Amazon Forest Carbon Export Data from Watershed Study

LBA-ECO ND-11 Organic Carbon Watershed Exports, Mato Grosso, Brazil: 2003-2004 quantifies litterfall production, lateral litter movement, and stream export of coarse particulate carbon from four small forested watersheds in southern Amazonia. The dataset, produced by NASA, reveals strong seasonal patterns with higher carbon deposition during the dry season and minimal stream export relative to total litterfall. Measurements include carbon concentration, mass per hectare, and correlations with streamflow across different landscape positions.

Use Cases

• Analyzing seasonal variation in litterfall carbon deposition using dry vs. rainy season mass and concentration data.
• Modeling lateral carbon transport across landscape positions (plateau to riparian zone) using concentration and movement trends.
• Quantifying the relationship between streamflow and particulate carbon export from watersheds.
• Assessing the proportion of carbon lost via stream export relative to total litterfall production.

Strengths

• Dataset provides specific, measured carbon concentration values for litterfall (e.g., 49% dry season, 46% rainy season).
• Study design includes measurements across four watersheds and multiple landscape positions, allowing for spatial analysis.
• Temporal coverage spans a full annual cycle from 2003 to 2004, capturing seasonal dynamics.

Limitations

• Column names and exact row/size counts are not provided by any source, limiting precise technical assessment.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date, with one listing 2004-09-13 and another listing 2026-03-13.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Field measurements of litterfall, lateral litter transport, and stream-water exports in four small (1-2 ha) watersheds.

Time Range

2003-2004

Freshness

2004-09-13

Geography

Southern Amazonia near Juruena, Mato Grosso, Brazil (10°25 S, 58°46 W).