ENFOR Canada Biomass Metadata
1
ENFOR Canada Biomass Metadata
Chhun-Huor Ung and Jean-Pierre Bérubé, Canadian Wood Fibre Centre, NRCAN
9 October 2010 (revised 15 February 2016)
1. Data Set Overview
1.1 Data Set Identification
Archival biomass data collected at the beginning of the 1980s through the ENergy from the FORest research program (ENFOR) of the Canadian Forest Service.
1.2 Study Overview
In Canada, the biomass equations were established at the provincial and territorial scale during the 1980s through the ENergy from the FORest research project (ENFOR) of the Canadian Forest Service, which dealt with each province and territory separately. The purpose of this work was to recover the archival ENFOR biomass data, organize it into a coherent biomass data set, and produce a national system of equations for the aboveground compartments of tree biomass with an estimated accuracy.
1.3 Data Set Introduction
This dataset contains biomass data from each recover province. Results of compilation, calculation and corrections are also added in this dataset. It was thus assumed that the biomass of the compartments was measured according to Aldred and Alemdag’s protocol (1988). Foliage and twigs, branch, wood and bark represent biomass compartments.
NB: Some sample variables or others variables can be found in each province specific file. The original files can also be found.
1.4 Data storage
EnforCanadaBiomassFinalData_v2007.csv includes the final data used for the articles (Lambert et al. 2005, Ung et al. 2008) in Canadian Journal of Forest Research.
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2. Investigator(s)
2.1 Principal Investigator(s) Name and Title
Dr. Chhun-Huor Ung (now retired – modification to the original document 2016-01-26)
Natural Resources Canada
Canadian Wood Fibre Centre
1055, rue du PEPS, C.P. 10380 - Succ. Sainte-Foy
Québec (QC), Canada G1V4C7 /
1055 du PEPS, P.O. Box10380 - Stn.Sainte-Foy
Quebec, QC, Canada G1V4C7
2.2 Title of Investigation
Canadian national tree aboveground biomass equations
2.3 Contact Information
Contact 1
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Xiao Jing Guo
Natural Resources Canada
Canadian Forest Service
1055, rue du PEPS, C.P. 10380 - Succ. Sainte-Foy
Québec (QC), Canada G1V4C7 /
1055 du PEPS, P.O. Box10380 - Stn.Sainte-Foy
Quebec, QC, Canada G1V4C7
Email:
Contact 2
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Pierre Bernier
Canadian Forest Service
1055, rue du PEPS, C.P. 10380 - Succ. Sainte-Foy
Québec (QC), Canada G1V4C7 /
1055 du PEPS, P.O. Box10380 - Stn.Sainte-Foy
Quebec, QC, Canada G1V4C7
Email:
2.4 Field and/or laboratory staff:
Patrick O’Donnell for biomass calculator
2.5 Acknowledgements:
The Panel on Energy Research and Development (PERD) of Natural Resources Canada funded this study.
Gratitude is extended to CFS personnel Mark Gillis, Paul Boudewyn, Steve D’Eon, Marty Siltanen and Mike Lavigne for their participation in recovering the ENFOR biomass data.
Respect an agreement protocol.
3. Theory of Measurements
Details on field and laboratory procedures for each province can be found in ENFOR references (section 9.1).
4. Equipment
4.1 Sensor/Instrument Description
N/A
4.2 Calibration
N/A
5. Data Acquisition Methods
5.1 Site description
The regions of Canada, from East to West, where the data have been collected are: Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Nova Scotia (NS), New Brunswick (NB), Québec (QC), Ontario (ON), Manitoba (MB), Saskatchewan (SK), Alberta (AB), British Columbia (BC), North West (NT) and Yukon territories (YT).
5.2 Methods of data acquisition
Details procedures for each province can be found in ENFOR references (section 11.1).
5.3 Sampling
5.3.1 Spatial Coverage/Geographic Location
The plot coordinates are included in the file EnforCanadaBiomassFinalData_v2007.csv. The plot identifications (variable Plot) are missing from NL, NS, NB and BC. The plot locations (variable Location) are missing from NS, NB, QC, on and YT; the location for NL is identified as East, Central and West. The latitude (variable Lat) and the longitude (variable Long) are missing from NL, NS and NB; some latitudes and longitudes are missing from Québec.
5.3.2 Spatial sampling
N/A
5.3.2 Temporal coverage
N/A
5.3.4 Temporal sampling
Biomass data have been collected between 1978 and 1983.
