Global Distribution of Cultivation Intensity at 1 Degree x 1 Degree Resolution

The Global Distribution of Cultivation Intensity at 1 Degree x 1 Degree Resolution data set defines the areal extent of presently cultivated land in the one degree cells. The data set distinguishes five levels of cultivation:

1. 0% cultivated, 100% natural vegetation
2. 20% cultivated, 80% natural vegetation
3. 50% cultivated, 50% natural vegetation
4. 75% cultivated, 25% natural vegetation
5. 100% cultivated, 0% natural vegetation

The land use data for this data set were compiled in digital form drawing upon approximately 40 published sources (see Annotation of Data in Matthews, 1983), including many national atlases and a consistent back-up reliance on the World Atlas of Agriculture (1969) with map dates from 1969 to 1976. Dominant land use was compiled as the presence (and type), or absence of agricultural activity. The exact location and areal extent of cultivation was impossible to recover within the scope and resolution of this work. For that reason, a hierarchical land-use classification was developed by the author which emphasizes variations in the intensity and permanency of modifications to natural vegetation (e.g., large-scale and small-scale commercial farming, extensive and intensive subsistence agriculture, grazing, dairying, plantations, and mediterranean agriculture). When available, crop combinations were also included in each designation.

In combination with the Global Distribution of Vegetation at Vegetation at 1 Degree x 1 Degree Resolution data set, the Cultivation Intensity data set may be used to calculate land cover. The data sets were designed for use in studies of climate and climate change. [NOTE: The Vegetation data set is available from NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) at [http://www.giss.nasa.gov/data/landuse/vegeem.html]. It is also archived at ORNL DAAC and NCAR.]

Reference:

Matthews, E. 1983. Global vegetation and land use: New high resolution data bases for climate studies. Journal of Climatology and Applied Meteorology, 22:474-487.