Hydrologic soil groups (HSGs) are a fundamental component of the USDA curve-number (CN) method for estimation rainfall runoff; yet these data not readily available in format or spatial-resolution suitable regional- and global-scale modeling applications. We developed globally consistent, gridded dataset defining HSGs from texture, bedrock depth, groundwater. The resulting product-HYSOGs250m-represents runoff potential at 250 m spatial resolution. Our analysis indicates that global...

This dataset - HYSOGs250m represents a globally consistent, gridded of hydrologic soil groups (HSGs) with geographical resolution 1/480 decimal degrees, corresponding to projected approximately 250-m. These data were developed support USDA-based curve-number runoff modeling at regional and continental scales. Classification HSGs was derived from texture classes depth bedrock provided by the Food Agriculture Organization soilGrids250m system.

The ecological and environmental science communities have embraced machine learning (ML) for empirical modelling prediction. However, going beyond prediction to draw insights into underlying functional relationships between response variables 'drivers' is less straightforward. Deriving from fitted ML models requires techniques extract the 'learning' hidden in models.We revisit theoretical background effectiveness of four approaches deriving ML: ranking independent variable importance (Gini...

Savanna woody plants can store significant amounts of carbon while also providing numerous other ecological and socio-economic benefits. However, they are significantly under-represented in widely used tree cover datasets, due to mapping challenges presented by their complex landscapes, the underestimation methods that exclude short stature trees shrubs. In this study, we describe a Google Earth Engine (GEE) application present test case results for percent canopy (%WCC) over large savanna...

Drylands are a critical part of the earth system in terms total area, socioeconomic and ecological importance. However, while drylands known for their contribution to inter-annual atmospheric CO 2 variability, they sometimes overlooked discussions global carbon stocks. Here, preparation November 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), we review dryland systems with emphasis on role current future storage, response climate change potential contribute neutral future. Current estimates soils...

We assess 32 years of vegetation change in the West African Sudano-Sahelian region following drought events 1970s and 1980s. Change decadal mean rain use efficiency is used to diagnose trends woody that expected respond more slowly post-drought rainfall gains, while slope productivity–rainfall relationship infer changing herbaceous conditions between early late periods time series. The linearity/non-linearity its impact on interpretation overall greening trends, specific also examined. Our...

Abstract The height of woody plants is a defining characteristic forest and shrubland ecosystems because responds to climate, soil disturbance history. Orbiting LiDAR instruments, Ice, Cloud land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI), can provide near-global datasets plant at plot-level resolution. We evaluate canopy measurements from ICESat-2 GEDI with high resolution airborne in six study sites different biomes dryland shrub tall forests, mean...

The West African Sahel Cropland map (WASC30) is a new 30-m cropland extent product for the nominal year of 2015. We used computing resources provided by Google Earth Engine (GEE) to fit and apply Random Forest models detection in each 189 grid cells (composed 100 km2, hence total ~1.9 × 106 km2) across five countries (Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Senegal). Landsat-8 surface reflectance (Bands 2–7) vegetation indices (NDVI, EVI, SAVI, MSAVI), organized include dry-season...

Abstract The cover of woody perennial plants (trees and shrubs) in arid ecosystems is at least partially constrained by water availability. However, the extent to which maximum canopy limited rainfall degree soil holding capacity topography impacts shrub are not well understood. Similar other deserts U.S. southwest, plant communities Jornada Basin Long‐Term Ecological Research site northern Chihuahuan Desert have experienced a long‐term state change from grassland shrubland dominated plants....

Globally, the spatial distribution of vegetation is governed primarily by climatological factors (rainfall and temperature, seasonality, inter-annual variability). The local vegetation, however, depends on edaphic conditions (soils topography) disturbances (fire, herbivory, anthropogenic activities). Abrupt or temporal changes in can occur if there are positive (i.e., amplifying) feedbacks favoring certain states under otherwise similar climatic conditions. Previous studies tropical savannas...

Women have less access to land than men in Africa. Previous analyses typically identified African indigenous culture as the problem’s exclusive source. With Cameroon, Kenya and Sierra Leone empirical referents, an alternative explanation is advanced. Here, problem characterized a product of Africa’s triple heritage, comprising three main cultures, viz., tradition, European/Christianity Arabia/Islam. The following noted major impediment women’s to, control of, land: supplanting previously...

Journal Article Participation-related factors influencing performance in four urban-based community-operated water schemes Kisumu, Kenya Get access Erick O. Ananga, Ananga **Address for correspondence: School of Geosciences, University South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, NES 107, Tampa, FL 33620, USA; email: erickananga@mail.usf.edu Search other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Ambe J. Njoh, Njoh Julius Y. Anchang, Anchang Fenda A. Akiwumi Community Development...

Abstract African pastoralists suffer recurrent droughts that cause high livestock mortality and vulnerability to climate change. The index-based insurance (IBLI) program offers protection against drought impacts. However, the current IBLI design relying on normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) may pose limitation because it does not consider mixed composition of rangelands (including herbaceous woody plants) diverse feeding habits grazers browsers. To enhance IBLI, we assessed...

Abstract Vegetation buffers local diurnal land surface temperatures, however, this effect has found limited applications for remote vegetation characterization. In work, we parameterize temperature variations as the thermal decay rate derived by using satellite daytime and nighttime temperatures modeled Newton’s law of cooling. The relationship between depends on many factors including type, size, water content, location, conditions. theoretical relationships are elucidated, empirical...

Woody plants in both forested and non-forested areas are vital for carbon storage, climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, provision of ecosystem services. Accurate mapping woody cover (WC) is crucial understanding global environmental dynamics, but despite advancements Earth observation (EO), challenges persist WC mapping, particularly spatially heterogeneous mixed tree-grass systems, characterized by low density stature (LDLS, i.e., savannas dryland ecosystems) plants. This...

Highlights Defoliation initiates physiological recovery and chemical defense mechanisms in Phalaris aquatica . Under infrequent defoliation treatment, P. has high DM production. severity on herbage regrowth was associated with variation of secondary metabolite content antioxidant activity. may be suited to conservation pasture systems; the interval between cuts is about six weeks maximize rates regrowth. Results indicate that used as fodder crop sustained production food security. Abstract....

Abstract African pastoralists suffer recurrent droughts that cause high livestock mortality and vulnerability to climate change. The index-based insurance (IBLI) program offers protection against drought impacts. However, the current IBLI design relying on normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) may pose limitation because it does not consider mixed composition of rangelands (including herbaceous woody plants) diverse feeding habits grazers browsers. To enhance IBLI, we assess efficacy...