Regional Freshwater Index Layers (English, TIFF)

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TIFF

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file-only

Publisher-reported update

2026-03-24

Description: The Regional Freshwater Index Layers dataset is composed of five single-band raster layers in GeoTIFF format. Each layer corresponds to a marine region, which generally coincide with the following layers from the Species Distribution Modelling Boundaries dataset: Nearshore_HG, Nearshore_NCC, Nearshore_QCS, Nearshore_WCVI, and Shelf_SalishSea. The main purpose of the dataset is to supplement existing layers that are used for species distribution modelling in the Pacific nearshore marine environment. Each regional freshwater index layer has the same spatial resolution and extent as other predictor layers for the corresponding region. While salinity layers exist from oceanographic models, they may not capture local difference from smaller scale rivers and streams entering the marine environment. Therefore, these layers are meant to complement salinity layers and are not suitable as a replacement for salinity data in species modelling. Methods: The cell values represent an estimate of freshwater influence on a 0-1 scale, where a higher value represents a greater level of freshwater influence. Details on how these values are determined is described in the supplemental…

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