6. Observations
6.1 Procedural Notes
Notes are added to individual lines of record
6.2 Field Notes
N/A
7. Data Description
7.1 Data Organization
The dataset is organized by provinces, by plot and by tree. The first portion covers the tree information. The second covers the biomass.
7.2 Image and Data Format
The file is stored in csv format
7.3 Numerical Data Characteristics
1: ident: observation identification; numerical; no units; 1 to 9808
2: No: observation number in the province; numerical; no units; 1 to 2911
3: Province: Province of the location of tree; alphanumerical;
MB Manitoba
SK Saskatchewan
AB Alberta
NT Northwest Territories
NB New Brunswick; data seem to come from Cumberland County, NS
NS Nova Scotia
NL Newfoundland and Labrador
QC Quebec
qc; made with Ontario methodology but in Quebec area
ON Ontario; plots with latitude-longitude
on Ontario; plots without latitude-longitude
YT Yukon
BC British Columbia
4: Year: Year of the measure; alphanumerical; years;
5: Location: Location of the plot; alphanumerical;
6: Plot: Plot identification; alphanumerical;
7: Tree: Tree identification; numerical; no units;
8: Species_E: Species of the tree in English name; alphanumerical;
9: Dbh: Diameter at breast height; numerical; centimeter (cm), 0.1;
10: Height: Height of the tree; numerical; meter (m), 0.01;
11: OM_stem: Ovendry mass of the stem; numerical; kg, 0.01;
12:OM_stem_wood: Ovendry mass of the stem wood; numerical; kg, 0.01;
13: OM_stem_bark: Ovendry mass of the stem bark; numerical; kg, 0.01;
14: OM_crown: Ovendry mass for the crown; numerical; kg, 0.01;
15: OM_foliage_twigs: Ovendry mass for the foliage and twigs; numerical; kg, 0.01;
16: OM_branches: Ovendry mass for the branches; numerical; kg, 0.01;
17: OM_total: Ovendry aboveground green mass; numerical; kg, 0.01;
18: Lat: Latitude; numerical; decimal degrees, 00.000;
19: Long: longitude; numerical; decimal degrees, -000.000;
7.3.6 Sample Data Record
identNoProvinceYearLocationPlotTreeSpecies_E
1201AB1979Lac La biche8201Jack Pine
DbhHeightOM_stemOM_stem_woodOM_stem_barkOM_crown
2115.2101.9290.711.2221.05
OM_foliage_twigsOM_branchesOM_totalLatLong
8.5445312.51122.9755-112
7.4 Image Data
N/A
8. Data Manipulations
8.1 Data Processing Sequence
aN/A
8.2 Calculation
8.2.1 Special Corrections/Adjustments
Many corrections/adjustments were made to the data to make it compatible with the data set as a whole (see notes and original files).
Note: Total biomass is from the file when available, so the sum of components may not add to the total.
8.2.2 Post Processing and Calculated Variables
Major efforts have been made to harmonize the data sets recovered from archival tapes of the ENFOR program. Biomass of the compartments (foliage, branch, wood and bark) is computed to have similar definition. For softwood species, branches and needles have not been separated for Quebec. For hardwoods, the basal part of some branches was included in the stem as branches were cut at the 9-cm diameter. Foliage has not been separated from branches. The following logit regression has been established for each species from other provinces’ data to separate foliage from branches:
p=exp(a+bD)/(1+exp(a+bD))
where p is the predicted proportion of branches; a and b are model coefficients; and D is the diameter at breast height (dbh - cm). Wood and bark were not separated for some trees from Newfoundland. Hence, proportions of stem wood were computed from the data of other provinces, as for the crown components in Quebec.
9. Errors and limitations
9.1 Sources of Error
Since the sampling plan was not standardized among provinces and territories, a major effort has been deployed to recover the archived ENFOR biomass data and to harmonize the data.
9.2 Quality Assessment
9.2.1 Data Validation by Source
Detection of anomalous and influential data was done with graphical distributions of biomass values and by comparing green and dry masses. Mean, minimum and maximum were compared with each ENFOR references.
