Nordpil

Arctic ocean basemap

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A basemap is used as a backdrop to provide reference and context for thematic data and information overlaid in the map presentation. A carefully designed backdrop should use muted colors to avoid distracting the viewer from the main messages conveyed, while still providing the geographic framework.
This basemap was prepared primarily for Arctic marine and oceanographics needs. The bathymetry and characteristics of the seas were primary requirements from the client. The map was prepared for the entire Arctic region, including surrounding areas, and at very high resolution using the best available datasources. The resulting map was rendered as tiles in an image pyramid, deployed using ArcGIS Server and shared in an OGC Web Map Service (WMS) for consumption in an external application.

The map uses a Polar Stereographic projection, centered on the North Pole.

Global Mapper, ESRI ArcGIS and Adobe Illustrator were used to prepare the map. The resulting map was composited and rendered from various datasources that were merged into one dataset. Sources for the map were CleanTopo2, GEBCO, IBCAO and Natural Earth (cross-blended hypsography for land areas). Relief shading was created using Adobe Photoshop.

For more information, please refer to:

• UNEP/GRID-Arendal Oceanids
• CleanTopo2 elevation model
• GEBCO - General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans
• International Bathymetric Chart of the Arctic Ocean (IBCAO)
• Natural Earth cross-blended hypsography