Data standards

Above ground biomass for the whole GCU, to describe the state of the vegetation. The above ground biomasse (in t/ha) includes all of the vegetation present and in forest and makes it possible to quantitatively consider the importance of wood in forests.

Standard deviation of above ground biomass for the whole GCU, or for the current shape, to describe the state of the vegetation. The above ground biomasse (in t/ha) includes all of the vegetation present and in forest and makes it possible to quantitatively consider the importance of wood in forests.

Biomass annual trends in above ground biomass for the whole GCU, to define and quantify whether the forest can be considered a carbon sink (increase in biomass) or a carbon source (decrease in biomass). The above ground biomasse (in t/ha) includes all of the vegetation present and in forest makes it possible to quantitatively consider the importance of wood.

Forest stand structure assessed by eye at the GCU level:

- chr_ForestStructure_1: tree crowns inside a single horizontal stratum

- chr_ForestStructure_2: tree crowns contained inside multiple horizontal strata

- chr_ForestStructure_3: stand composed of scattered tree crowns

Composition of the forest stand assessed by eye:

- chr_ForestComposition_1: single species

- chr_ForestComposition_1: mixed forest

Remotely sensed average tree height in the GCU (for all tree species in present in the GCU) in meters. The value come from the beam of the GEDI lidar falling inside the GCU area defined with the polygon (shapefile) of GCU boundaries. If the polygon is not available, the beam falling if a 5km buffer around the coordinate of the GCU is taken.

Remotely sensed averaged to canopy length (m) of the GCU. The value come from the beam of the GEDI lidar falling inside the GCU area defined with the polygon (shapefile) of GCU boundaries. If the polygon is not available, the beam falling if a 5km buffer around the coordinate of the GCU is taken.

A measure of tree size, circumference of the trunk at breath height (1.30 m) in cm measured with circular tape. Tree level data.

The mean of the values of trunk circumference measured at breast height (1.3 m) for all individual trees measured in a circular plot of 15 m radius, representative for the entire GCU. Only trees with circumference > 23.6 cm (DBH > 7.5 cm) are measured.

The variance of the values of trunk circumference measured at breast height (1.3 m) for all individual trees measured in a circular plot of 15 m radius, representative for the entire GCU. Only trees with circumference > 23.6 cm (DBH > 7.5 cm) are measured.

Difference between circumference of the trunk at breash height mean and the upper or lower bounds of the 95% confidence interval.

Together with crown projection, crown length can be used to calculate crown volume, and index of the photosynthetic leaf area of the tree.

The mean of the values of the crown lenght across 10 measured adult dominant or co-dominant trees sampled either inside or in the vicinity of the representative circular plot with a radius of 15 m. The crown lenght is calculated from the [total height] value subtracted from the [Basal crown height] value. It corresponds to the healthy and functional green crown envelope lenght.

The variance of the values of the crown lenght across 10 measured adult dominant or co-dominant trees sampled either inside or in the vicinity of the representative circular plot with a radius of 15 m. The crown lenght is calculated from the [total height] value subtracted from the [Basal crown height] value. It corresponds to the healthy and functional green crown envelope lenght.

The mean of the values of height of the base of the tree crown across 10 individual adult dominant/co-dominant trees sampled either inside or in the vicinity of the circular plot with a radius of 15 m, which is representative of the GCU.

The tree crown corresponds to the healthy and functional green crown envelope. Different criteria have to be taken into account: sanitary and continuity between the lower and upper branches. So that, the base of the tree crown could correspond to the first living branch or could start upper of the first living branch.

The variance of the values of height of the base of the tree crown across 10 individual adult dominant/co-dominant trees sampled either inside or in the vicinity of the circular plot with a radius of 15 m, which is representative of the GCU.

The tree crown corresponds to the healthy and functional green crown envelope. Different criteria have to be taken into account: sanitary and continuity between the lower and upper branches. So that, the base of the tree crown could correspond to the first living branch or could start upper of the first living branch.

The mean of the trunk cross-sectional area per hectar (10000 m2) of all living and dead trees measured at breast height (1.3 m). All tree species in the GCU confunded.

Variance of the trunk cross-sectional area per hectar (10000 m2) of all living and dead trees measured at breast height (1.3 m). All tree species in the GCU confunded.

The sum of the cross-sectional areas measured at breast height of all trees, all species combined, inside a circular plot of 15 m radius, which is representative of the GCU (for all individual trees with circumference > 23.6 cm). The plot is placed around the tree having the reading from the Bitterlisch relascope closest to the mean.

Median of the presence of dead trees inside and around the circular plot with a radius of 15 m, which is representative of the GCU, where 0 means that there are no dead trees and 1 that there are dead trees for the target species.

Median of the abundance of natural regeneration assessed around 10 trees inside or around the circular plot with a radius of 15 m, which is representative of the GCU, where 0 means absence of natural regeneration, 1 means scattered regeneration, 2 regeneration in groups and 3 abundant regeneration.

Do = dominant tree

Co = codominant tree

de = dominated tree

See the WP2 protocol for more informations

A measure of tree size, tree total height in m is measured with a clinometer (Vertex).

Variance of the values of tree height for 10 measured adult dominant or co-dominant trees sampled either inside or in the vicinity of the representative circular plot with a radius of 15 m. The tree height corresponds to the total vertical tree height from ground level to the upmost tip.

The mean of the values of basal crown height for 10 individual adult dominant/co-dominant trees sampled either inside or outside the circular plot. Stand level data.

Squared standard deviation across all the values of basal crown height. Stand level data.

The median of the values of the dieback index across 10 measured adult dominant or co-dominant trees sampled either inside or in the vicinity of the representative circular plot with a radius of 15 m. The dieback index corresponds to the state of health of the trees determined by assessing foliage loss according to four classes:

0: 0 to 25% of defoliation

1: 25 to 50% of defoliation

2: 50 to 75 % of defoliation

3: 75% to 99% of defoliation

The value 100% corresponds to a dead tree.

The InterQuartile Range of the values of the dieback index across 10 measured adult dominant or co-dominant trees sampled either inside or in the vicinity of the representative circular plot with a radius of 15 m. The dieback index corresponds to the state of health of the trees determined by assessing foliage loss according to four classes:

0: 0 to 25% of defoliation

1: 25 to 50% of defoliation

2: 50 to 75 % of defoliation

3: 75% to 99% of defoliation

The value 100% corresponds to a dead tree.

Rooting depth is the depth beyond which there are no roots inside the auger or inside the pit. Rooting depth was generally measured by extracting soil samples down to 1 m depth from five cores taken with a soil auger inside the circular plot with a radius of 15 m, which is representative for the GCU. However, in situations when soil petrosity was very high and using the auger proved impossible, a pit was dug.