9.2.2 Confidence Level/Accuracy Judgment
N/A
9.2.3 Measurement Error for Parameters
N/A
9.2.4 Additional Quality Assessments
N/A
9.3. Limitations and Representativeness
The stem is delimited between ground level and tree top, and is partitioned into stem wood and stem bark. All branches are cut at the stem base. Leaves and twigs represent the foliage compartment. According to Aldred and Alemdag (1988), stump biomass was determined based on the ratio of stump volume (stump height at 0.30 m) to the volume of the lower merchantable section. Dead branches, cones and fruits are not included as part of aboveground biomass in this work (Aldred and Alemdag 1988). Details on field and laboratory procedures for each province can be found in ENFOR references (section 11.1).
Major efforts have been made to harmonize the data sets recovered from archival tapes of the ENFOR program. However, all the data could not be recovered: British Columbia data are missing, and Maritimes data have been partially recovered but it is not clear if the information comes from New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. Moreover, the sampling protocol was different for Quebec. For softwood species, branches and needles have not been separated. For hardwoods, the basal part of some branches was included in the stem as branches were cut at the 9-cm diameter. Foliage has not been separated from branches. A logit regression has been established for each species from other provinces’ data to separate foliage from branches.
For the hardwood species in Quebec, the branch portion between the branch base and the 9-cm diameter was included in the stem compartment. Unfortunately, no information was available to separate this branch portion from the stem. This causes a source of unknown bias in the national equations and could induce an overall overestimation of stem biomass and an underestimation of crown biomasses. Furthermore, the estimation of the proportion of foliage and branch for the trees of Quebec should in turn introduce an overestimation of branch biomass compared with an underestimation of foliage biomass for a given crown biomass. This is due to the fact that the proportion equation was estimated with trees from the other provinces that contain the branch portion between the branch base and the 9-cm diameter in their branch compartment.
Wood and bark were not separated for some trees from Newfoundland. Hence, proportions of stem wood were computed from the data of other provinces, as for the crown components in Quebec.
Trees were sampled within the plot but plot information (identification of the plot, location, size, stand type, stand density and stand height) was not always available. Some provinces and territories biomass definitions in the ENFOR information reports were not clear. Sometimes, specifications for stump, dead branches or cones/fruits were not mentioned. It was thus assumed that the biomass of these compartments was measured according to Aldred and Alemdag’s protocol (1988). In addition, the definition of twig might vary slightly.
Some provinces did not explicitly specify whether stump was considered, and whether dead branches and fruits/cones were excluded from the biomass definition. The proportion of stump biomass may represent as much as 72% of the total biomass, with an average of 5% (±4%). Stump biomass can be an important source of error if it was not harvested for some sampled trees.
10. Software
A calculator of mean biomass by compartment is available on internet CFS :
10.1 Software Description
N/A
10.2 Software Access
N/A
11. References
11.1 Platform/Sensor/Instrument/Data Processing Documentation
[0] Aldred, A.H., and Alemdag, I.S. 1988. Guidelines for forest biomass inventory. Can. For. Serv., Petawawa Natl. For. Inst. Inf. Rep. PI-X-77.
[1] Alemdag, I.S. 1980. Manual of data collection and processing for the development of forest biomass relationships Can. For. Serv., Petawawa Natl. For. Inst. Inf. Rep. PI-X-4.
[2] Alemdag, I.S. 1981. Aboveground-mass equations for six hardwood species from natural stands of the research forest at Petawawa. Can. For. Serv., Petawawa Natl. For. Inst. Inf. Rep. PI-X-6.
[3] Alemdag, I.S. 1982a. Aboveground dry matter of jack pine, black spruce, white spruce, and balsam fir trees at two localities in Ontario. For. Chron. 58: 26-31.
[4] Alemdag, I.S. 1982b. Biomass of the merchantable and unmerchantable portions of the stem. Can. For. Serv., Petawawa Natl. For. Inst. Inf. Rep. PI-X-20.
[5] Alemdag, I.S. 1983. Mass equations and merchantability factors for Ontario softwoods. Can. For. Serv., Petawawa Natl. For. Inst. Inf. Rep. PI-X-23.
[6] Alemdag, I.S. 1984a. Total tree and merchantable stem biomass equations for Ontario hardwoods. Can. For. Serv., Petawawa Natl. For. Inst. Inf. Rep. PI-X-46.
[7] Alemdag, I.S. 1984b. Wood density variation of 28 tree species from Ontario. Can. For. Serv., Petawawa Natl. For. Inst. Inf. Rep. PI-X-45.
[8] Alemdag, I.S., and Horton, K.W. 1981. Single-tree equations for estimating biomass of trembling aspen, large tooth aspen and white birch in Ontario. For. Chron. 57: 169-173.
