Mapping underrepresented land cover heterogeneity in arid regions: The Sahara-Sahel example

摘要: Abstract Arid and semi-arid regions comprise high levels of habitat heterogeneity that usually remain undetected in available global land cover (GLC) maps. The Sahara-Sahel is a critical example how GLC maps continue to oversimplify the complex landscape structure deserts arid environments. In this work, we aimed overcome generalized knowledge gap concerning LC regions, using largest warm desert world as study case. We intended generate 30x30m map for Wet compare results with currently (ESA GlobCover GlobeLand30). To do this, collected an extensive series GPS field control points (n = 48,857) associated descriptive traits. included Hierarchical Cluster Analyses (HCA), resulting groups were used classes Landsat 8 image classification. Independent (n = 10,082) suggested robust regional classification (83.3% correctly classified) cover. Sahara was most representative ecoregion (around 70% area) exhibited highest accuracy (91%). final composed by total 18 classes, providing higher number than Differences evident amongst Sahara, which derived presented more comparison analysed constitutes framework data mapping local information improving effectiveness assessment management natural resources both human populations biodiversity. These highlight prevalent need categorization areas whose still underrepresented