GlobCover

GlobCover is a global land cover product developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. It provides a consistent and standardized classification of land cover across the entire planet, derived from satellite imagery. The primary dataset, GlobCover 2009, was generated using observations from the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) instrument aboard ESA's Envisat satellite.

The project aims to offer a coherent and harmonized view of land cover by applying a common legend to global satellite data. This legend includes categories such as forests, grasslands, cropland, bare areas, and water bodies. GlobCover data has been crucial for various environmental studies, including climate modeling, biodiversity assessments, and land degradation monitoring. It allows researchers to analyze land cover changes over time and understand their impact on ecological processes and human activities.

The GlobCover project has released different versions of the global land cover maps. The GlobCover 2009 product, for instance, represents land cover for the year 2008. Subsequent efforts have built upon this foundation, aiming to improve spatial resolution and temporal coverage. The availability of these global land cover datasets facilitates international cooperation and enables consistent reporting on land use and land cover change, contributing to global environmental monitoring and sustainable development initiatives.