LBA-ECO TG-07: Ground-based Forest Biomass Data from Tapajos National Forest

372 Mg ha^-1 is the estimated total biomass density derived from survey data of trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than 35 cm across 392 hectares in the Tapajos National Forest, Brazil. The dataset, part of the LBA-ECO project, focuses on quantifying forest biomass to understand its role in the global carbon cycle. It includes estimates for various plant compartments and an analysis of uncertainty, with major sources identified in allometric relations and root biomass estimation.

Use Cases

• Modeling regional carbon budgets based on ground-validated biomass density estimates.
• Calibrating remote sensing data using detailed, plot-level biometry measurements.
• Analyzing the contribution of large trees (DBH > 35 cm) to total forest biomass.
• Assessing uncertainty in biomass estimates stemming from allometric equations and sampling methods.

Strengths

• Provides a specific, ground-based biomass estimate (372 Mg ha^-1) for a defined 392-hectare area in the Amazon.
• Includes a detailed error propagation analysis, quantifying a worst-case uncertainty of about 40%.
• Dataset is hosted by authoritative organizations (NASA) and appears on multiple platforms, indicating established use.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low: column names, row counts, and specific data formats are unknown.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates (1997 vs. 2026) create ambiguity about data currency and maintenance.
• Spatial scale is limited to 4 plots in one forest, which may not be representative of the broader Amazon region.

Provenance

Source

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

Collection Method

Ground-based forest survey data from 4 plots, analyzed using allometric relations and error propagation.

Time Range

1997

Freshness

2026-04-10 01:42:27.968128 (from datagov, conflicting with 1997 date from nasa_earthdata)

Geography

Tapajos National Forest near Santarem, Para, Brazil (S 3.04, W 54.95).