https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/ Combined list of the recent articles of the journal Earth System Science Data and the recent discussion forum Earth System Science Data Discussions https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-254 <b>PeatCover: Towards a peat mapping at 90 m using satellite remote sensing and a priori inventories</b><br> Man Chen, Philippe Ciais, Gustaf Hugelius, and Filipe Aires<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-254,2026<br> <b>Preprint under review for ESSD</b> (discussion: open, 0 comments)<br> Peatlands are vital carbon stores, yet mapping them consistently across borders is challenging due to varying data quality and definitions. We developed PeatCover, a ~90 m resolution map that harmonizes existing inventories with Earth observation and hydro-topographic data through machine learning. PeatCover provides a spatially coherent dataset that resolves fine landscape structures. These improvements enable refined carbon assessments and methane emission models. 2026-07-17T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-391 <b>Overview of ParallelClim-WestUS-Daily – high-resolution observed and counterfactual daily climate data for the western United States, 1951–2025</b><br> A. Park Williams, John T. Abatzoglou, Gavin D. Madakumbura, Haibo Liu, Stefan Rahimi, and Christopher Daly<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-391,2026<br> <b>Preprint under review for ESSD</b> (discussion: open, 0 comments)<br> Here we introduce ParallelClim-WestUS-Daily, a new dataset of daily gridded climate data for the western US from 1951–2025 as well as a parallel, counterfactual realization of the observed climate but without human-caused climate change. This dataset will enable assessments of how climate change has affected complex hydroclimatic processes such as hydrology, vegetation dynamics, and wildfire. 2026-07-17T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-546 <b>ChinaTCC30: An annual 30 m tree canopy cover dataset for China from the 1970s to 2024</b><br> Jinge Yu, Zhen Yu, Wangya Han, Fangmin Zhang, and Shirong Liu<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-546,2026<br> <b>Preprint under review for ESSD</b> (discussion: open, 0 comments)<br> We present a new long-term tree canopy cover dataset for China, including maps for 1975, 1980, and every year from 1985 to 2024. Using satellite images and a cost-effective mapping approach, we reconstructed early historical conditions and produced annual maps for the past four decades. Evaluation shows reliable performance. The dataset supports forest monitoring, climate change research, and forest conservation and management. 2026-07-17T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-5009-2026 <b>Conversion factors for Greenland shelf benthos: Weight-to-weight and body-size-to-weight relationships</b><br> Johanna Behrisch and Nadescha Zwerschke<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 18, 5009–5026, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-5009-2026, 2026<br> Climate change, human activity and biodiversity loss are rapidly altering Arctic marine ecosystems. We measured body size and weight of common seafloor animals in southeast Greenland to create reliable conversion factors (slopes), allowing biomass to be estimated from non-destructive images. These data include key Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem species and provide a baseline to improve monitoring, support future research, and reduce disturbance to sensitive habitats. 2026-07-17T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-343 <b>BOWTIE: ship-based measurements of atmosphere and ocean within the moist tropical Atlantic</b><br> Hans Segura, Allison A. Wing, Heike Kalesse-Los, Ruben Carrasco, James H. Ruppert Jr., Anna Trosits, Louise Nuijens, Felix Ament, Daniel Blandfort, Michael M. Bell, Pierre Bosser, Delián Colón-Burgos, Geet George, Joelle Habib, Jochen Horstmann, Friedhelm Jansen, Lukas Kluft, Robert Kopte, Klas Ove Möller, Peristera Paschou, Hauke Schmidt, Michael Schlundt, Ilya Serikov, Martin Stelzner, Elizabeth J. Thompson, Werenfrid Wimmer, Marcus Dengler, and Daniel Klocke<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-343,2026<br> <b>Preprint under review for ESSD</b> (discussion: open, 0 comments)<br> BOWTIE (Beobachtung von Ozean und Wolken - Das Trans ITCZ Experiment) was an observational campaign occurring in summer 2024, which intensively took measurements from the upper ocean to the upper troposphere in the wettest region of the tropical Atlantic. Here, we provide an overview of the measurements and instrumentation, including remote sensing and conventional, which targeted small-scale processes under different weather regimes, from calm doldrums to gusty, precipitating events. 