Norfork MUC Table (with glossary)

This extract of the full MUC (Modified UNESCO Classification) Table with glossary found in the GLOBE Resource Room of the web site has most, if not all, of the extraneous classifications removed. This was done to allow for easier teacher and student identification of local land cover types. At the end of the table is a list of unfamiliar vocabulary words which may be used in places throughout the text. In the event that any questions arise as to the proper land cover classification, consult the full MUC Table.

0xxx	1xxx	2xxx	3xxx	4xxx	5xxx	6x	7x	8xx	9x	Definitions
Closed Forest	Woodlands	Shrublands	Dwarf- Shrublands	Grasslands	Barren Lands	Wetlands	Open Water	Cultivated Lands	Urban

MUC Code	Glossary of Terms in the Modified Classification Scheme	Class Level
0	Closed Forest	level 1	Formed by trees at least 5 meters tall with their crowns interlocking. Total canopy cover is greater than 40%.
01	Mainly Evergreen Forest	level 2	The canopy is never without green foliage. At least 50% of the trees that reach the canopy are evergreen. Individual trees may shed their leaves.
0151	Temperate evergreen wet forest	level 4	Trees are greater than 10 meters tall. Vascular epiphytes and vines may be present.
02	Mainly Deciduous Forest	level 2	The majority of trees (more than 50% of the canopy) shed their foliage simultaneously in connection with the unfavorable season (drought or cold).
022	Cold-deciduous Forest with Evergreen Trees and Shrubs	level 3	The unfavorable season is mainly characterized by winter frost. Deciduous broad-leaved trees are dominant (more than 50% of the canopy), but evergreen species are present (more than 25% of the canopy) as part of the main canopy or the understory. Climbers and vascular epiphytes are scarce or absent.
0221	With evergreen broad-leaved trees and climbers	level 4	Rich in epiphytes and mosses. Vascular epiphytes may be present at the base of tree stems. Climbing vines may be common on flood plains. Magnolia spp. in North America is an example of this class type.
0222	With evergreen needle-leaved trees	level 4	E.g., the maple-hemlock or oak-pine forests of Northeastern, U.S.A.
023	Cold-deciduous Forests without Evergreen Trees	level 3	Deciduous trees are absolutely dominant (more than 75% of the canopy). Evergreen herbs and some evergreen shrubs (less than 2 meters tall) may be present. Climbers insignificant but may be common on flood plains; vascular epiphytes are absent (except occasionally at the lower base of the tree); mosses, liverworts and particularly lichens are always present.
1	Woodland	level 1	Comprised of open stands of trees more than 5 meters tall with crowns not touching. Greater than 40% of the ground is covered by the tree canopy. Definitions for Mainly Evergreen Woodland, Mainly Deciduous Woodland are similar to forest definitions with sparser stocking of individual trees.
11	Mainly Evergreen Woodland	level 2	The canopy is never withoug green foliage. At least 50% of the trees that reach the canopy are evergreen. Individual trees may shed their leaves.
112	Evergreen Needle-leaved Woodland	level 3	Trees are mainly needle- or scale-leaved (more than 50% of the canopy). Crowns of many trees extend to the base of the stem or are very branchy.
1121	Rounded crowns	level 4	E.g., Pinus.
12	Mainly Deciduous Woodland	level 2	The majority of trees (more than 50% of the canopy) shed their foliage simultaneously in connection with the unfavorable season (drought or cold).
121	Drought-deciduous	level 3	The unfavorable season is mainly characterized by drought, in most cases winter-drought. Foliage is shed regularly every year. Most trees have relatively thick, fissured bark.
122	Cold-deciduous with Evergreens	level 3	The unfavorable season is mainly characterized by winter frost. Deciduous broad-leaved trees are dominant (more than 50% of the canopy), but evergreen species are present (more than 25% of the canopy) as part of the main canopy or the understory. Climbers and vascular epiphytes are scarce or absent.
