This product delineates physiographic, or geomorphologic, units on a Statewide scale and portrays them in map form. This version of a physiographic map of Maryland supersedes an incomplete, preliminary version having a limited release in 1995. This data set is a vector digitization of line map information. The hierarchical classification of the earth's physiographic features is as follows, in descending order (and generally decreasing size): Realm, Major Division, Province, Section, Region, District, Area, Zone, Locale, Compartment, and Feature. Subdivisions are based on similarities (within) and differences (among) geologic structure, rock type, geomorphic history, and topographic characteristics. At the 1:100,000 scale of this data set, only Provinces through Areas are depicted on the map.
Primarily to develop a State physiographic map. Secondarily to provide a base useful for ecoregion maps, vegetation maps, ground-water pollution potential maps, and others.
This map is considered valid only at scales equal to or less than 1:100000.
ground condition
Acknowledgement of the Maryland Geological Survey would be appreciated in products derived from these data. User may be required to sign a Maryland DNR Spatial Data Products and Services License Agreement.
2300 St. Paul Street
Attributes were defined by MGS staff. Attribute accuracy is tested by manual comparison of the source with hard copy plots; double-checked by check plots. Accuracy estimated to exceed 99%.
This was checked by visual comparison with the source. Any inconsistencies were corrected. Specific element that were checked included: (1) lines intersect only where intended; (2) no lines are entered twice; (3) all polygons close at nodes; (4) there are no overshoots or undershoots; and (5) all areas are completely described.
Data completeness for unrevised digital files reflects the content of the source graphic. Features may have been eliminated or generalized on the source graphic, due to scale and legibility constraints.
spatial and attribute information
topographic and hydrographic information
Physiographic subdivisions were delineated on paper topographic maps at scales of 1:24,000 and/or 1:62,500 through a combination of field observation and evaluation of topographic and geologic maps of similar scales. Those subdivision boundaries were subsequently transferred by hand to paper maps of 30x60-minute quadrangles at a scale of 1:100,000. After repeated checking and revising as necessary of the 1:100,000-scale paper maps, all linework was transferred manually by visual inspection to base-stable mylars of the 30x60-minute 1:100,000-scale maps. Due to the reduced compilation scale of 1:100,000, some subdivision boundaries were generalized or smoothed. All the detail of the larger scale maps was retained on the smaller scale map.
2300 St. Paul Street
The 30x60-minute, 1:100,000-scale base-stable mylars containing the inked physiographic subdivision boundaries were scanned by the Center for Geographic Information Science at Towson University, with subsequent raster to vector conversion and edge-matching on the State Plane Coordinate System (NAD83, meters) to create a composite vector coverage of the entire state to be printed at scales of 1:100,000 or smaller.
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Internal feature number.
ESRI
Feature geometry.
ESRI
Area of feature in internal units squared.
ESRI
Perimeter of feature in internal units.
ESRI
Internally generated for identification and processing purposes.
ESRI
Internally generated for identification and processing purposes.
ESRI
Binary representation indicating that a water presence is or isn't present.
MGS/CGIS
Numerical representation made up of province, section, region, district, and area. There are 149 recognizable physio-codes, 117 are recognizable on this map.
