Biome mapping in India using vegetation type map derived using temporal satellite data and environmental parameters

Development of regional biome models represents a new stage of earth systems modeling. By translating simulated climate variables and actual vegetation boundaries into maps of biomes, these models explicitly link the vegetation and climate patterns together, enabling the determination of trajectories of climate change. Through this research, a new one million scale biome map of India is prepared, based on actual vegetation cover type map derived from wide field sensor onboard Indian remote sensing satellite (IRS WiFS—spatial resolution 200 m) and Holdridge life zone (HLZ) system. A biome level characterization (BLC) model has been developed wherein, temporal satellite data helps to define the phenologically discriminant vegetation cover type, climatic parameters viz., biotemperature, mean annual precipitation and potential evapotranspiration ratio have been used to identify potential life zones and finally describe the biome boundaries based on the vegetation cover type and life zones. The study identifies 35 cover classes and describes 17 vegetation cover types. This is close to the type description given by Champion and Seth [Champion, H.G., Seth, S.K., 1968. A Revised Survey of Forest Types of India. New Delhi Government Publication, New Delhi.] in their forest cover type map. The geographical analysis identifies 19 HLZs seven biomes and 19 sub-biomes in the Indian sub-continent. The dataset is now available for diverse application studies in ecosystem modeling, land cover dynamics and global change.