LBA Regional Tree Cover: Amazonian Vegetation Continuous Fields, 1992-1993

A 1-km resolution prototype dataset maps Amazonian vegetation as continuous fields, not discrete classes, using 1992-93 AVHRR data. Each pixel contains five percentage estimates for tree cover, leaf longevity, and leaf type, with values ranging from 10 to 80 percent. This approach captures variability and transition zones within the Large Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia study area.

Use Cases

• Parameterizing biosphere-atmosphere models with continuous percent tree cover estimates.
• Deriving custom land cover classifications based on user-defined thresholds for leaf type (broadleaf vs. needleleaf).
• Analyzing vegetation transition zones and heterogeneity within the Amazon Basin using the continuous fields paradigm.
• Studying the composition of evergreen versus deciduous forest cover at a regional scale.

Strengths

• Provides a continuous, multi-layered representation of vegetation (5 estimated layers) at 1-km spatial resolution.
• Data is derived from a recognized scientific program (LBA) and processed under IGBP guidance.
• Available in multiple geospatial formats (ASCII GRID and binary image files) for flexibility.

Limitations

• Metadata conflicts on temporal coverage: one source lists a last updated date of 2026-04-10, while another indicates the underlying data is from 1992-1993.
• Specific column names, row counts, and dataset size are not provided in the available metadata.
• As a prototype dataset, it may lack the validation or production-level documentation of later products.

Provenance

Source

Laboratory for Global Remote Sensing Studies (LGRSS) at the University of Maryland.

Collection Method

Derived from NOAA's Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data using a linear mixture model approach.

Time Range

1992-1993

Freshness

2026-04-10 01:37:08.561421 (from datagov, but conflicts with the 1992-93 data period)

Geography

South America, specifically the LBA study area (longitude 85°W to 30°W, latitude 25°S to 10°N).