Global Distribution of Wetland Ecosystems at 1 x 1 Degree Resolution

Global Distribution of Wetland Ecosystems at 1 degree by 1 degree resolution was developed from the integration of three independent global, digital sources: (1) vegetation, (2) soil properties and (3) fractional inundation in each 1° cell. The integration yielded a global distribution of wetland sites identifies with in situ ecological and environmental characteristics. The wetland sites have been classed into five major wetland groups on the basis of environmental characteristics governing methane emissions. These five groups are: forested bog; nonforested bog; forested swamp; nonforested swamp; and alluvial formations. The global wetland area derived in this study is ~5.3x10**12 m2, approximately twice the wetland area previously used in methane-emission studies.