IPCC default soil classes derived from the Harmonized World Soil Data Base, version 1.2

This global data set shows the spatial distribution of generalized soil classes as defined for IPCC Tier-I level national greenhouse gas inventory assessments. The database was derived from the Harmonized World Soil Data Base (HWSD ver. 1.1, at scale 1:1-1:5 M) and a series of taxotransfer procedures to convert FAO soil classifications (1974, 1985 and 1990 Legend) to the seven default IPCC soil classes: high activity clay (HAC), low activity clay (LAC), Sandy (SAN), Spodic (POD), Volcanic (VOL), wetlands (WET) and Organic (ORG). The resulting GIS database may be used for exploratory assessments at national and broader scale, for regions that lack more detailed soil information; inherent limitations of the data are discussed in the documentation.

This dataset has been compiled in the framework of the GEF co-funded 'Carbon Benefits Project: Measuring, modelling and monitoring', Component A ( http://carbonbenefitsproject-compa.colostate.edu/index.htm).

March 2021 (version 1.2): Minor updates were applied for the 'SAN' class; for details see below and download file.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Last Updated October 25, 2023, 14:11 (UTC)
Created October 25, 2023, 14:11 (UTC)
access_constraints []
bbox-east-long 180.00
bbox-north-lat 100.00
bbox-south-lat -90.00
bbox-west-long -180.00
contact-email niels.batjes@isric.org
coupled-resource []
dataset-reference-date [{"type": "publication", "value": "2021-03-12"}]
frequency-of-update
graphic-preview-file https://files.isric.org/public/thumbnails/other/IPCC_default_soil_classes-derived_from_the_Harmonized_World_Soil_Data_Base_version_1_1.jpg
guid 41cb0ae9-1604-4807-96e6-0dc8c94c5d22
harvest_object_id afb4da95-dbcb-4287-9f35-413a6a5c0961
harvest_source_id 0ac93d1f-9648-4157-af46-766b49f28e1c
harvest_source_title ISRIC Soil Data
licence []
lineage - 2021 March (v1.2): Minor changes were applied for SAN class, i.e. ''>70% and <8% clay' in top 0-30 cm)'; rules were applied to 184 map units (flagged as 'DIFF" in column [FLAGsan], see also column [SANDYclass] in the MS Acess file. This change applied to 184 out of a total of 16108 map units; further details are provided in Report 2009/02. - Batjes NH 2009. IPCC default soil classes derived from the Harmonized World Soil Data Base (Ver. 1.0). Report 2009/02, Carbon Benefits Project (CBP) and ISRIC – World Soil Information, Wageningen (with dataset). (https://www.isric.org/sites/default/files/isric_report_2009_02.pdf)
metadata-date 2021-11-18T14:43:51
metadata-language eng
progress Completed
resource-type dataset
responsible-party [{"name": "ISRIC - World Soil Information", "roles": ["Author"]}]
spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-180.0, -90.0], [180.0, -90.0], [180.0, 100.0], [-180.0, 100.0], [-180.0, -90.0]]]}
spatial-data-service-type
spatial-reference-system 4326
spatial_harvester true
temporal-extent-begin 2000-11-01
temporal-extent-end 2010-11-01