2026-07-16T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-435 <b>SwissPhenoCam: A country-scale dataset of tree-level phenocam greenness captures species-specific phenological variation along elevation gradients in Switzerland</b><br> Vivien Sainte Fare Garnot, J. Jelle Lever, Maaike de Boer, Lynsay Spafford, Yann Vitasse, Christian Sigg, Barbara Pietragalla, Roman Zweifel, Arthur Gessler, and Jan Dirk Wegner<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-435,2026<br> <b>Preprint under review for ESSD</b> (discussion: open, 0 comments)<br> Tracking when trees leaf out or shed leaves reveals how forests respond to climate change, but collecting such data across large areas is costly. SwissPhenoCam repurposes cameras already installed across Switzerland for weather monitoring and tourism, turning existing infrastructure into an ecological observatory. The result is a freely available dataset covering over 5,800 tree-years across more than 20 tree species, documenting species-specific seasonal behaviours along elevation gradients. 2026-07-16T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4943-2026 <b>Mercury dataset over the Third Pole</b><br> Shichang Kang, Jie Huang, Qianggong Zhang, Junming Guo, Xiufeng Yin, Shiwei Sun, Xuejun Sun, Lekhendra Tripathee, Sabur Abdullaev, Wenjun Tang, Yi Zhang, Xiwen Miao, Liujian Liao, and Lusheng Che<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 18, 4943–4963, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4943-2026, 2026<br> The Third Pole is a critical region for studying global mercury (Hg) cycling due to its extensive cryosphere. This comprehensive dataset-spanning air, aerosols, precipitation, glaciers, soils, surface waters, ice cores, and sediments-was collected through the Atmospheric Pollution and Cryospheric Change program. It reveals spatial and temporal Hg patterns influenced by emissions, transport, and deposition processes. The data support interdisciplinary research on multi-sphere interactions. 2026-07-16T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4965-2026 <b>TundraFlux: a database of ecosystem respiration with biotic and abiotic metadata from Arctic and alpine tundra warming experiments</b><br> Sarah Schwieger, Jan Dietrich, Mats P. Björkman, Judith M. Sarneel, Bowen Li, Joel White, Inge H. J. Althuizen, Christina Biasi, Robert G. Björk, Hanna Böhner, Brage Bremset Hansen, Michele Carbognani, Giorgio Chiari, Casper T. Christiansen, Elisabeth J. Cooper, Hans Cornelissen, Ludovica D'Imperio, Ellen Dorrepaal, Bo Elberling, Patrick Faubert, Ned Fetcher, T'ai G. W. Forte, Joseph Gaudard, Konstantin Gavazov, Zhen-Huan Guan, Jón Guðmundsson, Siri V. Haugum, Jin-Sheng He, Caitlin Hicks Pries, Mark Hovenden, Simone I. Lang, Gus Jespersen, Ingibjörg S. Jónsdóttir, Ji Young Jung, Olga Khitun, Birgitte Kortegaard Danielsen, Richard Lamprecht, Mathilde Le Moullec, Hanna Lee, Maija E. Marushchak, Anders Michelsen, Tariq Munir, Eero Myrsky, Kevin K. Newsham, Marion Nyberg, Steven F. Oberbauer, Paulo Olivas, Johan Olofsson, Hlynur Óskarsson, Thomas C. Parker, Matteo Petit Bon, Alessandro Petraglia, Emily Pickering Pedersen, Katrine Raundrup, Nynne R. Ravn, Riikka Rinnan, Heidi Rodenhizer, Ingvild Ryde, Alejandro Salazar, Niels M. Schmidt, Ted Schuur, Sofie Sjögersten, Cecilie Skov Nielsen, Sari Stark, Maria Strack, Jianwu Tang, Sylvia Toet, Anne Tolvanen, Maria Väisänen, Richard Van Logtestijn, Vigdis Vandvik, Carolina Voigt, Josefine Walz, Jeffrey M. Welker, Yuanhe Yang, Henni Ylänne, and Sybryn L. Maes<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 18, 4965–4982, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4965-2026, 2026<br> Arctic and alpine tundra ecosystems are warming rapidly, yet measurements of ecosystem CO₂ respiration remain limited. We compile in situ respiration measurements from warming experiments across 64 Arctic and alpine tundra sites. By integrating fluxes with climate, vegetation, and soil data, this database improves understanding and prediction of how tundra carbon cycling responds to climate warming and feeds back to the climate system. 2026-07-16T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4983-2026 <b>PlanetGSD 1.0: a cross-planetary grain-size distribution dataset from the Earth, the Moon, and the Mars</b><br> Jun Zhang and Yong Li<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 18, 4983–5008, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4983-2026, 2026<br> PlanetGSD 1.0, the first standardized cross-planetary grain-size database, provides 6,527 harmonized measurements (Earth, Moon, Mars) via the Unified Grain Size Distribution (UGSD) function. Openly available at Figshare, it enables robust regolith comparison, simulant benchmarking, and landing site assessment. 2026-07-16T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-212 <b>Spatial and temporal variability of δ18O and δ2H in rivers and precipitation in Eastern Europe</b><br> Aurel Perșoiu, Renata Feher, Carmen-Andreea Bădăluță, Marius-Victor Bîrsan, Dana-Magdalena Micu, Oliver Kracht, Christos Pennos, Ferenc L. Forray, Sandu Boengiu, George Murătoreanu, Alexandru Onaca, Vlad-Alexandru Amihăesei, Mihaela Borcan, Emilia Pantea, Florin Zăinescu, and Oleg Bogdevici<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-212,2026<br> <b>Preprint under review for ESSD</b> (discussion: open, 0 comments)<br> Based on data collected in Eastern Europe, we show that topography modulates the role of large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns and moisture sources in determining the δ18O and δ2H of precipitation, with topography and evaporative loss being the main factors behind the variability of the same parameters in river waters. 