Low Elevation Coastal Zone (LECZ) Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates, Version 3

Abstract and Limitations of Use: The Low Elevation Coastal Zone (LECZ) Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates, Version 3 data set contains land areas with urban, quasi-urban, rural, and total populations (counts) within the LECZ for 234 countries and other recognized territories for the years 1990, 2000, and 2015. This data set updates initial estimates for the LECZ population by drawing on a newer collection of input data, and provides a range of estimates for at-risk population and land area. Constructing accurate estimates requires high-quality and methodologically consistent input data, and the LECZv3 evaluates multiple data sources for population totals, digital elevation model, and spatially-delimited urban classifications. Users can find the paper "Estimating Population and Urban Areas at Risk of Coastal Hazards, 1990-2015: How data choices matter" (MacManus, et al. 2021) in order to evaluate selected inputs for modeling Low Elevation Coastal Zones. According to the paper, the following are considered core data sets for the purposes of LECZv3 estimates: Multi-Error-Removed Improved-Terrain Digital Elevation Model (MERIT-DEM), Global Human Settlement (GHSL) Population Grid R2019 and Degree of Urbanization Settlement Model Grid R2019a v2, and the Gridded Population of the World, Version 4 (GPWv4), Revision 11. This data set is produced by the Columbia University Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) and the City University of New York (CUNY) Institute for Demographic Research (CIDR). Because this is a historical dataset, this item does not follow a routine update frequency.   Intended Use: To provide estimates of urban and rural populations and land areas for the years 1990, 2000, 2015 for 234 countries and statistical areas with contiguous coastal elevations of less than or equal to 5m above sea level, 5-10m above sea level, and national totals using multiple updated data sources for comparative analysis.  Citation: Low Elevation Coastal Zone (LECZ) Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates, Version 3. Center for International Earth Science Information Network - CIESIN - Columbia University, and CUNY Institute for Demographic Research - CIDR - City University of New York. (2021). NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). DOI: https://doi.org/10.7927/H4TM782G Legend:ColorService Pixel ValueLegend LabelDescription: 50 - 5m LECZLECZs are derived from Multi-Error-Removed Improved Terrain Digital Elevation Model (MERIT-DEM) are provided as a spatial layer in a 9 arc second resolution raster (GeoTIFF). This data categorically demarcates the two low elevation coastal zones (0-5m and 5-10m LECZs) and a third category representing the non-coastal areas at any elevation (outside of LECZs) coded as 31. This raster data is also provided as a web map and image service. It is in the WGS84 coordinate system. 10>5 - 10m LECZ 31>10m - Outside of LECZResolution: nine arc-seconds (~300m)  Publication References:Low Elevation Coastal Zone (LECZ) Urban-Rural Population Estimates, Global Rural-Urban Mapping Project (GRUMP), Alpha Version. McGranahan, G., D. Balk, and B. Anderson. (2007). NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). DOI: https://doi.org/10.7927/H4TM782G Low Elevation Coastal Zone (LECZ) Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates, Version 2. Center for International Earth Science Information Network - CIESIN - Columbia University. (2013). NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). DOI: https://doi.org/10.7927/H4MW2F2J Sea Level Rise Impacts on Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance. Center for International Earth Science Information Network - CIESIN - Columbia University. (2013). NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). DOI: https://doi.org/10.7927/H4CC0XMD Documentation for the Low Elevation Coastal Zone (LECZ) Urban-Rural Population and Land Area Estimates, Version 3. Center For International Earth Science Information Network - CIESIN - Columbia University. (2021). NASA Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC). DOI: https://doi.org/10.7927/z0r0-gc08

Urban land area below 5m is the total urban land area in square kilometers where the elevation is 5 meters or less.

Urban land area below 5m is the percentage of total land where the urban land elevation is 5 meters or less.

Urban population below 5m is the percentage of the total population, living in areas where the elevation is 5 meters or less.

Population below 5m is the percentage of the total population living in areas where the elevation is 5 meters or less.

Land area below 5m is the percentage of total land where the elevation is 5 meters or less.