Mangrove Dynamics in China (MDC): Accurate and Annual Distribution Maps from 1990 to 2020

Mangroves are located in the coastal transition zones of tropical and subtropical regions, providing significant ecological functions and socioeconomic value. However, due to the combined impact of human activities and natural factors, mangroves are disappearing and degrading, necessitating accurate mapping and dynamic monitoring. Existing public datasets have limitations in terms of temporal resolution and data consistency, making it difficult to provide accurate and annual distribution maps of mangroves in China. This study utilizes the Phenology and Water level Time-series Mangrove Index (PWTMI), using 13,308 scenes of Landsat 5/7/8 images based on Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, to generate a long time-series remote sensing monitoring dataset of mangroves in China from 1990 to 2020. This dataset offers high-accuracy spatial distribution and continuous change information for mangroves, facilitating the analysis of the spatio-temporal changes and driving mechanisms of mangroves in China. It holds significant importance for the conservation and management of mangroves.