Linda S. Heath

Comprehensive database of diameter-based biomass regressions for North American tree species

A database consisting of 2,640 equations compiled from the literature for predicting the biomass of trees and tree components from diameter measurements of species found in North America. Bibliographic information, geographic locations, diameter limits, diameter and biomass units, equation forms, statistical errors, and coefficients are provided for each equation, along with examples of how to use the database. The CD-ROM included with the paper version of this publication contains the complete database (Table 3) in spreadsheet format (Microsoft Excel 2002© with Windows XP©). The database files can also be viewed in both spreadsheet and pdf formats by directing your browser to the Global Change page at http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/global/pubs/books/index.html

Forest volume-to-biomass models and estimates of mass for live and standing dead trees of U.S. forests.

Includes methods and equations for nationally consistent estimates of tree-mass density at the stand level (Mg/ha) as predicted by growing-stock volumes reported by the USDA Forest Service for forests of the conterminous United States. Developed for use in FORCARB, a carbon budget model for U.S. forests, the equations also are useful for converting plot-, stand- and regional-level forest merchantable volumes to estimates of total mass. Also includes separate equations for live, standing dead, aboveground only and full trees (including coarse roots), and for hardwood and softwood species. Example estimates are provided for regional tree-mass totals using summary forest statistics for the United States.

Methods and equations for estimating aboveground volume, biomass, and carbon for trees in the U.S. forest inventory, 2010

The U.S. Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program uses numerous models and associated coefficients to estimate aboveground volume, biomass, and carbon for live and standing dead trees for most tree species in forests of the United States. The tree attribute models are coupled with FIAs national inventory of sampled trees to produce estimates of tree growing-stock volume, biomass, and carbon, which are available in the Forest Inventory and Analysis database (FIADB; http://fiatools.fs.fed.us). To address an increasing need for accurate and easy-to-use documentation of relevant tree attribute models, needed individual tree gross volume, sound volume, biomass (including components), and carbon models for species in the United States are compiled and described in this publication with accompanying electronic files on a CD-ROM (13.4 MB Zip) included with the publication. This report describes models currently in use as of 2010. These models are subject to change as the FIADB and associated tree attribute models are improved.

FORCARB2: An updated version of the U.S. Forest Carbon Budget Model

FORCARB2, an updated version of the U.S. FORest CARBon Budget Model (FORCARB), produces estimates of carbon stocks and stock changes for forest ecosystems and forest products at 5-year intervals. FORCARB2 includes a new methodology for carbon in harvested wood products, updated initial inventory data, a revised algorithm for dead wood, and now includes public forest land, reserved forest land, and forest land of low productivity. The model has been used to provide estimates and projections for policy-related needs, including the Resources Planning Act timber resource assessment and forest-related greenhouse gas inventories of the United States, and has provided the basis for an analysis of forest carbon for Ontario, Canada. The program is written in FORTRAN and is text based, though virtually every parameter is defined by input text-based files that can be modified or built by the user. We expect users who are fairly advanced in terms of knowledge about computers will be most capable in using this model. Step-by-step instructions for running the program, input and output files, and codes used are included, and input files for public forest lands of the United States are provided as an example. All electronic files for download, including the model source code, executable files, and input and output files are available at http://nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/35613.