CEC hero image, a  photo of Array

North American Environmental Atlas

Mapping Our Shared Environment

The North American Environmental Atlas combines and harmonizes geospatial data from Canada, Mexico and the United States to allow for a continental and regional perspective on environmental issues that cross boundaries. It is a unique tool to analyze and raise awareness of our shared environment and ecosystems across the continent, to demonstrate their value, and to help us see what needs to be done to protect them.

The dozens of map layers of the Atlas are unique in that they harmonize geographic information across North America’s political boundaries. By comparing these map layers, we can better understand and quantify critical trends and interrelationships at the North American level.

Explore this interactive story for a better understanding of how the Atlas can be useful to you.

Explore more than one thousand publications and articles that utilized data from the North American Environmental Atlas.

North American Environmental Atlas

Keywords

Map Type

Map Files

CEC Atlas Map

Anthropogenic Biomes

2008
Humans

This map shows North America classified into “anthropogenic biomes,” also known as “anthromes” or “human biomes.”

CEC Atlas Map

Irrigated Areas

2007
Humans, Water

This map shows the percentage of the total land area that was equipped for irrigation, around the year 2000.

CEC Atlas Map

Commercial Marine Vessel Emissions

2006
Climate, Pollutants, Transportation

This map illustrates the estimated air emissions of sulfur (SOX as SO2) from cargo traffic in shipping lanes serving North American coastlines in the year 2002.

CEC Atlas Map

Human Influence on Terrestrial Ecosystems

2005
Humans

This map shows the direct influence of humans on terrestrial ecosystems across North America.

CEC Atlas Map

Wetlands

2004
Biodiversity, Water

This map shows different wetland types, as well as lakes and rivers, across North America.

Tools

Publications

GIS Updates

Be the first to hear when we publish new GIS data and updates. We promise we won’t send you anything else.