Wyoming Vadose Zone Sensitivity Ratings at 1:100,000-Scale

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Frequently-anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

    Title: Wyoming Vadose Zone Sensitivity Ratings at 1:100,000-Scale
    Abstract:
    This dataset represents an aquifer sensitivity rating for the vadose or unsaturated zone in the State of Wyoming. This dataset is specifically to be used within a DRASTIC-type aquifer sensitivity/vulnerability analysis.

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Wyoming Water Resources Center, 199702, Wyoming Vadose Zone Sensitivity Ratings at 1:100,000-Scale: Univ. of Wyoming, Spatial Data and Visualization Center, Laramie, Wyoming.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -111.04531329
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -103.84002217
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 44.99712629
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.94825784

  3. What does it look like?

    <URL:http://www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/images/vado100k.gif> (gif)
    Wyoming Vadose Zone Sensitivity Ratings

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date: unknown
    Ending_Date: present
    Currentness_Reference:
    Publication date of sources

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • GT-polygon composed of chains (41234)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest .001. Longitudes are given to the nearest .001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal Degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is GRS1980.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378206.4.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/294.98.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

    The lone attribute within this layer is called RATING containing an integer value between 1 and 10. This value is the sensitivity rating for the unit with 10 being the highest possible value.

    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
    n/a


Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    SDVC Technical Coordinator
    Spatial Data and Visualization Center
    Box 4008 University Station
    Laramie, Wyoming 82071
    USA

    307-766-2532 (voice)
    itasca@uwyo.edu

    Hours_of_Service: 8 AM to 5 PM MST


Why was the data set created?

This layer was developed specifically to serve as a parameter in a ground-water vulnerability to surface contamination study conducted at the Wyoming Water Resources Center. The DRASTIC-based model requires vadose zone rating as one of its parameters. No other suitable uses for this data are known.


How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    bedrock geology map (source 1 of 3)
    Green, G.N. and P.H. Drouillard, 1994, Digital Geologic Map of Wyoming at 1:500,000-scale <URL:http://www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/clearinghouse/metadata/bedgeol.html>.

    Type_of_Source_Media: digital map
    Source_Contribution: source of majority of boundaries used in attributes

    Surficial Geology map (source 2 of 3)
    Case, J.C., Arneson, C.S., and Hallberg, L., 1998, Preliminary 1:500,000-Scale Digital Surficial Geology Map of Wyoming <URL:http://www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/clearinghouse/metadata/bedgeol.html>.

    Type_of_Source_Media: digital map
    Source_Contribution: source of majority of boundaries used in attributes

    Geologic Map of Wyoming (source 3 of 3)
    Love, J.D. and A.C. Christiansen, 1985, Geologic Map of Wyoming.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper map
    Source_Contribution: was source for Green and Drouillard (1994) map

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: 1996 (process 1 of 1)

    DRASTIC (Aller et al, 1987) defined a sensitivity ranking for vadose zone media, with the vadose zone defined as the unsaturated zone above the water table and below the soil horizon. The EPA ranking ranged from 1 to 10, with rank 1 representing a confining layer with minimal potential for contaminants to migrate to the saturated zone, and rank 10 representing highly fractured and jointed basalt or karst limestone with a high potential for contaminants to migrate to the saturated zone.

    The Wyoming State Geological Survey modified the sensitivity ranking for vadose zone media to reflect media present in Wyoming. WSGS added eolian silt (rank 5 to 7), coal sequences (rank 3 to 8), eolian sand (rank 7 to 9), volcaniclastics (rank 3 to 9), and clinker (rank 8 to 10).

    The vadose zone in Wyoming is composed of bedrock, surficial materials, or a combination of the two. As a result, a vadose zone rating was assigned to the representative composition of each geological formation or combinations of geological formations present on the Geologic Map of Wyoming. The surficial units present on each geological formation were then defined and assigned a vadose zone rank that reflected the possible influence of the underlying bedrock on the composition and properties of the surficial unit. In many cases, the vadose zone includes both bedrock and the overlying surficial materials, requiring a composite rank that reflects both the bedrock rank and the surficial materials rank. A series of formulas were developed to allow for the generation of the composite rankings. The formulas used for generating a total vadose ranking are presented below where TV = Total Vadose (composite) Rank, BV = Bedrock Vadose Rank, and SV = Surficial Materials Vadose Rank.

    Formula Used          Surficial Units
    TV = SV               Ai, aR, ti, tre, fi, ei, gi, li, pea, ki, ai,
                          oai, Mi, Ki, xi, Ti
    TV = 10               glacier, LAKE
    TV = BV               Ri
    TV = 50%BV + 50%SV    Ai, aR, ti, tre, li, ki, bi, mi
    TV = 75%BV + 25%SV    fi, pea, bdi, tdi, fdi, sci, ri, ui
    TV = 25%BV + 75%SV    ei, gi
    

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?


How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    see Process Steps

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    see Process Steps

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    All polygons are fully attributed.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    All polygons are closed and each polygon has one unique label.


How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: none
Use_Constraints:

This data should not be used for analysis at a scale larger than 1:100,000. Because updates to this dataset or the attached metadata will occur without notice, this dataset may not be redistributed or repackaged in any form without the express written consent of the University of Wyoming Spatial Data and Visualization Center. Instead it is recommended that additional users download the most current version of the data from <http://www.sdvc.uwyo.edu/clearinghouse>.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    SDVC Technical Coordinator
    Spatial Data and Visualization Center
    Box 4008 University Station
    Laramie, Wyoming 82071
    USA

    307-766-2532 (voice)
    n/a

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    The distributor shall not be held liable for improper or

    incorrect use of this data, based on the description of

    appropriate/inappropriate used described in this metadata

    document.

    It is strongly recommended that this data is directly acquired

    from the distributor described above and not indirectly

    through other sources which may have changed the data in some

    way.

    See the Use_Constraints section of this metadata for appropriate

    uses/limiations of the data. The distributor makes no claims for

    the data's suitability for other purposes.

  4. How can I download or order the data?


Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: Aug-1998

Metadata author:
Margo Berendsen
Box 4008 University Station
Laramie, Wyoming 82071
USA

307-766-2751 (voice)
meh@uwyo.edu

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)


This page is <http://www.wygisc.uwyo.edu/clearinghouse/metadata/vados_rt.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.7.27 on Fri Sep 23 22:03:05 2005