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(Reference retrieved automatically from SciELO through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

A new world natural vegetation map for global change studies

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Author(s):
David M. Lapola [1] ; Marcos D. Oyama [2] ; Carlos A. Nobre [3] ; Gilvan Sampaio [4]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais. Centro de Previsão de Tempo e Estudos Climáticos - Brasil
[2] Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço. Divisão de Ciências Atmosféricas - Brasil
[3] Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais. Centro de Previsão de Tempo e Estudos Climáticos - Brasil
[4] Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais. Centro de Previsão de Tempo e Estudos Climáticos - Brasil
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências; v. 80, n. 2, p. 397-408, 2008-06-00.
Abstract

We developed a new world natural vegetation map at 1 degree horizontal resolution for use in global climate models. We used the Dorman and Sellers vegetation classification with inclusion of a new biome: tropical seasonal forest, which refers to both deciduous and semi-deciduous tropical forests. SSiB biogeophysical parameters values for this new biome type are presented. Under this new vegetation classification we obtained a consensus map between two global natural vegetation maps widely used in climate studies. We found that these two maps assign different biomes in ca. 1/3 of the continental grid points. To obtain a new global natural vegetation map, non-consensus areas were filled according to regional consensus based on more than 100 regional maps available on the internet. To minimize the risk of using poor quality information, the regional maps were obtained from reliable internet sources, and the filling procedure was based on the consensus among several regional maps obtained from independent sources. The new map was designed to reproduce accurately both the large-scale distribution of the main vegetation types (as it builds on two reliable global natural vegetation maps) and the regional details (as it is based on the consensus of regional maps). (AU)

FAPESP's process: 04/12235-3 - A model of potential vegetation including carbon cycle and natural fire: consequences of climate change in global biomas
Grantee:David Montenegro Lapola
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master