2026-07-15T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-346 <b>A comprehensive analysis of three meteorological datasets for the East Siberian continuous permafrost zone: long-term changes in air temperature, snow depth and precipitation</b><br> Robert Sysoliatin, Zhi Wen, Qiang Gao, Kun Xiang, and Yana Tikhonravova<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-346,2026<br> <b>Preprint under review for ESSD</b> (discussion: open, 0 comments)<br> Northeastern Eurasia (Yakutia, the Magadan region, Chukotka) is climatically extreme yet lacks reliable long-term meteorological records. We collected, cleaned, and combined openly available observations of air temperature, snow depth, and precipitation from 167 weather stations spanning 1966 to 2025. The resulting unified, quality-checked dataset is shared together with an interactive online platform that supports climate, permafrost, and environmental research across the region. 2026-07-15T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4885-2026 <b>Hydrologic, biogeochemical, microbial, and macroinvertebrate responses to network expansion, contraction, and disconnection across headwater stream networks with distinct physiography in Alabama, USA</b><br> Stephen Plont, Delaney M. Peterson, Chelsea R. Smith, Charles T. Bond, Andrielle Larissa Kemajou Tchamba, Michelle A. Wolford, Kaci Zarek, Shannon L. Speir, C. Nathan Jones, Jonathan P. Benstead, Michelle H. Busch, Rebecca L. Hale, Connor L. Brown, Erin C. Seybold, Arial J. Shogren, Kevin A. Kuehn, Yaqi You, Colin R. Jackson, Amy J. Burgin, and Carla L. Atkinson<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 18, 4885–4914, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4885-2026, 2026<br> Non-perennial streams are widespread and shape biodiversity, ecosystem processes, and downstream water quality. We combined sensor monitoring networks and spatiotemporal sampling approaches to track changes in hydrologic, ecological, and water quality patterns across in 3 watersheds between 2021-2024. This dataset provides valuable context as to how changes in stream flow and connectivity drive hydrologic, biogeochemical, and ecological patterns in intermittent streams in the southeastern US. 2026-07-15T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4915-2026 <b>CARIMED (CARbon, tracers, and ancillary data In the MEDiterranean Sea): a ship-based data synthesis product – overview and quality control procedures</b><br> Marta Álvarez, Maribel I. García-Ibáñez, Nico Lange, Alex Kozyr, Antón Velo, Toste Tanhua, Giuseppe Civitarese, Carolina Cantoni, Malek Belgacem, Katrin Schroeder, Rubén Acerbi, Laurent Coppola, Thibaut Wagener, Noelia M. Fajar, Susana Flecha, Michele Giani, Louisa Giannoudi, Elisa F. Guallart, Abed El Rahman Hassoun, Emma I. Huertas, Valeria Ibello, Mehdia A. Keraghel, Férial Louanchi, Anna Luchetta, Fiz F. Pérez, Carsten Schirnick, Ekaterini Souvermezoglou, Lidia Urbini, Montserrat Vidal, and Patrizia Ziveri<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 18, 4915–4941, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4915-2026, 2026<br> CARIMED (CARbon, tracers, and ancillary data In the MEDiterranean Sea) is a high-quality, FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) dataset integrating hydrographic, biogeochemical, and transient tracer data from 46 research cruises (1976–2018) across the Mediterranean Sea. The data underwent rigorous, basin-adapted quality control to remove systematic biases, unifying four decades of fragmented data, delivering two complementary products: the aggregated original cruise data product and the bias-adjusted data synthesis product. 2026-07-15T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-327 <b>Fit-for-purpose assessment of satellite aerosol and cloud datasets for constraining and monitor aerosol–cloud interactions</b><br> Marta Luffarelli, Nicolas Misk, Analy Baltodano, Thomas Popp, Stefan Kinne, Ulrike Stöffelmair, Michael Schulz, Jan Griesfeller, Ove W. Haugvalstad, Martin Stengel, Sarah Brüning, Gareth Thomas, Elisa Carboni, Daniel Robbins, and Michael Eisinger<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-327,2026<br> <b>Preprint under review for ESSD</b> (discussion: open, 0 comments)<br> Understanding how aerosol particles affect clouds is essential for improving climate predictions, yet current satellite data are not always reliable or suitable for this purpose. This study evaluates major datasets for analysing aerosol effects on liquid clouds, dust-driven cloud glaciation, and a potential climate indicator to monitor aerosol-cloud interactions. 