Global Vegetation and Cultivation Intensity at One-Degree Resolution

64.8 kilobytes of data per file represent global land cover across 180 rows by 360 columns at one-degree latitude/longitude resolution. Compiled by E. Matthews at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, the dataset maps 32 vegetation classes, cultivation intensity percentages, and modeled seasonal albedo. The data was published in 1983 and last updated in May 1984.

Use Cases

• Classify the predominant vegetation type from 32 classes for any one-degree grid cell globally.
• Analyze the percentage of land under cultivation versus natural vegetation for agricultural impact studies.
• Model seasonal surface albedo variations for winter, spring, summer, and autumn based on vegetation and cultivation maps.
• Study historical land use patterns by integrating vegetation type and cultivation intensity data layers.

Strengths

• Global spatial coverage from 90°N to 90°S and 180°W to 180°E.
• Consistent one-degree spatial resolution (180x360 grid) across vegetation, cultivation, and albedo data files.
• Integrates up to 100 existing map sources for vegetation classification.

Limitations

• Data is temporally stale, with a primary reference from 1983 and last update in 1984, not reflecting recent changes.
• Cultivation intensity and albedo are derived from vegetation maps and models, not directly measured.
• Spatial resolution of one-degree is coarse for local or regional-scale analysis.

Provenance

Source

Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), Columbia University.

Collection Method

Compiled from up to 100 existing map sources and satellite imagery; albedo data is modeled from vegetation and cultivation maps.

Time Range

Period representative of source maps circa early 1980s.

Freshness

1984-05-01

Geography

Global.