RCMAP - Future Projections - 2020s, 2050s, and 2080s

RCMAP projected cover products characterize the fractional (i.e., percentage) cover of shrub, herbaceous, bare ground, litter, sagebrush, tree, and annual herbaceous in each 30-meter pixel in the Western United States. Projected data include three time periods (2020s, 2050s, and 2080s) and two climate scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathways [RCP] 4.5 and 8.5). Component cover were harmonized so that the sum of bare ground, shrub, herbaceous, tree, and litter cover adds to ~100% and secondary components sagebrush and annual herbaceous cover were harmonized to their respective primary components of shrub and herbaceous cover, (so their cover could not be greater than their primary component). These products have been produced by USGS in collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management. Component products are designed to be used individually or combined to support a broad variety of applications. Data are packaged by time-period and climate scenarios (six). Additionally, for comparison to reference conditions, a scenario based on 1991-2020 climate normal is available.

Preferred citation: Rigge, M., Postma, K., Bunde, B., and Shi, H., 2023, Projections of Rangeland Fractional Component Cover Across Western US Rangelands for Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 Scenarios for the 2020s, 2050s, and 2080s Time-Periods: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9J490BH.

Related citation: Rigge, M., Shi, H., Postma, K. 2021. Projected change in rangeland component fractional cover across the sagebrush biome through 2085. Ecosphere. 12: e03538