DOI: 10.5063/aa/nceas.154.10
title: Osnabruck NPP Dataset: Worldwide Estimates and Bibliography of Net Primary Productivity derived from Pre-1982 Publications

description: An extensive compilation of field data on net primary productivity (NPP) of natural and agricultural ecosystems worldwide was synthesized in the 1970s and early 1980s by Prof. H. Lieth, Dr. G. Esser and others. Much of this work was carried out at the University of Osnabrueck, Germany. More than 700 single point estimates of NPP or biomass were extracted from the scientific literature, each with a geographical reference (latitude/longitude). The literature cited dates from 1869 to 1982, with the majority of references from the 1960s and 1970s. Although this data set has not been updated since the 1980s, it represents a wealth of information for use in model development and validation. In the early 1970s, a subset of these NPP data was used by Lieth, Esser and co-workers to develop and test a series of statistical-correlative models of NPP as a function of mean annual temperature and precipitation. The later versions of these models included modifications for soil, seasonality, agriculture, and other human influences ("Osnabrück Biosphere Mode,""High Resolution Biosphere Model," etc.). Most of the 720 unique NPP records (632, or 88 percent) have been matched to a bibliography of 356 references from the primary literature. The original form of this bibliography contained many more references than records, including multiple sources for the same author and study, as well as additional references to data on standing biomass, soils, and so forth. Since this is a useful resource in its own right, an edited and corrected compilation of these 858 references is available here with the cross-references to the NPP records highlighted. Of the 720 unique NPP records, about two-thirds have above-ground NPP estimates that range between 1 and 8530 g/m2/year (dry matter) -- or 2923 g/m2/year, excluding doubtful values, wetlands, and crops/pastures and other likely managed systems. Total NPP, for which more than half of the sites have estimates, ranges from 3 to 9320 g/m2/year (dry matter) -- or 3580 g/m2/year, excluding doubtful values, wetlands, and crops/pastures and other likely managed systems. Each record includes a site identifier, latitude, longitude, author, country, NPP estimates, vegetation type, and other variables. The vegetation-type field begins with a generalized biome type (including tundra, forest, Mediterranean, savanna, grassland, desert, wetland, and a number of managed vegetation types) and is followed by more specific vegetation terminology derived from the original data. Caution is advised in using these biome/vegetation types because they were not defined consistently within the original data set and nearly 200 sites lack any vegetation designation. To achieve completeness in a single synthesis file, a single NPP value (NPP_C) is included for each site that represents the sum of above-ground (ANPP) and below-ground (BNPP) components, expressed in grams of carbon per square meter per year (g C/m2/year). Where BNPP was not reported, it was assumed to be equal to ANPP. A ratio of 0.475 was used to convert dry biomass weight to carbon content. Total NPP was estimated as TNPP (where available), or as the sum of ANPP and BNPP (or from ANPP x 2, if BNPP was not estimated), and then converted to g C/m2/year.