Global Reference Dataset for Above-Ground Biomass (AGBref)

This dataset is part of the AGBref initiative, a global reference dataset for above-ground biomass (AGB) validation derived from national forest inventories (NFIs), permanent research plots, and local airborne LiDAR-based maps. It contains harmonized AGB estimates across multiple spatial resolutions and epochs, together with associated uncertainties and ecological metadata. It is primarily intended to support the validation of satellite-derived global biomass maps and national carbon accounting.

Usage

AGBref

Format

AGBref

A data frame containing global reference AGB measurements:

POINT_X

Longitude of the grid cell centroid.

POINT_Y

Latitude of the grid cell centroid.

TC_PLT_SD

Standard deviation of tree cover (%) at the plot locations within the grid cell, based on remote sensing, is used to assess variability in plot representativeness.

TC_PLT_MEAN

Mean tree cover (%) at the plot locations within the grid cell.

TC_GRID_SD

Standard deviation of tree cover (%) at the entire grid cell (not just at plot locations).

TC_GRID_MEAN

Mean tree cover (%) at the grid cell level, derived from satellite data (e.g., Global Forest Change dataset).

n

Number of plots used within the grid cell to compute biomass estimates.

AGB_T_HA

Harmonized above-ground biomass (in tons per hectare, T/ha) at the grid cell level. Adjusted for forest area definition, temporal mismatch, and other preprocessing steps.

SIZE_HA

Total plot area within the grid cell in hectares.

OPEN

Indicator for openness of data.

VER

Denotes versioning or verification status. To be updated when new versions are released.

varTot

Total variance of AGB within the grid cell. Accounts for the spatial-scale mismatch considering the target grid cell and associated measurement-related (tree measurement, allometric model use) uncertainties.

AVG_YEAR

Average year of plot measurement for plots within the grid cell. Useful for matching map epochs (e.g., 2005, 2010, etc.).

BIO

Biome category of the grid cell, e.g., "Tropical rainforest", "Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests". Derived from ecological zone datasets.

CODE

Source code of the dataset provider. Example: AUS1 for Australia-based NFI. Refer to supplementary table in the manuscript.

INVENTORY

Type or scale of data source, e.g., regional, national, or local.

Source

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15495069

Note

This should be considered a version 0 and will immediately updated with a more comprehensive version alongside peer review process of the data descriptor paper.