Kalahari Transect Woody Stem and Canopy Data from SAFARI 2000

Data from 1995-2000 provides species distribution, basal area, height, and crown cover of woody stems at 10 sites along the Kalahari Transect in southern Africa. The dataset includes detailed allometry, canopy geometry, and biomass calculations for individual stems taller than 1.5 meters, collected using a variable-width belt-transect approach. It was compiled by ORNL_CLOUD as part of the SAFARI 2000 project.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the relationship between rainfall gradient and vegetation structure using site location and species distribution data.
• Modeling above-ground biomass in savanna ecosystems using stem diameter, height, and calculated biomass columns.
• Studying canopy geometry and cover using recorded major and minor crown axis dimensions and calculated canopy area.
• Investigating species composition and diversity across the transect using the species list file with family, genus, and species names.

Strengths

• Includes detailed measurements for over 10 sites across a major climatic gradient, enabling comparative studies.
• Contains data on living, dead, and cut stems, providing a complete picture of stand structure.
• Uses established biomass calculation methods (Goodman 1990, modified by Dowty 1999).

Limitations

• Conflicting last updated dates (2000-03-16 vs. 2026-03-12) create uncertainty about data currency and potential revisions.
• Exact row counts and file sizes are unknown across all sources, limiting assessment of dataset scale.
• Column names are unspecified, requiring data inspection for precise analysis.

Provenance

Source

ORNL_CLOUD

Collection Method

Field measurements using a variable-width belt-transect approach at 10 sites.

Time Range

1995-2000

Freshness

2026-03-12 22:15:34.631530

Geography

10 sites along the Kalahari Transect in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Botswana.