A 1 km-resolution terrestrial carbon storage data for China from 2001 to 2020: Multi-pool integration under the IPCC accounting standard

This dataset presents a high-resolution and temporally continuous carbon storage for China’s terrestrial ecosystems, covering the period from 2001 to 2020 at a 1 km spatial resolution. The dataset was developed using an IPCC-consistent accounting framework that integrates four major carbon pools: aboveground biomass, belowground biomass, soil organic carbon, and dead organic matter. Multi-source remote sensing data, national land cover classifications, biomass models, and soil observations were combined to estimate annual carbon storage across five land use types (cropland, forestland, grassland, built-up land, and unused land). Aboveground carbon is estimated based on biomass models, land use area, and carbon content conversion coefficients specific to land use type (Yang et al., 2023; Luo 2014; Piao et al., 2004; Zhao et al., 2024). Belowground carbon is calculated using the ratio of belowground to aboveground biomass (Luo 2014; Piao et al., 2004; Zhao et al., 2024; Mokany et al., 2006; Eggleston et al., 2006). Soil organic carbon is derived from spatially interpolated soil carbon density data combined with land use classification (Liu et al., 2021; Liu et al., 2020; Xu et al., 2019). Regarding dead carbon pool, estimations were made according to land use type following IPCC guidelines (forestland).