ISLSCP II: Global Ecosystem Rooting Depths

Vertical root distributions for 1 by 1 degree grid cells globally predict soil depths containing 50% and 95% of all roots (D50 and D95). These parameters are key inputs for quantifying water, carbon, and nutrient fluxes in global biogeochemistry and vegetation models. The dataset was compiled from literature to address a challenge identified by the Global Climate Observation System.

Use Cases

• Parameterizing transpiration scatter in land-surface models based on rooting depth and soil characteristics.
• Calculating deep water infiltration and carbon transport into soil layers using the logistic equation for vertical root distribution.
• Mapping global ecosystem rooting depths to correlate with climate and soil features.
• Quantifying weathering rates of soil minerals influenced by root distributions.
• Providing inputs for the Project for Intercomparison of Land Surface Parameterization Schemes (PILPS).

Strengths

• Provides two specific, model-relevant parameters: the 50% (D50) and 95% (D95) rooting depths.
• Covers a global spatial scale at a 1 by 1 degree grid resolution.
• Addresses a key variable explicitly identified by the GCOS/GTOS Terrestrial Observation Panel for Climate.

Limitations

• Critical metadata conflicts exist: the 'last updated' date differs by over 30 years between platforms (1995 vs. 2026).
• No column names or row/record counts are provided by any source, limiting understanding of the data structure.
• The exact methodology for aggregating literature data into grid-cell means is not detailed in the provided descriptions.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Compiled from literature sources to construct global maps.

Freshness

Conflicting: One source lists 1995-07-31, another lists 2026-04-10.

Geography

Global