to the National Atlas Home page
About | Fact Sheets | Contact Us | Partners | Products | Site Map | FAQ | Help | Follow us on Twitter 
AgricultureBiologyBoundariesClimateEnvironmentGeologyGovernmentHistoryMappingPeopleTransportationWater
to the Interactive Map MakerMap LayersPrintable MapsWall MapsDynamic MapsArticlesMapping Professionals
 
 

Map Layer Info

     
 
Topographic and Bathymetric Shaded Relief of North America

What this map layer shows:

The shape and elevation of the land surface of North America, as well as the depth of the ocean waters around North America, with relief enhanced by shading.
opens the U.S. Geological Survey home page
Background Information
Sample map Sample Map
Topographic shaded relief shows the land surface, while bathymetric shaded relief shows underwater terrain. The Topographic and Bathymetric Shaded Relief of North America image was created by combining separate shaded-relief images of land and bathymetry. The land areas came from the National Atlas Color North America Shaded Relief - 1 Kilometer Resolution image, which was derived from GTOPO30 elevation data. The bathymetry came from the National Atlas Bathymetric Shaded Relief of North America image, which was derived from ETOPO2 2-minute data. This image was produced by the U.S. Geological Survey.

The three-dimensional appearance is achieved by shading the image as if there is a light source in the northwest. Shaded relief images are used to give a general idea of the shape of the land or underwater surface and for a wide variety of scientific research endeavors including hydrologic modeling, petroleum exploration, and studies of geologic processes.

The Topographic and Bathymetric Shaded Relief of North America map layer is a color shaded-relief image showing the terrain of North America and the depth of ocean waters around North America. The image is intended for visual purposes only; the original GTOPO30 and ETOPO2 data must be used for conducting analysis and determining elevation and depth values.

 

Geology
Map Maker Sample
Shaded Relief Land and Ocean