The GESS data includes polygon file with multiple attributes which describe the lithology, geomorphology, and related depositional environment of Quaternary-age surfical sediments in the glaciated conterminous United States. These attributes include: the map unit (GESS_MU), a geomorphic modifier (GESS_Modifier), a sediment stratification indicator (SedStrat), and a a sediment texture classification (Texture6). Possible GESS_MU values include: alluvial sediment, colluvial sediment, eolian sediment, lacustrine sediment, marine sediment, organic sediment, outwash, ice-contact deposits, island, residual soils, soliflucted sediment, till, bedrock, fill, and water. Possible GESS_Modifier values include: e (end moraine), g (ground moraine), s (stagnation moraine), d (discontinuous or attenuated), or f (soliflucted). Possible SedStrat values include "0" (unstratified, and "1" (stratified). Possible values for Texture6 include mostly sandy, sandy-silty, mostly silty, silty-clayey, mostly clayey, and mostly organic.

The Hydrogeologic Terranes dataset includes separate polygon and line feature classes. The polygon feature class divides the glaciated United States into seventeen distinct terranes using a geologically based approach. Each terrane contains Quaternary sediment that is derived from a common depositional history and can be characterized by texture and thickness. Delineation of hydrogeologic terranes was based on an interpretation of existing geologic mapping of surficial and Quaternary deposits, and thickness of unconsolidated material. Overall thickness of Quaternary sediment was used to qualitatively rank the generalized complexity of geologic framework in each terrane: "lower" complexity (assigned a terrane code = 1), "moderate" (code = 2), and "higher" complexity (code = 3). Letter designations appended to the numeric codes (e.g., 1A, 3C) differentiate terranes of similar complexity. Two unique areas, where thick, stratified, coarse-grained sediment dominates, were assigned code = 4. The line feature class of the Hydrogeologic Terranes dataset identifies terrane boundary line types. Possible values are: (1) sediment thickness contrast boundary, (2) major river boundary, (3) maximum extent of glacial ice, and (4) extent of Late Wisconsinan glacial ice.

The Hydrogeologic Terranes dataset includes separate polygon and line feature classes. The polygon feature class divides the glaciated United States into seventeen distinct terranes using a geologically based approach. Each terrane contains Quaternary sediment that is derived from a common depositional history and can be characterized by texture and thickness. Delineation of hydrogeologic terranes was based on an interpretation of existing geologic mapping of surficial and Quaternary deposits, and thickness of unconsolidated material. Overall thickness of Quaternary sediment was used to qualitatively rank the generalized complexity of geologic framework in each terrane: "lower" complexity (assigned a terrane code = 1), "moderate" (code = 2), and "higher" complexity (code = 3). Letter designations appended to the numeric codes (e.g., 1A, 3C) differentiate terranes of similar complexity. Two unique areas, where thick, stratified, coarse-grained sediment dominates, were assigned code = 4. The line feature class of the Hydrogeologic Terranes dataset identifies terrane boundary line types. Possible values are: (1) sediment thickness contrast boundary, (2) major river boundary, (3) maximum extent of glacial ice, and (4) extent of Late Wisconsinan glacial ice.

Mountain glaciers are closely coupled to climate processes, ecosystems, and regional water resources. To enhance physical understanding of these connections, the USGS maintains a collection of glacier mass balance and climate data across the western United States and Alaska. In some cases, records of glacier mass balance extend back to the mid-1940s. These data have been incorporated from various sources, primarily original USGS studies, but also including work from the University of Alaska, and the Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP). The core of this collection is composed of mass balance data from the USGS Benchmark Glaciers. These five glaciers are Lemon Creek Glacier, AK (1953 -Present), South Cascade Glacier, WA (1958 - Present), Gulkana and Wolverine glaciers, AK (1966 - Present), and Sperry Glacier, MT (2005 - Present). Datasets from each benchmark glacier are composed of, at a minimum, point mass balances, glacier hypsometry, daily temperature and precipitation, geodetic mass balances, and glacier-wide mass balances. Data from other glaciers within this collection may be less complete, continuous, or representative as data from the benchmark glaciers. In these cases, we urge users to carefully inspect the associated metadata of each specific data release for further details.