MGS
Appalachian Plateaus Province
MGS
Allegheny Mountain Section
MGS
Chesapeake Gorges Region
MGS
Upper Potomac Gorge District
MGS
Allegheny High Plateau Region
MGS
Allegheny Front District
MGS
Frostburg District
MGS
Lower Savage Gorge Area
MGS
Avilton District
MGS
Upper Savage Gorge Area
MGS
Oakland District
MGS
White Meadow Run Area
MGS
Pleasant Valley Area
MGS
Grantsville District
MGS
The Glades Area
MGS
Accident District
MGS
Youghiogheny Highlands District
MGS
Youghiogheny Gorge Area
MGS
Cranesville Swamp Area
MGS
Ridge And Valley Province
MGS
Folded Appalachian Mountains Section
MGS
Chesapeake Gorges Region
MGS
Upper Potomac Gorge District
MGS
Cumberland Ridges Region
MGS
Town Creek Valley Region
MGS
Town Hill Region
MGS
Paw Paw Valley Region
MGS
Hancock Ridges Region
MGS
Licking Creek Valley Region
MGS
Bear Pond Mountains Region
MGS
Blairs Valley Area
MGS
Great Valley Section
MGS
Chesapeake Gorges Region
MGS
Upper Potomac Floodplain District
MGS
Mercersburg Region
MGS
Clear Spring Foothills District
MGS
Spickler Plain District
MGS
Martinsburg Dissected Plain Region
MGS
Conococheague Creek District
MGS
Hagerstown Region
MGS
Charles Town District
MGS
Waynesboro District
MGS
Keedysville Area
MGS
Blue Ridge Province
MGS
Northern Blue Ridge Section
MGS
Chesapeake Gorges Region
MGS
Middle Potomac Gorge District
MGS
Catoctin-South Mountain Region
MGS
Shookstown Bench Area
MGS
Harbaugh Valley Area
MGS
Middletown Valley Region
MGS
Upper Middletown Valley District
MGS
Lower Middletown Valley District
MGS
Catoctin Creek Gorge Area
MGS
Elk Ridge Region
MGS
Rohrersville Valley District
MGS
Piedmont Plateau Province
MGS
Piedmont Lowland Section
MGS
Chesapeake Gorges Region
MGS
Middle Potomac Floodplain District
MGS
Mesozoic Lowland Region
MGS
Gettysburg Lowland District
MGS
Culpeper Lowland District
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Limestone Lowland Region
MGS
Frederick Valley District
MGS
PIEDMONT UPLAND SECTION
MGS
Chesapeake Gorges Region
MGS
Middle Potomac Gorge District
MGS
Susquehanna Gorge District
MGS
Harford Plateaus & Gorges Region
MGS
Bel Air Upland District
MGS
Lower Deer Creek Gorge Area
MGS
Pimlico Upland District
MGS
Hampstead Upland District
MGS
Upper Deer Creek Gorge Area
MGS
Rocks Ridge Area
MGS
Slate Ridge Area
MGS
Hydes Valley Area
MGS
Upper Gunpowder Falls Gorge Area
MGS
Caves Valley Area
MGS
Soldiers Delight Area
MGS
UpperPatapsco River Gorge Area
MGS
Clarksville Marble Valley Area
MGS
Hunting Hill Area
MGS
Mt. Airy Upland District
MGS
Sugarloaf Mountain Area
MGS
Lilypons Area
MGS
Laurel Hill Area
MGS
Glenwood Upland District
MGS
Patapsco River Gorge Area
MGS
Wakefield Valley & Ridge Region
MGS
Dug Hill Ridge District
MGS
New Windsor Lowland District
MGS
Unionville Upland District
MGS
Silver Run Region
MGS
Silver Run Valley Area
MGS
Phoenix Domes Region
MGS
Chattolanee Upland District
MGS
Western Run Area
MGS
Gunpowder Falls Gorge Area
MGS
Timonium Valley District
MGS
Fall Zone Region
MGS
Perry Hall Upland District
MGS
Gunpowder Falls Gorge Area
MGS
Patapsco Gorge Area
MGS
Atlantic Coastal Plain Province
MGS
Embayed Section
MGS
Western Shore Uplands Region
MGS
Elk Neck Peninsula District
MGS
Grays Hill Area
MGS
Middle River Lowland District
MGS
Lower Gunpowder River Area
MGS
Glen Burnie Rolling Upland District
MGS
Lower Patapsco River Area
MGS
Upper Patuxent Valley Area
MGS
Anacostia Valley Area
MGS
Crownsville Upland District
MGS
Middle Patuxent Valley Area
MGS
Waldorf Upland Plain District
MGS
Piscataway Creek Area
MGS
Mattawoman Creek Area
MGS
Port Tobacco Creek Area
MGS
Zekiah-Gilbert Swamps Area
MGS
Prince Frederick Knobby Upland District
MGS
Lower Patuxent Valley Area
MGS
Calvert Cliffs Area
MGS
Western Shore Lowlands Region
MGS
Aberdeen Estuaries and Lowlands District
MGS
Annapolis Estuaries and Lowlands District