1221	With evergreen broad-leaved trees and climbers	level 4	Rich in epiphytes and mosses. Vascular epiphytes may be present at the base of tree stems. Climbing vines may be common on flood plains. Magnolia spp. in North America is an example of this class type.
1222	With evergreen needle-leaved trees	level 4	E.g., the maple-hemlock or oak-pine forests of Northeastern, U.S.A.
123	Cold-deciduous without Evergreens	level 3	Deciduous trees are absolutely dominant (more than 75% of the canopy). Evergreen herbs and some evergreen shrubs (less than 2 meters tall) may be present. Climbers insignificant but may be common on flood plains; vascular epiphytes are absent (except occasionally at the lower base of the tree); mosses, liverworts and particularly lichens are always present. Cold-deciduous species are absolutely dominant (more than 75% of the canopy). Most frequent in the subarctic region, elsewhere only on swamps or bogs.
1231	Broad-leaved deciduous	level 4	Broad-leaved deciduous species are absolutely dominant (more than 75% of the canopy).
1232	Needle-leaved deciduous	level 4	Needle-leaved deciduous species are absolutely dominant (more than 75% of the canopy).
1233	Mixed deciduous	level 4	Both broad-leaved and needle leaved deciduous species provide more than 25% of the canopy.
2	Shrublands or Thickets	level 1	The shrub canopy covers at least 40% of the ground and is composed of matted, clumped or clustered woody plants 0.5 to 5 meters tall. Shrubland: most of the individual shrubs are not touching each other; often with grass growing between shrubs. Thicket: individual shrubs are interlocked. Shrublands are also further defined (like Forests and Woodlands) as Evergreen Broad-leaved, Evergreen Needle-leaved, Mainly Deciduous, etc.
21	Mainly Evergreen Shrubland	level 2	The canopy is never without green foliage. At least 50% of the shrubs that reach the canopy are evergreen. Individual shrubs may shed their leaves.
211	Evergreen Broad-leaved	level 3	Evergreen broad-leaved species are dominant (more than 50% of the canopy).
22	Mainly Deciduous	level 2	The majority of shrubs (more than 50% of the canopy) shed their folidage simultaneously in connection with the unfavorable season (cold or drought).
221	Drought-deciduous Mixed with Evergreen Woody Plants	level 3	Drought-deciduous shrubs are dominant (greater than 50% of the canopy) and are mixed with greater than 25% evergreen woody plants.
222	Drought-deciduous without Evergreens	level 3	Drought-deciduous shrubs are absolutely dominant (more than 75% of the canopy).
223	Cold-deciduous	level 3	The unfavorable season is mainly lcharacterized by winter frost. Deciduous shrubs are dominant (more than 50% of the canopy).
2231	Temperate deciduous	level 4	Composed of dense scrub without, or with very little, herbaceous undergrowth.
231	Mainly Evergreen	level 3	The canopy is never without green foliage. At least 50% of the shrubs that reach the canopy are evergreen. In extremely dry years some leaves and shoot portions may be shed.
2312	Semi-deciduous	level 4	May consist of either facultatively deciduous shrubs or a combination of evergreen and deciduous shrubs (e.g., evergreen shrubs are dominant, deciduous shrubs cover more than 25%).
3	Dwarf-shrublands	level 1	Shrubs rarely exceed 50 cm in height (sometimes called heaths or heathlike formations). The shrub canopy covers more than 40% of the ground. Dwarf-shrub classes are distinguished by the cover density. Dwarf-shrub thicket: branches are interlocked; Dwarf-shrubland: individual dwarf-shrubs are isolated or in clumps; Dwarf-shrublands with surface densely covered with mosses or lichens; dwarf-shrubs occurring in small clumps or individually.
31	Mainly Evergreen	level 2	The canopy is never without green foliage. At least 50% of the shrubs that reach the canopy are evergreen. Individual shrubs may shed their leaves.