[9] Alemdag, I.S., and Richardson, J. 1993. Annotated bibliography of ENFOR biomass reports 1979-1990. ENFOR Secretariat, For. Can. Inf. Rep. ST-X-6.
[10] Alemdag, I.S., and Stiell, W.M. 1982. Spacing and age effects on biomass production in red pine plantations. For. Chron. 58: 220-224.
[11] Bella, I.E., and De Franceschi, J.P. 1980. Biomass productivity of young aspen stands in western Canada. Can. For. Serv., Northern. For. Res. Cent. Inf. Rep. NOR-X-219.
[12] Evert, F. 1985. Systems of equations for estimating ovendry mass of 18 Canadian tree species. Can. For. Serv., Petawawa Natl. For. Inst. Inf. Rep. PI-X-59.
[13] Ker, M.F. 1980a. Tree biomass equations for seven species in southwestern New Brunswick. Can. For. Serv., Maritimes For. Res. Cent. Inf. Rep. M-X-114.
[14] Ker, M.F. 1980b. Tree biomass equations for ten major species in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. Can. For. Serv., Maritimes For. Res. Cent. Inf. Rep. M-X-108.
[15] Ker, M.F. 1984. Biomass equations for seven major Maritimes tree species. Can. For. Serv., Maritimes For. Res. Cent. Inf. Rep. M-X-148.
[16] Lavigne, M.B. 1982. Tree mass equations for common species of Newfoudland. Can. For. Serv., Newfoundland For. Res. Cent. Inf. Rep. N-X-213.
[17] Lavigne, M.B., and van Nostrand, R.S. 1981. Biomass equations for six tree species in central Newfoundland. Can. For. Serv., Newfoundland For. Res. Cent. Inf. Rep. N-X-199.
[18] Manning, G.H., Massie, M.R.C., and Rudd, J. 1984. Metric single tree weight tables for the Yukon Territory. Can. For. Serv., Pacific For. Res. Cent. Inf. Rep. BC-X-250.
[19] Ouellet, D. 1983a. Biomass equations for black spruce in Quebec. Can. For. Serv., Laurentian For. Res. Cent. Inf. Rep. LAU-X-60.
[20] Ouellet, D. 1983b. Biomass prediction equations for twelve commercial species in Quebec. Can. For. Serv., Laurentian For. Res. Cent. Inf. Rep. LAU-X-62.
[21] Ouellet, D. 1985. Biomass equations for six commercial tree species in Quebec. For. Chron. 61: 218-222.
[22] Singh, T. 1982. Biomass equations for ten major tree species of the Prairie Provinces. Can. For. Serv., Northern For. Res. Cent. Inf. Rep. NOR-X-242.
[23] Singh, T. 1984a. Biomass equations for six major tree species of the Northwest Territories. Can. For. Serv., Northern For. Res. Cent. Inf. Rep. NOR-X-257.
[24] Singh, T. 1984b. Variation in the ovendry wood density of ten Prairie tree species. For. Chron. 17: 97-108.
[25] Singh, T. 1986. Generalizing biomass equations for the boreal forest region of west-central Canada. For. Ecol. Manage. 17: 97-107.
[26] Standish, J.T., Manning, G.H., and Demaerschalk, J.P. 1985. Development of biomass equations for British Columbia tree species. Can. For. Serv., Pacific For. Res. Cent. Inf. Rep. BC-X-264.
[27] Tunner, A., and Standish, J.T. 1986. Predicting logging residues in British Columbia. Can. For. Serv., Pacific For. Res. Cent. Inf. Rep. BC-X-284.
11.2 Journal Articles and Study Reports
Lambert, M.-C., C.-H. Ung and F. Raulier. 2005 Canadian national tree aboveground biomass equations. Can. J. For. Res. 35: 1996-2018. This paper does not contain BC data
Ung, C-H., P. Bernier and X-J. Guo. 2008. Canadian national biomass equations: new parameter estimates that include British Columbia data. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 38: 1123-1132. The paper udaptes the parameter values for species present in BC and in other provinces
12. Glossary of Terms and Acronyms
ENFOR – Canadian Government’s ENergy from the FORest (ENergie de la FORêt) program of research and development.
13. Document Information
13.1 Document Revision Date
Document revised 2016/02/15 for Canadian government open data
13.2 Document Author
Chhun-Huor Ung and Jean-Pierre Bérubé
13.3 Keywords
aboveground biomass, compartments, ENFOR, seemingly unrelated regression.