Caribbean Ecophysiographic Land Units

This map features the World Ecophysiographic Land Units 2015 layer, focused on the Caribbean.  Ecological Land Units are areas of distinct bioclimate, landform, lithology, and land cover that form the basic components of terrestrial ecosystem structure.  Click on the map to learn more about these components for a given location.Ecological Land Units (ELUs) are areas of distinct bioclimate, landform, lithology, and land cover that form the basic components of terrestrial ecosystem structure. The ELU layer was produced by combining the values in four 250-m cell-sized rasters using the ArcGIS Combine tool (Spatial Analyst). In 2015 these four components resulted in 3,639 different combinations or ELUs, which is 284 fewer than 2014 which used older land cover and a different landform methodology.Note: This layer is designed for use as a geoprocessing input layer and to support pop-ups in ArcGIS Online. Because of the large number of unique values in the image service, the legend cannot be used in a meaningful way. Use the World Ecological Land Units Map 2015 tiled map layer for mapping and visualization. These four component datasets represent the most accurate, current, globally comprehensive, and finest spatial and thematic resolution data available for each of the four inputs. Values for each of the four input layers are listed in the table below. BioclimateLandformsLithologyLand CoverArcticPlainsUndefinedBare AreaCold DryHillsUnconsolidated SedimentSparse VegetationCold Semi-DryMountainsCarbonate Sedimentary RockGrassland, Shrub, or ScrubCold Moist Mixed Sedimentary RockMostly CroplandCold Wet Non-Carbonate Sedimentary RockMostly Needleleaf/Evergreen ForestCool Dry EvaporiteMostly Deciduous ForestCool Semi-Dry PyroclasticsSwampy or Often FloodedCool Moist Metamorphic RockArtificial or Urban AreaCool Wet Acidic VolcanicsSurface WaterHot Dry Acidic PlutonicsUndefinedHot Semi-Dry Non-Acidic Volcanics Hot Moist Non-Acidic Plutonics Hot Wet   Warm Dry   Warm Semi-Dry   Warm Moist   Warm Wet   Dataset SummaryThis layer is suitable for analysis and can be used in ArcGIS Online to support pop-ups. It can be used in ArcGIS Desktop. Because of the large number of unique values in the image service it cannot be symbolized and displays as an all black layer. To use in pop-ups set the transparency to 100% and configure the pop-up. The pop-up from this layer can be combined with the World Ecological Land Units Map.Layers providing access to the four input layers used to create this map see the following links:World BioclimatesWorld Landforms Improved Hammond MethodWorld LithologyWorld Land Cover ESA 2010The ecophysiographic facets layer is available here and a layer summarizing the local diversity of the ecophysiographic facets is available here. A service is available to the data tables associated with this and other global layers. These data table services can be used by developers to create custom applications. For more information see the World Ecophysiographic Tables.The layer was created by the USGS and Esri in 2015.For more information see the publication:Sayre and others. 2014. A New Map of Global Ecological Land Units — An Ecophysiographic Stratification Approach. Washington, DC: Association of American Geographers. 46 pages. Available onlineWhat can you do with this layer?This layer is suitable for analysis and can be used in ArcGIS Online to support pop-ups. It can be used in ArcGIS Desktop. Because of the large number of unique values in the image service it can not be symbolized and displays as an all white layer. To use in pop-ups set the transparency to 100% and configure the pop-up.This layer has query, identify, and export image services available. This layer is restricted to a maximum area of 16,000 x 16,000 pixels - an area 4,000 kilometers on a side or an area approximately the size of Europe. This layer is part of a larger collection of landscape layers that you can use to perform a wide variety of mapping and analysis tasks.The Living Atlas of the World provides an easy way to explore the landscape layers and many other beautiful and authoritative maps on hundreds of topics.Geonet is a good resource for learning more about landscape layers and the Living Atlas of the World. To get started see the Living Atlas Discussion Group.The Esri Insider Blog provides an introduction to the Ecophysiographic Mapping project.