32	Mainly Deciduous	level 2	The majority of shrubs (more than 50% of the canopy) shed their folidage simultaneously in connection with the unfavorable season (cold or drought).
4	Herbaceous Vegetation	level 1	Dominated by herbaceous grasses and grass-like plants such as sedges (Carex), rushes (Juncus), cattails (Typha) and broad-leaved plants such as clover, sunflowers (Helianthus), ferns and milkweeds (Asclepias). Total ground coverage must be greater than 60% herbaceous vegetation.
41	Tall Graminoid Vegetation (Tall Grasslands)	level 2	Plant community consists of dominant grasses over 2 meters tall when flowering or mature (more than 50% of the herbaceous vegetation). Forbs may be present but comprise less than 50% of herbaceous vegetation.
411	With Trees Covering 10-40%	level 3	May be with or without shrubs. This is somewhat like a very open woodland with a more or less continuous ground cover (over 60%) of tall graminoids.
4110	Trees: needle-leaved evergreen	level 4	Needle-leaved evergreen species are greater than 50% of the tree canopy.
4112	Trees: broad-leaved semi-evergreen	level 4	Trees present are at least 25% each of broad-leaved evergreen and broad-leaved deciduous trees.
412	Tall Grass Lands with Trees Covering Less than 10%	level 3	Grassland with trees covering less than 10% of the ground, with or without shrubs.
413	Tall Grasslands with Shrubs	level 3	The shrub canopy must cover more than 25% of the ground.
4133	Shrubs: broad-leaved deciduous	level 4	Shrubs present are at least 25% each of broad-leaved evergreen and broad-leaved deciduous trees. The area is seasonally flooded.
415	Tall Grasslands without Woody Synusia	level 3	Grasslands without trees or shrubs.
42	Medium Tall Graminoid	level 2	The dominant grasses are 50 cm to 2 m tall when flowering or mature (greater than 50% of the herbaceous vegetation). Forbs may be present but comprise less than 50% of the herbaceous vegetation.
421	With Trees Covering 10-40%	level 3	May be with or without shrubs. This is somewhat like a very open woodland with a more or less continuous ground cover (over 60%) of medium tall graminoids.
4210	Trees: needle-leaved evergreen	level 4	Needle-leaved evergreen species are greater than 50% of the tree canopy.
4213	Trees: broad-leaved deciduous	level 4	Trees present are at least 25% each of broad-leaved evergreen and broad-leaved deciduous trees.
422	Medium Tall Grass Lands with Trees Covering Less than 10%	level 3	Grassland with trees covering less than 10% of the ground, with or without shrubs.
4220	Trees: needle-leaved evergreen	level 4	Needle-leaved evergreen species are greater than 50% of the tree canopy.
4221	Trees: broad-leaved evergreen	level 4	Broad-leaved evergreen species are greater than 50% of the tree canopy.
4222	Trees: broad-leaved semi-evergreen	level 4	Trees present are at least 25% each of broad-leaved evergreen and broad-leaved deciduous trees.
4223	Trees: broad-leaved deciduous	level 4	Trees present are at least 25% each of broad-leaved evergreen and broad-leaved deciduous trees.
423	Medium Tall Grasslands with Shrubs	level 3	The shrub canopy must cover more than 25% of the ground.
4230	Shrubs: needle-leaved evergreen	level 4	Needle-leaved evergreen species are greater than 50% of the shrub canopy.
4231	Shrubs: broad-leaved evergreen	level 4	Broad-leaved evergreen species are greater than 50% of the shrub canopy.
425	Medium Tall Grasslands without Woody Synusia	level 3	Medium tall grasslands without trees or shrubs.
4251	Mainly sod grasses	level 4	Perennial, much branched creeping grass which binds the sand or soils with its root system. E.g., St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), the tall-grass prairie in eastern Kansas. In some locations the grassland is wet or flooded most of the year, e.g., Typha swamps. If that is the case classify as a wetland. See class 6.