Mountain glaciers are closely coupled to climate processes, ecosystems, and regional water resources. To enhance physical understanding of these connections, the USGS maintains a collection of glacier mass balance and climate data across the western United States and Alaska. In some cases, records of glacier mass balance extend back to the mid-1940s. These data have been incorporated from various sources, primarily original USGS studies, but also including work from the University of Alaska, and the Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP). The core of this collection is composed of mass balance data from the USGS Benchmark Glaciers. These five glaciers are Lemon Creek Glacier, AK (1953 -Present), South Cascade Glacier, WA (1958 - Present), Gulkana and Wolverine glaciers, AK (1966 - Present), and Sperry Glacier, MT (2005 - Present). Datasets from each benchmark glacier are composed of, at a minimum, point mass balances, glacier hypsometry, daily temperature and precipitation, geodetic mass balances, and glacier-wide mass balances. Data from other glaciers within this collection may be less complete, continuous, or representative as data from the benchmark glaciers. In these cases, we urge users to carefully inspect the associated metadata of each specific data release for further details.

This data release provides geodetic measurements collected since the mid-1940s to characterize the surface elevation, area, and motion of glaciers studied by the U.S, Geological Survey. The primary glaciers of focus are the Benchmark Glaciers of North America which include Gulkana, Wolverine, and Lemon Creek Glaciers in Alaska, Sperry Glacier in Montana, and South Cascade Glacier in Washington state (USA). The data include: historic and contemporary glacier boundary outlines, point data from GNSS surveys, Digital Elevation Models (DEM), and orthorectified aerial photos and satellite imagery (Orthos). This data release is updated periodically. The "versionHistory.txt" file included with this data release describes updates made in each version.

Since the late 1950s, the USGS has maintained a long-term glacier mass-balance program at three North American glaciers. Measurements began on South Cascade Glacier, WA in 1958, expanding to Gulkana and Wolverine glaciers, AK in 1966, and later Sperry Glacier, MT in 2005. Additional measurements have been made on Lemon Creek Glacier, AK to compliment data collected by the Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP; Pelto and others, 2013). Direct field measurements are combined with weather data and imagery analyses to estimate the seasonal and annual mass balance at each glacier in both a conventional and reference surface format (Cogley and others, 2011). The analysis framework (O'Neel and others, 2019, van Beusekom and others, 2010) is identical at each glacier to enable cross-comparison between output time series. Vocabulary used follows Cogley and others (2011) Glossary of Glacier Mass Balance. This portion of the data release includes geodetic data used in mass balance analyses. The USGS uses geodetic data to quantify glacier area, glacier hypsometry, and the change in glacier volume and mass (e.g., Cogley and others 2011; Zemp and others 2013; van Beusekom and others, 2010; O'Neel and others 2014). Here we describe these basin-scale data, how they are produced, and the format in which they are preserved and disseminated. Gridded products comprise the first class of data and include orthorectified images and Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). Prior to the early 2000s, these grids were derived from aerial stereo photography or historic topographic maps. More recently, high-resolution space-borne imagery facilitated DEM and ortho-image production using approaches described herein. The second class of data are vector geospatial files of glacier margins. These are interpreted products, produced via manual digitization of the boundary between rock and ice identified from ortho-rectified images, or the boundary between neighboring glaciers identified from ice divide velocity maps. The third class of data are point data from GNSS surveys. These include post-processed points that represent mass balance stake locations, glacier surface elevations, installations, and points of interest on and around these glaciers.

This GIS dataset depicts the surficial geology of the Hamburg Area (NTS 84E/SW) (GIS data, line features). The data were created in geodatabase format and output for public distribution in shapefile format. These data comprise the line features of Alberta Geological Survey Map 565, Surficial Geology of the Hamburg Area (NTS 84E/SW).

This GIS dataset depicts the surficial geology of the South Whitemud Lake area (NTS 84D/NE) (GIS data, line features). The data were created in geodatabase format and output for public distribution in shapefile format. These data comprise the line features of Alberta Geological Survey Map 558, Surficial Geology of the South Whitemud Lake Area (NTS 84D/NE).

This GIS dataset depicts the surficial geology of the South Whitemud Lake area (NTS 84D/NE) (GIS data, polygon features). The data were created in geodatabase format and output for public distribution in shapefile format. These data comprise the polygon features of Alberta Geological Survey Map 558, Surficial Geology of the South Whitemud Lake Area (NTS 84D/NE).