Global land-surface data archives: comparison and application to climate modelling.

Until very recently land surface parameterization in climate models has been very poor partly because global-scale data pertaining to vegetation type and intensity and soil colour, texture and drainage were not available. Within the last four years at least five global-scale data bases have become available in computer compatible format and some of them have already been incorporated into general circulation climate models. These data archives differ significantly in resolution, source (satellite retrievals or atlas data), content and classification schemes employed. -from Authors