The table below lists the main terrestrial carbon products that are envisioned during the initial period. The raw data originate from different agencies (satellite and in situ, different countries), and the preparation of individual products may require access to one or more other data types or input products. Also, the data and products exist at various levels, from raw observations to synthesised high level products generated by incorporating lower level products into models.

Products for the initial period (3-5 years) +

Category	Products (digital georeferenced)	Spatial extent	Temporal frequency
Land cover	Land cover types and change	* Global and * Continental	*Annual to seasonal * 5 year
Land cover	Continuous fields	Global	Annual
Biomass 4	Biomass density	Regional and biome-specific	Annual
Seasonal growth cycle	Leaf area index	* Region- and site- specific (campaigns) * Global	Sub-seasonal
Seasonal growth cycle	Growing season duration	* Region- and site- specific (campaigns) * Global	Annual
Fires	Burned area	* Continental * Global	Annual
Fires 4	Burned biomass	* Continental * Global	Annual
Solar radiation 5	SW solar irradiance	Global	Daily
Surface atmospheric fluxes	CO2 flux and associated tower measurements	Network of sites	Sub-daily
Atmospheric concentration of CO2 and other gases	Trace gas concentration	Network of sites	Weekly (or less)
Ecosystem productivity 6	NPP	* Region- and site- specific (campaigns) * Continental * Global	Annual
Ecosystem productivity 6	NEP	* Region- and site- specific (campaigns) * Continental * Global	Annual

Notes

1 The table presents an overview of major products for terrestrial carbon estimation that are needed for the TCO initiative. Most of these employ satellite data. Other observations or products are also needed but not listed here. They include meteorological products, soil databases, and others.

2 Many of the above products are now produced by space agencies, research projects, or observation networks. Most of the products are being continually improved through product validation, supporting research and model development, and the reprocessing of archived data. The agencies and projects involved in these typically have specific plans for improving the products. Importantly, new programs are now being developed in various countries that will make further progress in these areas.

3 Where different geographic areas are shown (spatial extent), the quality and documentation of the products is higher at the site and regional levels. The improvements of global products hinges on progress being made through regional or campaign initiatives.

4 Current limitation is lack of consistent measurements over large areas; progress depends on improved satellite measurements.

5 Current products have coarse spatial and temporal resolution.

6 Experimental ecosystem productivity maps have been generated for specific areas and years, using the above products as input. The NPP (annual gross carbon uptake) and NEP (annual source/sink distribution) products are presently model- dependent and are also limited by the quality of the existing input products. Plans are in place to generate global NPP products, using new satellite data.