Amazon Basin Vegetation Canopy Roughness Maps at 1-km Resolution

Physical roughness maps estimate aerodynamic roughness length (Z0) and zero plane displacement height (D0) for vegetation canopies across the Amazon Basin at a 1-km spatial resolution. The dataset was produced by NASA using a multivariate regression model algorithm that integrates field-measured vegetation structure, tower-based wind profiles, and remote-sensing data from SRTM, JERS-1, and MODIS. It consists of two GeoTIFF files and is associated with the LBA-ECO project.

Use Cases

• Parameterizing surface roughness in atmospheric models for the Amazon region using the Z0 and D0 raster layers.
• Analyzing the relationship between canopy structure and aerodynamic properties by correlating these maps with biomass plot data.
• Studying vertical wind speed gradients over vegetated surfaces for micrometeorology and turbulence research.
• Validating or improving land surface models that require high-resolution estimates of vegetation roughness parameters.

Strengths

• Derived from a multivariate model integrating multiple high-quality data sources, including SRTM, JERS-1, MODIS, and field measurements from LBA tower sites.
• Provides continent-scale, spatially consistent estimates at a relatively high 1-km resolution for the entire Amazon Basin.
• Cross-platform presence on Data.gov and NASA Earthdata indicates recognized scientific importance and curation.

Limitations

• Core metadata conflicts: the last updated date is listed as 2026-03 13 (future date) on Data.gov versus 2000-02-22 on NASA Earthdata, creating uncertainty about versioning.
• Specific row counts, file sizes, and detailed column/band metadata are not provided across all sources.
• The license is specified only as 'other-license-specified' on Data.gov, with no details on NASA Earthdata, requiring further investigation for reuse.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), LBA-ECO project.

Collection Method

Produced from a multivariate regression model algorithm using field-measured vegetation structure, tower-based wind profiles, and remote-sensing data (SRTM, JERS-1, MODIS).

Time Range

2000

Freshness

2026-03-13 01:14:25.697800

Geography

Amazon Basin.