Geographic data defining watersheds less than 45 square kilometers burned in all California wildfires greater than 100 square kilometers, 1984—2021

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Geographic data defining watersheds less than 45 square kilometers burned in all California wildfires greater than 100 square kilometers, 1984—2021
Abstract:
This table contains geographic information defining watersheds that were burned in large wildfires (greater than 100 square kilometers) that occurred in California or California-draining regions (i.e., upper Klamath watershed) between the years 1984 and 2021. Each wildfire was broken into tens to thousands of small watersheds, and each row of this table contains geographic information defining a single watershed.
Supplemental_Information:
Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Note that although the metadata says the data are in UTM-10N projection, some of the data are in UTM-11N.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Dow, Helen, 20240807, Geographic data defining watersheds less than 45 square kilometers burned in all California wildfires greater than 100 square kilometers, 1984—2021: data release DOI:10.5066/P9CG3DRR, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, California.

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Dow, Helen W., Kostelnik, Jaime, Kean, Jason W., and Lindsay, Donald N., 2024, Postfire erosion estimates for large California wildfires that occurred between 1984 and 2021: data release DOI:10.5066/P9CG3DRR, U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Suggested Citation: Dow, H.W., Kostelnik, J., Kean, J.W., and Lindsay, D.N., 2024, Postfire erosion estimates for large California wildfires that occurred between 1984 and 2021: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9CG3DRR.
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -124.205014
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -115.178253
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.632207
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 32.554034
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 1984
    Ending_Date: 2021
    Currentness_Reference:
    Wildfires that occurred during this time period were part of our study.
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: comma-delimited text
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a Point data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • Point (32613)
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
      UTM_Zone_Number: 10
      Transverse_Mercator:
      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.99960000
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -123.00000000
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.0
      False_Easting: 500000.0
      False_Northing: 0.0
      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.0001
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.0001
      Planar coordinates are specified in Meter
      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is GRS 1980.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.0.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222101.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    BurnedWatersheds_LargeFires1984to2021_WEPPbasinInput.csv
    spreadsheet of watershed input data for wepppy. (Source: Producer defined)
    fire_name
    Name of the wildfire (Source: producer defined) modified from MTBS perims ‘Incid_Name’ to include an underscore between the name and fire to facilitate export of data from WEPP.
    fire_year
    Year the wildfire occurred, modified from MTBS perims ‘Ig Date’. (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1985
    Maximum:2021
    Units:Year
    Resolution:1
    basin_id
    Identification number for each watershed within each wildfire. (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1
    Maximum:2030
    Units:NA
    Resolution:1
    utmzone
    The utm zone in which the wildfire occurred. (Source: Producer defined)
    ValueDefinition
    10SA 6-degree zone defined in the universal transverse Mercator projection.
    11SA 6-degree zone defined in the universal transverse Mercator projection.
    10TA 6-degree zone defined in the universal transverse Mercator projection.
    drainage_area
    Drainage area of each watershed. (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.100
    Maximum:45.0
    Units:square kilometers
    Resolution:0.001
    relief
    Relief of each watershed. (Source: producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:20
    Maximum:2769
    Units:square kilometers
    Resolution:1
    outlet_x
    The x-coordinate of the watershed’s outlet in the local UTM zone(either 10 or 11N). (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:208835.2842
    Maximum:791188.2039
    Units:meters
    Resolution:0.00001
    outlet_y
    The y-coordinate of the watershed’s outlet in the local UTM zone (either 10 or 11N). (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:3601311.03400
    Maximum:4719704.31900
    Units:meters
    Resolution:0.00001
    xmin
    The minimum x-coordinate defining the bounding box of the watershed polygon in the local UTM zone (either 10 or 11N). (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:208191.1861
    Maximum:790253.3789
    Units:meters
    Resolution:0.0001
    ymin
    The minimum y-coordinate defining the bounding box of the watershed polygon in the local UTM zone (either 10 or 11N). (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:3600407.560
    Maximum:4718914.436
    Units:meters
    Resolution:0.001
    xmax
    The maximum x-coordinate defining the bounding box of the watershed polygon in the local UTM zone (either 10 or 11N). (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:212188.4267
    Maximum:792992.6787
    Units:meters
    Resolution:0.0001
    ymax
    The maximum y-coordinate defining the bounding box of the watershed polygon in the local UTM zone (either 10 or 11N). (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:3602128.050
    Maximum:4721479.805
    Units:meters
    Resolution:0.001
    center_x
    The x-coordinate of the center of the bounding box of the watershed polygon in the local UTM zone (either 10 or 11N). (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:210189.8064
    Maximum:791072.2506
    Units:meters
    Resolution:0.0001
    center_y
    The y-coordinate of the center of the bounding box of the watershed polygon in the local UTM zone (either 10 or 11N). (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:3601282.215
    Maximum:4719675.331
    Units:meters
    Resolution:0.001
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview: The first line of the csv file is a header line.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: U.S. Geological Survey

