GEDI L4A: Global Aboveground Biomass Density from Spaceborne Lidar, 2019-2021

Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) laser footprints provide aboveground biomass density predictions within a ~25-meter area. The dataset contains predictions, standard errors, and ancillary data for eight laser beams across a global latitude band between 51.6 degrees north and south. NASA produced this Version 2 data from April 2019 to August 2021, with algorithm adjustments for Evergreen Broadleaf Trees in South America.

Use Cases

• Modeling global carbon stocks based on aboveground biomass density (AGBD) predictions.
• Analyzing vegetation structure and canopy characteristics using the reported relative height (RH) metrics.
• Comparing biomass estimates across plant functional types (PFTs) like deciduous and evergreen trees.
• Generating gridded biomass products using the ancillary parameters provided as input to the GEDI04_B algorithm.
• Evaluating algorithm performance by comparing AGBD predictions from the six different algorithm setting groups.

Strengths

• Provides biomass estimates with associated prediction standard error for uncertainty quantification.
• Includes data for multiple plant functional types and world regions, allowing for stratified analysis.
• Offers ancillary data from six algorithm setting groups, enabling user evaluation and selection.
• Covers a specific global latitude band observed by the International Space Station.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Contains 351 granules affected by duplicate shots for selected days in 2020 and 2021.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Predictions derived from parametric models relating simulated GEDI L2A waveform metrics to field plot estimates of AGBD.

Time Range

2019-04-18 to 2021-08-05

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03 13 02:20:27.167594; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global latitude band observed by the ISS, nominally between 51.6 degrees north and south.