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Description

The NBCD 2000 (National Biomass and Carbon Dataset for the Year 2000) data set provides a high-resolution (30 m) map of year-2000 baseline estimates of basal area-weighted canopy height, aboveground live dry biomass, and standing carbon stock for the conterminous United States. This data set distributes, for each of 66 map zones, a set of six raster files in GeoTIFF format. There is a detailed README companion file for each map zone. There is also an ArcGIS shapefile (mapping_zone_shapefile.shp) with the boundaries of all the map zones. A mosaic image of biomass at 240 m resolution for the whole conterminous U.S. is also included.

Please read this important note regarding the differences of Version 2 from Version 1 of the NBCD 2000 data.

With Version 1, in some mapping zones, certain land cover types (in particular Shrubs, NLCD Type 52) were missing from and unaccounted for in modeled estimates because of a lack of reference data.

In Version 1, when landcover types were missing in the models, the model for the deciduous tree cover type was applied. While more woody vegetation was mapped, the authors think this had little effect on model performance as in most cases NLCD version 1 cover type was not a strong predictor of modeled estimates (See companion Mapping Zone Readme files).

In Version 2, after renewed modeling efforts and user feedback, these previously unaccounted for cover types are now included in modeled estimates.

All 66 mapping zones were updated with the previously unmapped land cover types now mapped. The authors recommend use of the new version for all analyses and will only support the updated version.

Development of the data set used an empirical modeling approach that combined USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data with high-resolution InSAR data acquired from the 2000 Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) and optical remote sensing data acquired from the Landsat ETM+ sensor. Three-season Landsat ETM+ data were systematically compiled by the Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium (MRLC) between 1999 and 2002 for the entire U.S. and were the foundation for development of both the USGS National Land Cover Dataset 2001 (NLCD 2001) and the Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools Project (LANDFIRE). Products from both the NLCD 2001 (landcover and canopy density) and LANDFIRE (existing vegetation type) projects as well as topographic information from the USGS National Elevation Dataset (NED) were used within the NBCD 2000 project as spatial predictor layers for canopy height and biomass estimation. Forest survey data provided by the USDA Forest Service FIA program were made available to the project under a national Memorandum of Understanding. The response variables (canopy height and biomass) used in model development and validation were derived from the FIA database (FIADB). Production of the NLCD 2001 and LANDFIRE projects was based on a mapping zone approach in which the conterminous U.S. was split into 66 ecoregionally distinct mapping zones. This mapping zone approach was also adopted by the NBCD 2000 project.

Product Summary

Platforms
LANDSAT-7 ,
SPACE SHUTTLES
Instruments
ETM+ ,
SRTM
Spatial Extent

N: 49.79 S: 26.52 E: -67.96 W: -126.46

Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
CARTESIAN
Temporal Extent
1999-01-01 to 2002-12-31
Data Partner
THE OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY (ORNL) DISTRIBUTED ACTIVE ARCHIVE CENTER (DAAC) (ORNL_DAAC)
Concept ID
C2539954386-ORNL_CLOUD
Data State
COMPLETE
Number of Files/Granules
403
Processing Level
3
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Biomass ,
Carbon

Citation

Citation is critically important for dataset documentation and discovery. This dataset is openly shared, without restriction, in accordance with the EOSDIS Data Use and Citation Guidance.

Copy Citation

Kellndorfer, J., Walker, W., Kirsch, K., Fiske, G., Bishop, J., Lapoint, L., Hoppus, M., & Westfall, J. (2013). NACP Aboveground Biomass and Carbon Baseline Data, V.2 (NBCD 2000), U.S.A., 2000 (Version 2). ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1161 Date Accessed: 2026-05-18

