-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: cataloging question -- noting presence of green plate on
usgs              topos
Date: Wed, 5 Sep 2012 08:24:07 -0400
From: Grabach, Kenneth A. Mr. <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>


I have seen this type of variation on other maps from USGS.  I mention
this because, for the topographic 7.5-minute series, I have separate
records only for each state series, with individual sheets captured in
item records attached to the parent record.  So I have not used separate
descriptions for each quadrangle.  But as other maps turn up with this
same variance, I have cataloged them separately.  I have seen notes in
records for maps with the green layer missing, saying: "Green layer
missing" or something similar.  The topographic maps of national parks,
for example sometimes occur in the two variations.

Your surmise is correct, the green layer shows forest, or woodland.
There are other patterns in the same green color.  A dotted pattern
shows orchards or tree nurseries, and a pattern of smaller dots sows
vineyards.  A scattered, irregular pattern shows shrubland.  And in
subtropical and tropical coastal areas you will see a green overall,
overlaid with random blue lines, showing mangroves.

Ken Grabach                           <[log in to unmask]>
Maps Librarian                          Phone: 513-529-1726
Miami University Libraries
Oxford, Ohio  45056  USA

-----Original Message-----
From: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Angie Cope
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2012 5:45 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: cataloging question -- noting presence of green plate on usgs topos

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Susan Powell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, September 4, 2012 11:00:36 AM
Subject: cataloging question -- noting presence of green plate on usgs topos

Hello,
I have a question that I've been curious about for a while and has
recently come up again in a project I'm working on. Some USGS topos have
a green layer (presumably indicating forest cover?) -- often this green
plate is the only feature different from an identical map (same dates,
etc.). I was wondering if anyone has noted this "green plate" in
cataloging individual sheets, and if so, which field and what language
you used to describe it.
Thanks in advance!
-Susan

Susan Powell
GIS Specialist for Metadata
Yale University Library