Landsat Forest Phenology and Tree Ring Data for Eastern US Parks

ORNL_CLOUD provides a 30-year record of Landsat-derived forest phenology and tree ring analyses for 113 sites across four US national parks. The dataset combines satellite imagery with ground-based dendrochronology measurements, including annual wood production and nitrogen and carbon isotopic composition. Data coverage spans from 1984 to 2013.

Use Cases

• Analyzing long-term forest growth trends by correlating Landsat-derived phenology metrics with annual wood production from tree rings.
• Studying climate impacts on forest ecosystems by examining changes in carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition over the 30-year period.
• Modeling seasonal vegetation dynamics (phenology) in eastern US forests using the multi-decadal Landsat TM and ETM+ record.
• Comparing ecological responses across different protected areas using data from the four distinct national parks.

Strengths

• Provides a 30-year continuous record (1984-2013) for longitudinal analysis of forest dynamics.
• Integrates two distinct data sources: remote sensing (Landsat phenology) and physical samples (tree ring analyses).
• Covers a specific, well-defined geography of 113 forested sites within four US national parks.

Limitations

• Specific column names and the total row count are not provided by any source, limiting detailed structural understanding.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date, with one listing 2013-12-31 and another listing 2026-03-13, creating uncertainty about metadata maintenance.
• The exact license terms under 'other-license-specified' are not detailed, requiring users to investigate further.

Provenance

Source

ORNL_CLOUD

Collection Method

Data combines Landsat TM and ETM+ satellite imagery analysis with physical tree ring sample analysis.

Time Range

1984-2013

Freshness

2026-03-13 01:20:20.940409

Geography

113 forested sites in four eastern US national parks: Prince William Forest Park, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Catoctin Mountain Park, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.