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Helen Dow
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
    Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator
    2885 Mission Street
    Santa Cruz, CA

    831-427-4747 (voice)
    pcmsc_data@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

We used these data to run the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model using the Python module wepppy on all watersheds burned in all large wildfires from 1984 to 2021. From these data we created a statewide annual postfire sediment budget that is presented in the associated publication. These data can be used in combination with wepppy wrapper scripts that are available online (https://github.com/rogerlew/wepppy).

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    MTBS perims (source 1 of 2)
    Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS) Agency, 2007, MTBS Geospatial Datasets: Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS), online.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: Digital
    Source_Contribution:
    We used the burn perimeters from MTBS to define the fire-affected region and produce the watersheds listed here.
    DEMs (source 2 of 2)
    Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (2021), 2021, ALOS World 3D 30-meter DEM. V3.2, Jan 2021: OpenTopography, online.

    Online Links:

    Type_of_Source_Media: Digital
    Source_Contribution: The DEM provided terrain data for building watersheds.
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 2022 (process 1 of 3)
    We used these data to find wildfires larger than one hundred square kilometers and all the data associated with them including their official MTBS names, ignition date, and perimeters. Data sources used in this process:
    • MTBS perims
    Date: 2022 (process 2 of 3)
    We derived watersheds within each burn perimeter using a geographic information system (GIS). Data sources used in this process:
    • DEMs
    • MTBS perims
    Date: 09-Oct-2024 (process 3 of 3)
    The metadata file was edited to correct an extra space in the Network Resource links. No data were changed (mau@usgs.gov)
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Dow, Helen W., East, Amy E., Sankey, Joel B., Warrick, Jonathan A., Kostelnik, Jaime, Lindsay, Donald N., and Kean, Jason W., 2024, Postfire sediment mobilization and its downstream implications across California, 1984–2021.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Dow, H.W., East, A., Sankey, J.B., Warrick, J., Kostelnik, J., Lindsay, D.N., and Kean, J.W., 2024, Postfire sediment mobilization and its downstream implications across California, 1984 – 2021: Journal of Geophysical Research Earth Surface, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JF007725.
    Eidenshink, Jeff, Schwind, Brian, Brewer, Ken, Zhu, Zhi-Liang, Quayle, Brad, and Howard, Stephen, 2007, A Project for Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity.

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Eidenshink, J., Schwind, B., Brewer, K., Zhu, Z.-L., Quayle, B., & Howard, S. (2007). A Project for Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity. Fire Ecology, 3(1), 3–21. https://doi.org/10.4996/fireecology.0301003

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    The accuracy of watershed geographic attributes such as drainage area and relief may be impacted by the horizontal positional accuracy or the accuracy of the elevation data that was used as a source.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Calculations were completed using a digital elevation model (DEM) with a 30-meter resolution.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    Coordinates, drainage awere created using a DEM with a vertical accuracy of 5 m.
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    No data were intentionally omitted from the dataset.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    The data were checked for logical consistency.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints No access constraints
Use_Constraints USGS-authored or produced data and information are in the public domain from the U.S. Government and are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize and acknowledge the U.S. Geological Survey and the California Geological Survey as the originator(s) of the dataset and in products derived from these data.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase
    Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302
    Denver, CO

    1-888-275-8747 (voice)
    sciencebase@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? These data are available in csv format (BurnedWatersheds_LargeFires1984to2021_WEPPbasinInput.csv) accompanied by CSDGM FGDC-compliant metadata.
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    These data can be viewed with any software capable of viewing text files.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 09-Oct-2024
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Attn: PCMSC Science Data Coordinator
2885 Mission Street
Santa Cruz, CA

831-427-4747 (voice)
pcmsc_data@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/pcmsc/DataReleases/ScienceBase/DR_P9CG3DRR/BurnedWatersheds_LargeFires1984to2021_WEPPbasinInput_metadata_0408.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.51 on Fri Oct 18 09:43:54 2024