2026-07-14T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-373 <b>The Integrated Multi-proxy Paleoclimate Database for the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau</b><br> Yu Li, Hao Shang, Shiyi Yan, Zhansen Zhang, MingJun Gao, Tingting Xi, Jiarui Zhao, and Wanchen Sun<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-373,2026<br> <b>Preprint under review for ESSD</b> (discussion: open, 0 comments)<br> Comparing climate records in the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau is challenging due to fragmented archives and varying resolutions. We integrated 147 sedimentary profiles, 456 surface soils, 23 tree ring chronologies, 5 ice core records, and 73 meteorological stations into one database. This shows long-term trends complement precise yearly details in tree rings and ice cores. Matching surface soils with modern weather sets a baseline to accurately map past climates and predict future changes. 2026-07-14T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-388 <b>An ERA5-derived mesovortex tracking framework for investigating tropical cyclogenesis</b><br> Jianqiao Fan, Liguang Wu, Haikun Zhao, and Zhenyuan Dong<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-388,2026<br> <b>Preprint under review for ESSD</b> (discussion: open, 0 comments)<br> Predicting how tropical cyclones form is difficult. We developed a new tracking method using forty years of historical data to monitor early storm positions. Our tool successfully detects ninety-six percent of developing tropical cyclones—often two days in advance—by tracking how their layers align vertically. This open tool provides vital data to train artificial intelligence weather models, which will significantly improve early warning systems for extreme weather and help protect communities. 2026-07-14T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-493 <b>Δ14C and δ13C of DIC dataset from R/V Mirai and NABOS in the Arctic Ocean, with a synthesis of published records from 1979–2021</b><br> Masao Uchida, Yuichiro Kumamoto, Igor Polyakov, Kanako Mantoku, Chie Amano, Motoo Utsumi, Yongwon Kim, Motoyo Itoh, Shigeto Nishino, Koji Shimada, and Naomi Harada<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-493,2026<br> <b>Preprint under review for ESSD</b> (discussion: open, 0 comments)<br> We present a new full-water-column Arctic Ocean dataset of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) radiocarbon (Δ¹⁴C) and δ¹³C, from R/V Mirai cruises (1999–2009) and the 2008 NABOS expedition: 255 new DIC Δ¹⁴C measurements (42 from NABOS 2008), each paired with δ¹³C and concentration. Combined with published records spanning 1979–2021, it resolves the surface, halocline, Atlantic Water and deep layers. The Atlantification interpretation appears in a companion paper. 2026-07-14T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-521 <b>Ise Bay Reanalysis (IBRA): An Ecological Hydrodynamic Dataset Based on EcoPARI</b><br> Yoshitaka Matsuzaki, Hayato Mizuguchi, and Tetsunori Inoue<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-521,2026<br> <b>Preprint under review for ESSD</b> (discussion: open, 0 comments)<br> We developed a 12-year dataset describing water movement and water quality in Ise Bay, Japan. Low oxygen levels in coastal waters can harm marine ecosystems, but observations alone cannot fully capture when and where these conditions occur. To address this problem, we combined simulations with measurements collected at monitoring stations. The resulting dataset reproduces seasonal changes and oxygen depletion in the bay and can support scientific research and environmental assessment. 2026-07-14T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4871-2026 <b>A long-term dataset on hydrology and suspended sediments in the Kamech catchment from the OMERE Observatory</b><br> Radhouane Hamdi, Damien Raclot, Insaf Mekki, Mohamed Gasmi, and Jean Albergel<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 18, 4871–4884, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4871-2026, 2026<br> Our article describes how water and sediment flows have been monitored for nearly 30 years in the rural Kamech catchment in Tunisia.  This is one of the first datasets of its kind in the southern Mediterranean countries. This data may be useful to agronomists, ecologists, hydrologists, soil scientists, and policymakers interested in agricultural production, biodiversity conservation, soil erosion control, flood risk management, and reservoir siltation. 2026-07-14T13:37:38+02:00 https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-131 <b>AGPC: An Annual 500 m Grided Population (1990–2020) for China Incorporating 3D Building Volume Dynamics</b><br> Xiaocong Xu, Shiyu He, Jinpei Ou, Yan Zhou, and Xiaoping Liu<br> Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2026-131,2026<br> <b>Preprint under review for ESSD</b> (discussion: open, 0 comments)<br> This study introduces a new nationwide population dataset for China from 1990 to 2020 at fine spatial detail. We created it to better represent modern cities with many tall buildings, which older maps often miss. By combining census data, 3D building information, and other social and economic data, we produced consistent yearly population maps. Tests show high accuracy across regions and time. The dataset supports research on urban growth, environmental change, and disaster risk planning. 2026-07-13T13:37:38+02:00