lon:
onmental
ons, and
nd cover.
diversity,
nd cover.
the most
s. These
1 society.
ademy of
rnational
ver 1-km
| Change
stics data
| to serve
regional
RR and
ler to
or the
cs data
> format,
between
organizations is that land characteristics data must be global, multiscale, provide the flexibility to
satisfy a broad range of applications and research needs, and be able to serve as a baseline for
monitoring and assessing changes in the land's surface.
Global Land Cover Characteristics Data Base Specifications:
The global land cover characteristics data base will be based on the format of the conterminous U.S.
prototype and will consist of four components: (1) seasonal land cover regions; (2) descriptive and
quantitative attributes that describe key spectral, vegetation, seasonal, and site properties of each
seasonal land cover region; (3) derived thematic land cover sets; and (4) the source data used to
develop the first two components.
Seasonal land cover regions -- The spatial units are comprised of relatively homogeneous land cover
associations (for example, similar flora and physiognomic characteristics), have unique seasonal
properties, including onset, peak, and seasonal duration of greenness, and have unique relative
primary production levels.
Attributes -- Detailed quantitative and descriptive attributes characterize each region. The attributes
for each region can be likened to a spreadsheet and permit updating, calculating, or transforming the
entries into new parameters or classes. This provides the flexibility to use the land characteristics data
bases in many models without extensive modification of model inputs.
Derived thematic land cover sets -- Aggregations of the seasonal land cover regions into selected
thematic groups are provided to meet the needs of particular applications. For example, general land
cover maps based on the Simple Biosphere Model (SiB) and the Biosphere-Atmosphere Transfer
Scheme (BATS) provide the land cover data used in many land-atmosphere parameterizations.
Additionally, a global ecosystem framework will be used as an intermediate classification legend
common for each continental data set.
Source data -- All spatial data sets, used either to develop or characterize the seasonally distinct land
cover regions are included.
The global land cover characteristics data base will be developed on a continent-by-continent basis.
All data bases will share the same map projection (Goodes Interrupted Homolosine), have 1-km
spatial resolution, and be based on AVHRR data nominally spanning the April 1992 - March 1993
period. The complete global land cover characteristics data base is expected to have approximately
1000 seasonal land cover regions. Five continental data bases are planned.
Time Table for Global Land Cover Characterization:
Continent Start End
North America 1/95 10/95
South America 6/95 12/95
Europe & Asia 1/96 1/97
Africa 7/96 3/97
Australia/Oceania 1/97 9/97
Collaboration:
With a project of this scope, it is essential that the work be carried out by a consortium of
