File Name Convention -------------------- The data sets in this directory are provided as a contribution to the ISLSCP Initiative II data collection at three spatial resolutions of 0.25, 0.5 and 1 degrees lat./long and for two different classification schemes. For each spatial resolution there is a dominant land cover type classification layer, with numbers ranging from 0 to 15 for the SiB (Simple Biosphere) classification scheme, and from 0 to 17 for the IGBP classification scheme (see below for a list of cover types). For each classification scheme used, there are associated layers that provide the fraction, from 0 to 100, of each land cover type per cell. The dominant land cover type files are named "edc_lcover_scheme_XX_domclass.asc", where scheme is the land cover classification scheme (IGBP or SiB), XX is qd, hd, or 1d, denoting a spatial resolution of 1/4, 1/2 or 1 degrees, respectively. The fractional files are called "edc_lcover_scheme_XX_cZZ.asc", where scheme and XX are the same as above, and ZZ is a number from 00 to 15 (or 17 for IGBP) which represents the land cover type code as described below. As an example, the file named "edc_lcover_igbp_qd_c02.asc" is the fraction of Evergreen Broadleaf Forest at a quarter degree spatial resolution. This file is associated with the "edc_lcover_igbp_qd_domclass.asc" dominant land cover type file. At this revision the BATS classification products are not available. ############################################################################## ASCII File Format ------------------ All of the files in the ISLSCP Initiative II data collection are in the ASCII, or text format. The file format consists of numerical fields of varying length, which are delimited by a single space and arranged in columns and rows. The values in the land cover class type files are written as integers. All values in the land cover fraction files are written as real numbers. The files at different spatial resolutions each contain the following numbers of columns and rows: One degree: 360 columns by 180 rows 1/2 degree: 720 columns by 360 rows 1/4 degree: 1440 columns by 720 rows All files are gridded to a common equal-angle lat/long grid, where the coordinates of the upper left corner of the files are located at 180 degrees W, 90 degrees N and the lower right corner coordinates are located at 180 degrees E, 90 degrees S. Data in the files are ordered from North to South and from West to East beginning at 180 degrees West and 90 degrees North. ################################################################################ The land cover types described by the IGBP and SiB legends are given below. The Missing data category represents points, typically small islands, that were not classified in the original 1km data set. IGBP Land Cover Legend ====================== Value Description ----- ----------- 0 Water Bodies 1 Evergreen Needleleaf Forest 2 Evergreen Broadleaf Forest 3 Deciduous Needleleaf Forest 4 Deciduous Broadleaf Forest 5 Mixed Forest 6 Closed Shrublands 7 Open Shrublands 8 Woody Savannas 9 Savannas 10 Grasslands 11 Permanent Wetlands 12 Croplands 13 Urban and Built-Up 14 Cropland/Natural Vegetation Mosaic 15 Snow and Ice 16 Barren or Sparsely Vegetated 17 Missing Data Simple Biosphere (SiB) Model Legend =================================== Value Description ----- ----------- 0 Water Bodies 1 Evergreen Broadleaf Trees 2 Broadleaf Deciduous Trees 3 Deciduous and Evergreen Trees 4 Evergreen Needleleaf Trees 5 Deciduous Needleleaf Trees 6 Ground Cover with Trees and Shrubs 7 Groundcover Only 8 Broadleaf Shrubs with Perennial Ground Cover 9 Broadleaf Shrubs with Bare Soil 10 Groundcover with Dwarf Trees and Shrubs 11 Bare Soil 12 Agriculture or C3 Grassland 13 Persistent Wetland 14 Ice Cap and Glacier 15 Missing Data