CMS: Monthly Carbon Stocks and Fluxes for Contiguous US, 2001-2016

Contiguous US (CONUS) terrestrial carbon data provides monthly modeled estimates of carbon pools and fluxes at 0.5-degree resolution from 2001 to 2016. The dataset, derived from the CARDAMOM model-data fusion framework, includes labile, foliar, woody, litter, and soil organic carbon pools, as well as fluxes like gross primary production and heterotrophic respiration. It integrates climate data, biomass maps, and Forest Inventory and Analysis plot data to attribute changes in forest carbon stocks.

Use Cases

• Validating terrestrial carbon cycle models based on monthly flux estimates like GPP and NPP.
• Assessing spatial patterns of forest carbon stock changes using modeled pools and associated uncertainties.
• Attributing sources and sinks of carbon emissions across CONUS based on net biome exchange data.
• Calibrating remote sensing biomass products with model-data fusion outputs constrained by FIA plot data.

Strengths

• Provides a 16-year monthly time series (2001-2016) for analyzing carbon cycle trends.
• Integrates multiple data sources through a model-data fusion framework (CARDAMOM), including climate data and FIA plot data.
• Covers all terrestrial land cover types across the contiguous US at a consistent 0.5-degree spatial resolution.
• Includes estimates of uncertainty for both carbon pools and fluxes.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low: specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided on any platform.
• Conflicting last updated dates exist between sources (datagov: 2026-04-10, nasa_earthdata: 2016-12-31), casting doubt on data maintenance.
• The dataset is entirely modeled output, not direct observational measurements, which may limit use for certain validation tasks.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), utilizing the CARbon DAta MOdel fraMework (CARDAMOM).

Collection Method

Model-data fusion integrating climate data, above/below ground biomass maps (2005, 2010, 2015, 2016), and United States Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plot data.

Time Range

2001-01-01 to 2016-12-31

Freshness

2026-04-10 04:08:24.876527

Geography

Contiguous United States (CONUS)