Global Land Use Data Sets

Externally Distributed Data Set NSIDC does not archive this data set. Please contact the investigator or data compiler to acquire these data.

Data Contributors USER SERVICES, NSIDC ZOBLER, LEONARD MATTHEWS, ELAINE Parameters LAND USE/LAND COVER > LAND COVER LAND USE/LAND COVER > LAND USE CLASSES SOILS > SOIL CLASSIFICATION SURFACE WATER > INUNDATION TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS > WETLANDS VEGETATION > VEGETATION INDEX > VEGETATION TYPES VEGETATION > VEGETATION SPECIES > VEGETATION TYPES Instruments VISUAL OBSERVATIONS

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Information on soils, vegetation types, cultivated areas, wetlands and inundated areal fraction at 1- x 1-degree resolution for the Earth are available. Global FAO soil units data distinguish 27 soil types. The vegetation data set gives the global distribution of 32 vegetation types based on the UNESCO classification system. The cultivation data set describes the global distribution of cultivation intensity, distinguishing 5 classes. The wetlands data set gives the global distribution of wetlands, distinguishing 5 classes. These 5 wetlands classes were collapsed from 12 original classes that defined worldwide wetland ecosystems on the basis of environmental characteristics governing methane emissions. The inundated areal fraction data set is the global distribution of inundated areal fraction of 1-degree cells. These data can be combined with the wetlands data to calculate global wetland area.

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Data Citation

The following example shows how to cite the use of this data set in a publication. For more information, see our Use and Copyright Web page.

Elaine Matthews and Leonard Zobler. 1996. Global Land Use Data Sets. [indicate subset used]. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center.

See Also

• access to data and documentation
• NASA GISS Global Land Use Data Sets Web site
• Sample Data Rendering
• Contact User Services