authority: gcos
slug: land-cover
name: Land Cover
domain: land
subdomain: biosphere
authority_id: gcos:land-cover
external_ids:
  nvs_uri: null
  cf_standard_name: land_cover_lccs
  iadopt_concepts:
    property: classification
    entity: land-surface
canonical_units: "1"
gcos_requirement_tier:
  threshold: null
  breakthrough: null
  goal: null
description: |
  Classification of the terrestrial surface into thematic classes (forest,
  cropland, grassland, urban, water, etc.), following the UN-FAO LCCS.
  Flagship products include ESA CCI Land Cover and Copernicus Global Land.
theme: vegetation
demos: []
status: documented
sources:
  - https://gcos.wmo.int/site/global-climate-observing-system-gcos/essential-climate-variables/land-cover