Synthesized Alaskan Tundra Field Database with Harmonized In-Situ Data

SATFiD is a harmonized collection of in-situ field data from 37 existing datasets, covering Alaskan tundra sites. It integrates variables like active layer thickness, vegetation cover by functional type, soil moisture, soil temperature, and wildfire history. The dataset, produced by NASA, compiles measurements from field surveys conducted between 1972 and 2020.

Use Cases

• Analyzing trends in active layer thickness and soil temperature to study permafrost thaw.
• Modeling fire-permafrost-vegetation interactions using wildfire history and vegetation cover data.
• Calibrating remote sensing products with in-situ soil moisture and vegetation measurements.
• Studying long-term ecological change by examining harmonized plant functional type cover over a 48-year period.

Strengths

• Data is synthesized from 37 distinct field datasets, providing a consolidated view.
• Covers a long temporal range of 48 years (1972-2020).
• Variables are harmonized, improving cross-study comparability.

Limitations

• Exact row count, column names, and dataset size are unknown across all sources.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' date: Data.gov lists 2026-03-13, while NASA Earthdata lists 2020-08-15.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Compilation and harmonization of 37 existing field survey datasets.

Time Range

1972 to 2020

Freshness

2026-03-13

Geography

Alaska tundra sites