Documents

USER'S GUIDE

GENERAL DOCUMENTATION

Publications Citing This Dataset

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Title Year Author Topic
Forest aboveground biomass in the southwestern US from MISR and GEDI: Chopping, Mark J., Wang, Zhuosen, Schaaf, Crystal B., Bull, Michael Terrestrial Ecosystems, LIDAR WAVEFORM, Biomass, Canopy Characteristics, Vegetation Cover, Droughts, Land Use/Land Cover, Litter Characteristics, Forests, Carbon
Land use change and forest management affect soil carbon stocks in the central hardwoods, U.S. Nave, Lucas E., DeLyser, Kendall, Domke, Grant M., Holub, Scott M., Kabrick, John M., Keller, Adrienne B., Leopold, Patricia, Peters, Matthew P., Solarik, Kevin A., Swanston, Christopher W. Biomass, Carbon
Deforestation in Latin America in the 2000s predominantly occurred outside of typical mature forests Zhang, Zhiyu, Ni, Wenjian, Quegan, Shaun, Chen, Jingming, Gong, Peng, Rodriguez, Luiz Carlos Estraviz, Guo, Huadong, Shi, Jiancheng, Liu, Liangyun, Li, Zengyuan, He, Yating, Liu, Qinhuo, Shimabukuro, Yosio, Sun, Guoqing Biomass, Carbon, Forests, Deforestation
Carbon, climate, and natural disturbance: a review of mechanisms Dye, Alex W., Houtman, Rachel M., Gao, Peng, Anderegg, William R. L., Fettig, Christopher J., Hicke, Jeffrey A., Kim, John B., Still, Christopher J., Young, Kevin, Riley, Karin L. Biomass, Carbon, Vegetation Species, Fire Disturbance, Forest Harvesting and Engineering, Carbon, Forests
Model linkage to assess forest disturbance impacts on water quality: A wildfire case study using LANDIS (II)-VELMA Venable, Kar'retta, Johnston, John M., LeDuc, Stephen D., Prieto, Lourdes Biomass, Carbon
Advancements in high-resolution land surface satellite products: A comprehensive review of inversion algorithms, products and challenges Liang, Shunlin, He, Tao, Huang, Jianxi, Jia, Aolin, Zhang, Yuzhen, Cao, Yunfeng, Chen, Xiaona, Chen, Xidong, Cheng, Jie, Jiang, Bo, Jin, Huaan, Li, Ainong, Li, Siwei, Li, Xuecao, Liu, Liangyun, Liu, Xiaobang, Ma, Han, Ma, Yichuan, Song, Dan-Xia, Sun, Lin, Yao, Yunjun, Yuan, Wenping, Zhang, Guodong, Zhang, Yufang, Song, Liulin Biomass, Carbon
Land use change and forest management effects on soil carbon stocks in the Northeast US Nave, Lucas E., DeLyser, Kendall, Domke, Grant M., Holub, Scott M., Janowiak, Maria K., Keller, Adrienne B., Peters, Matthew P., Solarik, Kevin A., Walters, Brian F., Swanston, Christopher W. Biomass, Carbon
"What's Past Is Prologue": Vegetation Model Calibration with and without Future Climate Kutschera, Ellynne, Kim, John B., Pitts, G. Stephen, Drapek, Ray Biomass, Carbon
How can biosphere models simulate enough vegetation biomass in the mountains of the western United States? Implications of meteorological forcing Duarte, Henrique F., Raczka, Brett M., Bowling, David R., Wang, Aihui, Buotte, Polly C., Lin, John C. Biomass, Carbon, Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen Compounds, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Air Temperature, Precipitation Amount, Agricultural Lands, Land Use/Land Cover Classification, Leaf Characteristics, Soil Chemistry, Soil Classification, Discharge, Soil Depth, Soil Moisture/Water Content, Albedo, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Respiration Rate, Atmospheric Water Vapor, Runoff, Biogeochemical Cycles, Wind Speed, Humidity, Surface Temperature, Shortwave Downward Irradiance
Mapping Forest Aboveground Biomass Using Multisource Remotely Sensed Ehlers, Dekker, Wang, Chao, Coulston, John, Zhang, Yulong, Pavelsky, Tamlin, Frankenberg, Elizabeth, Woodcock, Curtis, Song, Conghe Biomass, Carbon
Making the US national forest inventory spatially contiguous and temporally consistent Yu, Yifan, Saatchi, Sassan, Domke, Grant M, Walters, Brian, Woodall, Christopher, Ganguly, Sangram, Li, Shuang, Kalia, Subodh, Park, Taejin, Nemani, Ramakrishna, Hagen, Stephen C, Melendy, Lindsay Biomass, Carbon, Litter Characteristics, Carbon, Forests
Forest aboveground biomass in the southwestern United States from a MISR multi-angle index, 20002015 Chopping, Mark, Wang, Zhuosen, Schaaf, Crystal, Bull, Michael A., Duchesne, Rocio R. Biomass, Carbon, Evergreen Vegetation, Shrubland/Scrub, Grasslands, Forests, Canopy Characteristics, Deciduous Vegetation, LIDAR WAVEFORM, Plant Diseases/Disorders/Pests, Fire Occurrence, Burned Area, Droughts, Land Use/Land Cover, Litter Characteristics, Bidirectional Reflectance Factor, Reflectance
