution.

First time visitors click here.
Click here to go to the Atlas (Last update: February 1, 2003).
For more US Antarctic Information visit the U.S. Antarctic Resource Center.

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.