Each pixel value corresponds to the mean historical “Best-quality” Max-NDVI value for a given week, as calculated from the previous 20 years in the MODIS historical record (i.e. does not include data from the current year). These data are also often referred to as “weekly baselines” or “weekly normals”.

Last Spring Frost (0 °C) is defined as the average day, during the first half of the year, of the last occurrence of a minimum temperature at or below 0 °C. These values are calculated across Canada in 10x10 km cells.

The Moisture Anomaly Index (Palmer-Z) is an estimate of the moisture difference from normal (a 30-year mean). It attempts to express conditions for the current month regardless of what may have occurred before the month in question.

The impact of climatic variability on the environment is of great importance to the agricultural sector in Canada. Monitoring the impacts on water supplies, soil degradation and agricultural production is essential to the preparedness of the region in dealing with possible drought and other agroclimate risks. Derived normal climate data represent 30-year averages (1961-1990, 1971-2000, 1981-2010, 1991-2020) of climate conditions observed at a particular location. The derived normal climate data represents 30-year averages or “normals” for precipitation, temperature, growing degree days, crop heat units, frost, and dry spells. These normal trends are key to understanding agroclimate risks in Canada. These normal can be used as a baseline to compare against current conditions, and are particularly useful for monitoring drought risk.

Each pixel value corresponds to the quality control, cloud cover and snow fraction value for each pixel in the Best-Quality Max-NDVI product.

These datasets show the areas where major crops can be expected within the agricultural regions of Canada. Results are provided as rasters with numerical values for each pixel indicating the level of spatial density calculated for a specific crop type in that location. Regions with higher spatial density for a certain crop have higher likelihood to have the same crop based on the previous years mapped crop inventories.

Total GHG emissions for 31 national parks were estimated using the Generic Carbon Budget Model (GCBM), a spatially explicit carbon budget model developed by Canadian Forest Service which uses forest inventory, disturbance, and mean annual temperature data along with yield data to estimate growth and merchantable volume for dominant tree species. Species- and Ecozone-specific equations are then used to convert merchantable volume to aboveground and belowground biomass carbon. The GCBM simulates carbon dynamics to produce spatially explicit estimations of carbon stocks and fluxes. The model simulates and tracks carbon stocks, transfers between Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)-defined pools, and other metrics including net ecosystem production, net biome production, and emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) in annual time steps. The stocks and fluxes are also tracked by disturbance event (e.g., forest fires). Total GHG emissions include those from natural processes like respiration and decomposition and those due to natural and anthropogenic disturbances, including wildfires, prescribed burns, and insect outbreaks. These were calculated as the sum of CO2, CH4, and N2O emission estimates in tonnes carbon (tonnes C) generated by the GCBM. Emissions estimates were then converted to carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) using the 100-year Global Warming Potential (IPCC Fourth Assessment Report) factors for CH4 (25) and N2O (298). These products have a spatial resolution of 30m. This information is part of the Parks Canada Carbon Atlas Series. To obtain a copy of this report, please contact changementclimatique-climatechange@pc.gc.ca. When using this data, please cite as follows: Sharma, T., Kurz, W.A., Fellows, M., MacDonald, A.L., Richards, J., Chisholm, C., Seutin, G., Richardson, K., Keenleyside, K. (2023). Parks Canada Carbon Atlas Series: Carbon Dynamics in the Forests of Canada’s National Parks. Scientific Report. Parks Canada Agency, Gatineau, QC, Canada, 104 p.

Departure from Average Precipitation represents the accumulated precipitation value for a location, subtracted by the long term average value. The long term average value is defined as the average amount over the 1981 – 2010 period. A negative value indicates that the location has received less than the normal amount of precipitation (mm) for that timeframe. A positive value indicates that the location has received more than the normal amount of precipitation (mm). Products are produced for the following timeframes: Agricultural Year, Growing Season, Winter Season as well as rolling products for 30, 60, 90, 180, 270, 365, 730, 1095, 1460 and 1825 days.

Leaf area index (LAI) quantified the density of vegetation irrespective of land cover. LAI quantifies the total foliage surface area per groud surface area. LAI has been identified by the Global Climate Observing System as an essential climate variable required for ecosystem,weather and climate modelling and monitoring. This product consists of annual maps of the maximum LAI during a grownig season (June-July-August) at 100m resolution covering Canada's land mass.