The Age of Evapotranspiration: Lower-Bound Constraints From Distributed Hahm, W. J., Lapides, D. A., Rempe, D. M., McCormick, E. L., Dralle, D. N. Land Use/Land Cover Classification, Plant Phenology, Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Biomass, Carbon
Spatial variability and uncertainty of soil nitrogen across the Smith, Elizabeth M., Vargas, Rodrigo, Guevara, Mario, Tarin, Tonantzin, Pouyat, Richard V. Biomass, Carbon
Virtual laboratory for understanding impact of heterogeneity on ecohydrologic processes across scales Wang, Kunxuan, Kumar, Praveen Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Biomass, Carbon, Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen Compounds, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Air Temperature, Precipitation Amount, Agricultural Lands, Land Use/Land Cover Classification, Soil Chemistry, Soil Classification, Discharge, Soil Depth, Soil Moisture/Water Content, Albedo, Respiration Rate, Atmospheric Water Vapor, Runoff, Biogeochemical Cycles, Plant Characteristics, Phosphorus, Nutrients, Nitrogen, Wind Speed, Humidity, Surface Temperature, Shortwave Downward Irradiance
High-resolution forest carbon modelling for climate mitigation planning over the RGGI region, USA Ma, L, Hurtt, G, Tang, H, Lamb, R, Campbell, E, Dubayah, R, Guy, M, Huang, W, Lister, A, Lu, J, ONeil-Dunne, J, Rudee, A, Shen, Q, Silva, C Biomass, Carbon, Carbon, Cation Exchange Capacity, Organic Matter, Forest Composition/Vegetation Structure
Climate impacts of US forest loss span net warming to net cooling Williams, Christopher A., Gu, Huan, Jiao, Tong Biomass, Carbon
Response of avian cavity nesters and carbon dynamics to forest Walsh, Eric S., Hudiburg, Tara W. Biomass, Carbon
Validation of terrestrial biogeochemistry in CMIP6 Earth system models: a review Spafford, Lynsay, MacDougall, Andrew H. REFLECTED INFRARED, THERMAL INFRARED, VISIBLE IMAGERY, Visible Radiance, Biomass, Carbon, Carbonaceous Aerosols, Nitrogen Oxides, Particulates, Hydrogen Cyanide, Emissions, Non-methane Hydrocarbons/Volatile Organic Compounds, Particulate Matter, Fire Occurrence, Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Dioxide, Carbon And Hydrocarbon Compounds, Carbon, Nitrogen, Soil Water Holding Capacity, Soil Bulk Density, Soil Chemistry, Soil Classification, Soil Moisture/Water Content, Soil Horizons/Profile, Cation Exchange Capacity, Organic Matter, Litter Characteristics
Critical land change information enhances the understanding of carbon balance in the United States Liu, Jinxun, Sleeter, Benjamin M., Zhu, Zhiliang, Loveland, Thomas R., Sohl, Terry, Howard, Stephen M., Key, Carl H., Hawbaker, Todd, Liu, Shuguang, Reed, Bradley, Cochrane, Mark A., Heath, Linda S., Jiang, Hong, Price, David T., Chen, Jing M., Zhou, Decheng, Bliss, Norman B., Wilson, Tamara, Sherba, Jason, Zhu, Qiuan, Luo, Yiqi, Poulter, Benjamin Biomass, Carbon
Fusion of Multiple Gridded Biomass Datasets for Generating a Global Zhang, Yuzhen, Liang, Shunlin Biomass, Canopy Characteristics, Vegetation Cover, Biomass Dynamics, Carbon, Forests, Forest Yields, Nitrogen, Nitrogen, Carbon, Soil Depth, Soil Bulk Density, Leaf Characteristics, Soil Chemistry, Forest Composition/Vegetation Structure
High-resolution mapping of aboveground biomass for forest carbon monitoring system in the Tri-State region of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware, USA Huang, Wenli, Dolan, Katelyn, Swatantran, Anu, Johnson, Kristofer, Tang, Hao, ONeil-Dunne, Jarlath, Dubayah, Ralph, Hurtt, George Biomass, Carbon, Forests, Canopy Characteristics, Vegetation Cover
An approach to estimating forest biomass change over a coniferous forest landscape based on tree-level analysis from repeated lidar surveys Turner, Sabrina B., Turner, David P., Gray, Andrew N., Fellers, Will Biomass, Carbon
Aboveground forest biomass based on OLSR and an ANN model integrating LiDAR and optical data in a mountainous region of China Dong, Lixin, Tang, Shihao, Min, Min, Veroustraete, Frank, Cheng, Jie Biomass, Carbon
A Review of Regional and Global Gridded Forest Biomass Datasets Zhang, Yuzhen, Liang, Shunlin, Yang, Lu Biomass, Carbon, Forest Yields, Forests, Biomass Dynamics, Deforestation, Canopy Characteristics, Vegetation Cover
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