BADM Standards (Beta): BASAL_AREA

Template: Veg Cover
Description: Basal Area

BASAL_AREA Variables

Variable Required Multiple Units Description
BASAL_AREA R M m2 ha-1 Basal area
The area of central tree trunks (stems) measured at 1.3 meters from the soil surface (breast height) for a given land surface area. If reporting basal area at a different height, report the height in Approach. Report the minimum tree size threshold for trees to be included in the mean Basal area measurement in BASAL_AREA_MIN.
BASAL_AREA_SPP Optional M Scientific name Basal area species (taxa)
Vegetation species being described by the measurement. To enter a plant species, use the scientific name (Genus species Author or Genus Author). Please refer to www.theplantlist.org for current scientific names and authors. If the measurement includes all vegetation present, do not enter a value. Do not use SPP if reporting VEGTYPE.
BASAL_AREA_VEGTYPE Optional M LIST(VEGTYPE) Basal area vegetation type
Use the predefined list to indicate the type of vegetation being described by the measurement (e.g., Tree, Evergreen Tree, Deciduous Tree). If the measurement includes all vegetation present, do not enter a value. Not all VEGTYPE options are appropriate for DBH measurement. If vegetation type is not in predfined list, enter “Other/Not in list” and describe briefly in Approach. Do not use VEGTYPE if reporting SPP.
BASAL_AREA_STATISTIC R M LIST(STATISTIC) Basal area statistic
The statistic for the measurement reported. Use predefined list (e.g., mean, min / max, standard deviation, etc). If appropriate, report the type of statistic (e.g., spatial for spatial standard deviation) in STATISTIC_TYPE.
BASAL_AREA_STATISTIC_TYPE Optional M LIST(STATISTIC_TYPE) Basal area statistic type
The type of statistic reported if appropriate (e.g., spatial). Use predefined list.
BASAL_AREA_STATISTIC_NUMBER Optional M integer number Number of observations used to determine basal area statistic
Number of observations (samples / replicates) used to calculate the STATISTIC for the reported measurement.
BASAL_AREA_DBH_MIN Optional M cm Minimum tree size (diameter) threshold for basal area measurement
The diameter at 1.3m from the soil surface (breast height) above which trees are included in the basal area measurement.
BASAL_AREA_APPROACH Optional M free text Basal Area measurement approach
BASAL_AREA_DATE Ra M YYYYMMDDHHMM Basal Area measurement date
Please report the date at the precision known. Allowed reporting precisions are YYYY, YYYYMM, YYYYMMDD, and YYYYMMDDHHMM. For measurements conducted during a campaign or for temporal averages, use DATE_START and DATE_END instead of DATE.
BASAL_AREA_DATE_START Ra M YYYYMMDDHHMM Start date of basal area measurment
Start date of a measurement campaign or start date of a temporal average. Please report the date at the precision known. Allowed reporting precisions are YYYY, YYYYMM, YYYYMMDD, and YYYYMMDDHHMM. Do not use DATE_START if DATE is used.
BASAL_AREA_DATE_END Optional M YYYYMMDDHHMM End date of basal area measurment
End date of a measurement campaign or end date of a temporal average. Please report the date at the precision known. Allowed reporting precisions are YYYY, YYYYMM, YYYYMMDD, and YYYYMMDDHHMM. Do not use DATE_END if DATE is used.
BASAL_AREA_DATE_UNC Optional M days Uncertainty in the basal area measurement date, start date, and/or end date
If uncertainty in the start date differs than end date, report the uncertainty for start date here in DATE_UNC and the uncertainty for end date in Comments.
BASAL_AREA_COMMENT Optional M free text Basal area comments

 

STATISTIC Options (back to top)

Option Definition
Minimum Minimum value
1st Percentile Quantile at 1% of distribution
5th Percentile Quantile at 5% of distribution
10th Percentile Quantile at 10% of distribution
25th Percentile Quantile at 25% of distribution
Median – 50th Percentile Median – Quantile at 50% of distribution
75th Percentile Quantile at 75% of distribution
90th Percentile Quantile at 90% of distribution
95th Percentile Quantile at 95% of distribution
99th Percentile Quantile at 99% of distribution
Maximum Maximum value
Mean Average (mean) value of sample population
Standard Deviation Standard deviation may be reported from a sample population that consists of individual or aggregated samples (observations). If the distinction is important, specify in Comments.
Measurement Uncertainty Report uncertainty as a plus or minus value in the measurement units. For example, enter 1.5 for +/- 1.5 units. Uncertainty may be reported from the instrument’s specifications, determined empirically, or estimated by the tower team. Please describe such details in Approach. For uncertainty values that are better described by a range, a percent, or other, please enter information in Comments.
Single observation Single observation
Expert estimate Estimate made by expert familiar with site

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STATISTIC_TYPE Options (back to top)

Option Definition
Spatial The statistic indicated is a metric that describes the spatial component of the sample population. For example, use spatial for the standard devation of samples (observations) that represents different locations at the site for the same time period.

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VEGTYPE Options (back to top)

Option Definition
Grass
C3 Grass
C4 Grass
Grass / Graminoid Grasses, Sedges, Rushes, and other grass-like monocots (member of order Poales)
Crop
Herbaceous Crop
Woody Crop
Tree
Deciduous Tree Trees that shed their entire canopy seasonallly. Drought or cold avoidence are common reasons for deciduousness.
Evergreen Tree Trees that do not seasonally shed their full canopies.
Shrub
Herb / Forb
Annual Herb / Forb
Perennial Herb / Forb
Aerenchymatous Plants
Liana / vine
Succulant Cactus, Euphorbs, including CAM
Non-vascular Moss, lichen
Other/Not in list Only use this option if a major vegetation group is not included already included in the predefined list. If an existing vegetation group is not specific enough, use the existing vegetation option and add details in Approach (rather than using the “Other/Not in list” option).
No vegetation Bare ground, water, or rock. Use only with SPP_PERC_O and SPP_PERC_U
Water Water (perennially submerged ground)

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