Africa Platform

Topographic Moisture Potential
The Africa Topographic Moisture Potential layer classifies the landscape of Africa as either upland or lowland (and other depressions) area. It was produced as part of the USGS’s Africa Ecosystems Mapping project to create maps depicting standardized, terrestrial ecosystem models. Substrate moisture regimes strongly influence the differentiation and distribution of terrestrial ecosystems, and therefore topographic moisture potential is one of the key input layers in this biophysical stratification.

Data provider

USGS-ESRI
Suggested citation

Source: USGS, Esri
Related tool or portal

https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=77407e7923274fa2adeb54912ef14be6
Licence

This work is licensed under the Esri Master License Agreement.
Date or time period of observation

2019
Frequency of update

Not Updated
Geographic coverage

Africa
Spatial Resolution

100 m
Technical background

This layer provides access to a 100m cell size raster that divides the African landscape into upland and lowland areas. The data covers Africa, Madagascar, the Comoros Islands, and other coastal Islands near Africa. It was published in 2009 by the USGS Rocky Mountain Geographic Science Center. The source data are available here: https://rmgsc.cr.usgs.gov/outgoing/ecosystems/AfricaData/ This layer was used as an input for the Africa Terrestrial Ecosystems mapping project. The method used to produce the topographic moisture potential classes (uplands or lowlands) was based on the derivation of ground moisture potential using a combination of topographic characteristics (wetness, slope, and aspect) and mapped wetlands boundaries. This method does not use climate or soil attributes to calculate relative topographic moisture potential since these characteristics are incorporated into the ecosystem model though other input layers.
Cautions

Downloading and using this item requires an ArcGIS Online organizational subscription or an ArcGIS Developer account. The layer has query, identify, and export image services available. The layer is restricted to a 24,000 x 24,000 pixel limit for these services, which represents an area roughly 2,400 kilometers on a side.
Related SDGs and targets

GOAL 15: Life on land,
Related Topics

Climate Change, Climate Services, Natural Resources, Soil

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