MGS
Patuxent Estuary and Lowlands District
MGS
St. Jerome's Neck Lowlands District
MGS
Potomac Estuary and Lowlands District
MGS
Foggy Bottom Area
MGS
Indian Head Area
MGS
Chesapeake Estuary Region
MGS
Delmarva Peninsula Region
MGS
Denton Plain District
MGS
Upper Choptank River Valley Area
MGS
Salisbury Lowlands District
MGS
Upper Pocomoke River Area
MGS
Princess Anne Lowland District
MGS
Lower Pocomoke River Area
MGS
Nanticoke River Area
MGS
St. Michaels Islands and Marshes District
MGS
Crisfield Islands and Marshes District
MGS
Atlantic Bays and Barriers District
MGS
Berlin Scarp Area
MGS
Barrier Beaches Area
MGS
Coastal Bays and Marshes Area
MGS
A geographic area of which all parts are similar in geologic structure and climate and which has had a unified geomorphic history; its relief features differ significantly from those of adjacent Provinces.
Dictionary of Geological Terms (3rd edition), American Geological Institute.
A Section is the first level of subdivision of a Province. In a Section, one geomorphic system is usually dominant; intermediate structural geology unit.
Godfrey, A.E. and Cleaves, E.T., 1991, Landscape analysis: theoretical considerations and practical needs: Environmental Geology and Water Science, v. 17, no. 2, p. 141-145.
Subdivision of Section in which there is a strong element of tectonic individuality; common lithologic characteristics.
Godfrey and Cleaves (1991)
Subdivision of Region in which lithology influences deformation style and pattern; lithology/geomorphic process/landform delicately interrelated.
Godfrey and Cleaves (1991)
Subdivision of District, though need not be part of a District. Local lithology closely related to land unit; geomorphic process directly related to lithology and landform.
Godfrey and Cleaves (1991)
A geographic area of which all parts are similar in geologic structure and climate and which has had a unified geomorphic history; its relief features differ significantly from those of adjacent Provinces.
Dictionary of Geological Terms (3rd edition), American Geological Institute.
Written description of the natural boundaries of the geographic area.
MGS/CGIS
Naturally occurring rock types present in the given geographic area.
MGS/CGIS
Description of the general nature of rock deformation.
MGS/CGIS
A written description of the physical features present in the geographic area.
MGS/CGIS
The highest elevation, in feet, present in the given geographic area.
MGS/CGIS
The lowest elevation, in feet, present in the given geographic area.
MGS/CGIS
The difference between the maximum and minimum elevations.
MGS/CGIS
A written approximation of the range in elevation of the given geographic area.
MGS/CGIS
Area of feature in internal units squared as calculated by MGS.
MGS/CGIS
Describes the drainage pattern of the hydrographic features present.
MGS/CGIS
Internal feature number.
ESRI
Feature geometry.
ESRI
Area of feature in internal units squared.
ESRI
Perimeter of feature in internal units.
ESRI
Internal feature number.
ESRI
User-defined feature number.
ESRI
2300 St. Paul Street
Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the Maryland Geological Survey and Towson University, no warranty expressed or implied is made by the MGS regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. The Maryland Geological Survey will warrant the delivery of this product in a computer-readable format, and will offer appropriate adjustment of credit when the product is determined unreadable by correctly adjusted computer input peripherals, or when the physical medium is delivered in damaged condition. Requests for adjustment of credit must be made within 90 days from the date of this shipment from the ordering site.
vector
Specify whether interest is in hardcopy or CD-ROM.
2300 St. Paul Street