ISLSCP II: Global Ecosystem Rooting Depths at 1-Degree Resolution

Vertical root distributions, quantified by the 50% and 95% rooting depth parameters (D50 and D95), are key inputs for global biogeochemistry and vegetation models. This dataset provides mean ecosystem rooting depths for 1 by 1 degree grid cells, synthesized from literature to address a key variable identified by the Global Climate Observation System. The included logistic equation allows users to calculate full vertical root distribution profiles from the two depth estimates.

Use Cases

• Parameterizing transpiration and soil water uptake in land-surface models based on D50 and D95 rooting depth variables.
• Quantifying global carbon and nutrient transport to deeper soil layers using derived vertical root distributions.
• Analyzing correlations between rooting depth, climate features, and soil characteristics as identified by GCOS.
• Providing foundational data for the Project for Intercomparison of Land Surface Parameterization Schemes (PILPS) to reduce model scatter.

Strengths

• Addresses a variable (95% rooting depth) explicitly identified as a key need by the Global Climate Observation System (GCOS).
• Provides a foundational parameter set (D50, D95) that was the most important factor explaining scatter in transpiration simulations across 14 land-surface models in PILPS.
• Data is synthesized at a consistent, global 1 by 1 degree grid cell resolution for model integration.

Limitations

• Critical metadata conflicts exist: the 'last updated' date differs significantly between sources (1995-07-31 on NASA Earthdata vs. 2026-04-10 on Data.gov).
• Specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided in any source, limiting precise technical assessment.
• The original data collection method is described only as 'collected from the literature,' lacking detail on source aggregation and validation.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); related data sets are offered by the ORNL DAAC from Jackson et al. (2003) and Gordon and Jackson (2003).

Collection Method

Data set of vertical rooting depths was collected from the published literature.

Freshness

2026-04-10 01:55:18.436995 (from Data.gov, but conflicts with NASA Earthdata date)

Geography

Global coverage at 1 by 1 degree grid cell resolution.