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Description
This dataset provides Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) Level 3 (L3) gridded mean canopy height, standard deviation of canopy height, mean ground elevation, standard deviation of ground elevation, and counts of laser footprints per 1-km x 1-km grid cells globally within -52 and 52 degrees latitude. These L3 gridded products were derived from Level 2 (L2) geolocated laser footprint return profile metrics from the GEDI instrument onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Canopy height is provided as the mean height (in meters) above the ground of the received waveform signal that was the first reflection off the top of the canopy (RH100). Ground elevation is provided as the mean elevation (in meters) of the center of the lowest waveform mode relative to the WGS84 reference ellipsoid. L3 gridded products can be used to characterize important carbon and water cycling processes, biodiversity, habitat and can also be of immense value for climate modeling, forest management, snow and glacier monitoring, and the generation of digital elevation models. This dataset version uses Version 2 of the input L2 data, which includes improved geolocation of the footprints as well as a modified method to predict an optimum algorithm setting group. The data are provided in cloud optimized GeoTIFF format along with companion files as PNG images and PDF documents.
Citation is critically important for dataset documentation and discovery. This dataset is openly shared, without restriction, in accordance with the EOSDIS Data Use and Citation Guidance.
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Dubayah, R. O., Luthcke, S. B., Sabaka, T. J., Nicholas, J. B., Preaux, S., & Hofton, M. A. (2021). GEDI L3 Gridded Land Surface Metrics, Version 2 (Version 2). ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1952 Date Accessed: 2026-05-01
Dubayah, R.O., S.B. Luthcke, T.J. Sabaka, J.B. Nicholas, S. Preaux, and M.A. Hofton. “GEDI L3 Gridded Land Surface Metrics, Version 2.” ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center, January 1, 2021. doi:10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1952. Date Accessed: 2026-05-01
Dubayah, R. O., et al. GEDI L3 Gridded Land Surface Metrics, Version 2. 2, ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center, 1 Jan. 2021, doi:10.3334/ORNLDAAC/1952. Date Accessed: 2026-05-01
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