Global Hydrologic Soil Groups Grid for Runoff Modeling

A 250-meter resolution global gridded dataset of hydrologic soil groups (HSGs) developed to support USDA-based curve-number runoff modeling at regional and continental scales. The classification is derived from soil texture classes and depth to bedrock provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization's SoilGrids250m system. The dataset is maintained by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and is available on multiple platforms.

Use Cases

• Regional runoff estimation using USDA curve-number method with soil group inputs.
• Continental-scale hydrological modeling integrating soil texture and depth to bedrock.
• Spatial analysis of soil water infiltration capacity based on hydrologic soil group classification.
• Validation of land surface models against a globally consistent soil property dataset.

Strengths

• Provides a globally consistent dataset with a specific spatial resolution of approximately 250 meters.
• Derived from the authoritative FAO SoilGrids250m system for soil texture and depth to bedrock.
• Explicitly designed for a specific, widely-used modeling framework (USDA curve-number runoff modeling).

Limitations

• Conflicting last update dates: one source lists 2017-11-28, while another lists 2026-03-13, creating uncertainty about data freshness.
• No column names, row counts, or specific file sizes are provided by any source, limiting technical assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration; derived from Food and Agriculture Organization SoilGrids250m system.

Collection Method

Classification derived from soil texture classes and depth to bedrock.

Time Range

null

Freshness

2026-03-13 01:53:35.042003

Geography

Global