Colombia Environmental and Socioeconomic Satellite Dataset (2016–2021)

This dataset compiles a rich set of environmental, climatic, and socioeconomic indicators for Colombian municipalities spanning the years 2016–2021. The data combine multiple satellite-based and administrative sources, enabling spatially explicit analyses of environmental and economic dynamics across the country.

The dataset includes the following main variables:

PM2.5 concentration (log): Logarithm of the annual mean concentration (µg/m³) of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers, derived from global atmospheric reanalysis models as described by Morcrette et al. (2009) and Benedetti et al. (2009).

SO₄ concentration (log): Logarithm of the annual mean concentration (µg/m³) of sulfate aerosols, calculated from the NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO, 2015) datasets.

Total value added (log): Logarithm of the total municipal value added, obtained from the Colombian National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE, 2025).

Sum of Nighttime Lights (log): Logarithm of the annual sum of VIIRS Version 2 Nighttime Lights (NTL), used as a proxy for economic activity and urban development (Elvidge et al., 2021).

Mean of Nighttime Lights (log): Logarithm of the annual mean VIIRS V.2 NTL, reflecting average light intensity within each municipality (Elvidge et al., 2021).

Precipitation (log): Logarithm of total annual precipitation, obtained from the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS; Funk et al., 2015).

Temperature (log): Logarithm of the annual mean land surface temperature, derived from the MODIS Land Surface Temperature and Emissivity dataset (Wan et al., 2021).

Dense vegetation area (log): Logarithm of the proportion of municipal area covered by dense vegetation, estimated using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) following the approach of Sulla-Menashe and Friedl (2022).

Burned area (log): Logarithm of the total municipal area affected by fire during each year, based on MODIS Terra Thermal Anomalies and Fire products (Giglio et al., 2021).

Altitude (log): Logarithm of mean municipal elevation (meters above sea level), obtained from topographic datasets compiled by Universidad de los Andes.

Population density (log): Logarithm of population density (inhabitants per km²), also sourced from Universidad de los Andes.

Education expenditures (log): Logarithm of total central government transfers for education at the municipal level, based on administrative records compiled by Universidad de los Andes.