Xu et al. (2026) Extended global terrestrial evapotranspiration and gross primary production dataset from 1982 to near present

Identification

• Journal: Earth system science data
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-07-31
• Authors: Zhenwu Xu, Yongqiang Zhang, Dongdong Kong, Ning Ma, Xuanze Zhang
• DOI: 10.5194/essd-18-5663-2026

Research Groups

• Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
• Department of Atmospheric Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
• FLUXNET2015 network

Short Summary

This study presents the PML-V2.2 dataset, a high-fidelity, long-term, and near-present global terrestrial evapotranspiration (ET) and gross primary production (GPP) dataset from 1982 to 2025. The dataset is developed using the Penman-Monteith-Leuning (PML) model, which estimates ET and GPP through a coupled water-carbon mechanism.

Objective

• Estimate global terrestrial evapotranspiration (ET) and gross primary production (GPP) with high accuracy and spatial consistency.
• Develop a long-term dataset that bridges the gap between satellite epochs and provides seamless transition across different satellite sensors.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Global, with a spatial resolution of 0.1° for PML-V2.2a/b/c versions and 500m for PML-V2.2a.
• Temporal Scale: From 1982 to near present (2025), with an 8d temporal scale.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Penman-Monteith-Leuning (PML) model, version 2.2 (PML-V2.2).
• Data sources:
  • MODIS Collection 6.1 inputs for PML-V2.2a.
  • AVHRR-based inputs for PML-V2.2b.
  • Multi-Source Weighted-Ensemble Precipitation (MSWEP) V2.8 and Multi-Source Weather (MSWX)-Past datasets as meteorological forcing.

Main Results

• The dataset provides high accuracy in estimating ET and GPP across different plant functional types (PFTs).
• The PML-V2.2a version exhibits high agreement with PML-V2.2b during their overlapping period.
• Global terrestrial ET and GPP during 1982-2025 are estimated at 65.8 × 10^3 km^3 yr^-1 and 143.4 PgC yr^-1, respectively.

Contributions

• The dataset provides a high-fidelity, long-term, and near-present global terrestrial ET and GPP dataset that bridges the gap between satellite epochs.
• The PML-V2.2 model offers improved accuracy in estimating ET and GPP compared to previous versions.

Funding

• This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41821004) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Strategic Priority Research Program (Grant No. XDA19040201).

Citation

@article{Xu2026Extended,
  author = {Xu, Zhenwu and Zhang, Yongqiang and Kong, Dongdong and Ma, Ning and Zhang, Xuanze},
  title = {Extended global terrestrial evapotranspiration and gross primary production dataset from 1982 to near present},
  journal = {Earth system science data},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.5194/essd-18-5663-2026},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-5663-2026}
}