43	Short Graminoid	level 1	The dominant grasses are less than 50 cm tall when flowering or mature (more than 50 of the herbaceous vegetation). Forbs may be present but they less than 50% of the herbaceous vegetation.
431	With Trees Covering 10-40%	level 3	May be with or without shrubs. This is somewhat like a very open woodland with a more or less continuous ground cover (over 60%) of short graminoids.
4310	Trees: needle-leaved evergreen	level 4	Needle-leaved evergreen species are greater than 50% of the tree canopy.
4313	Trees: broad-leaved deciduous	level 4	Trees present are at least 25% each of broad-leaved evergreen and broad-leaved deciduous trees.
432	Short Grass Lands with Trees Covering Less than 10%	level 3	Grassland with trees covering less than 10% of the ground, with or without shrubs.
4320	Trees: needle-leaved evergreen	level 4	Needle-leaved evergreen species are greater than 50% of the tree canopy.
4321	Trees: broad-leaved evergreen	level 4	Broad-leaved evergreen species are greater than 50% of the tree canopy.
4323	Trees: broad-leaved deciduous	level 4	Trees present are at least 25% each of broad-leaved evergreen and broad-leaved deciduous trees.
433	Short Grasslands with Shrubs	level 3	The shrub canopy must cover more than 25% of the ground.
4330	Shrubs: needle-leaved evergreen	level 4	Needle-leaved evergreen species are greater than 50% of the shrub canopy.
4333	Shrubs: broad-leaved deciduous	level 4	Shrubs present are at least 25% each of broad-leaved evergreen and broad-leaved deciduous trees. The area is seasonally flooded.
435	Mainly Bunch Grasses with Woody Synusia	level 3	Grasses which grow in tufts, with woody plants interspersed.
436	Short Grasslands, without Woody Synusia	level 3	Short grasslands without trees or shrubs.
4361	Short-grass communities	level 4	These communities may fluctuate in structure and floristic composition due to greatly fluctuating precipitation of the semi-arid climate, e.g., short-grass (Bouteloua gracilis and Buchloe dactyloides) prairie of eastern Colorado.
437	Short to Medium Tall Mesophytic Communities	level 3	Meadows
4371	Sod grass communities	level 4	The grassland is often rich in forbs, and occur in lower altitudes with a cool, humid climate in North America and Eurasia. Many plants may remain at least partly green during the winter, even below the snow in the higher latitudes.
44	Forb Vegetation	level 2	The plant community is dominated by broad-leaved herbaceous plants (all plants except grasses) such as clover, sunflowers (Helianthus), ferns, milkweeds (Asclepias). Forbs cover more than 50% of the herbaceous area. Grasses may be present but cover less than 50%.
441	Tall Forb Communities	level 3	The dominant forb growth forms are more than 1 meter tall when fully developed.
4412	Mainly annual forbs	level 4	Annual forbs, which germinate in the beginning and die at the end of each growing season, are the dominant (greater than 50% coverage) form.
442	Low Forb Communities	level 3	These communities are dominated by forbs less than 1 meter tall when fully developed.
5	Barren Land	level 1	Land with less than 40% vegetative cover. Barren land has a limited ability to support life, and is usually made up of thin soil, sand, or rocks.
52	Sandy Areas	level 2	Accumulations of sand/gravel, i.e., beaches or dunes.
53	Bare Rock	level 2	Exposed bedrock, desert pavement, scarps, talus slides, volcanic material, rock glaciers and other accumulations of rock without vegetative cover.
56	Other Barren Cover	level 2	Dirt, gravel, other loose rock, etc.
6	Wetland	level 1	Marshes, swamps, bogs and other types of wetlands which are periodically or constantly saturated during the growing season. This periodic or constant saturation produces soils with special chemical characteristics and vegetation specifically adapted to wet conditions. The area must have greater than 40% vegetative cover to be classified as a wetland.
61	Riverine	level 2	Wetlands adjacent to a fresh water river channel (Riparian wetlands).
62	Palustrine	level 2	Wetlands dominated by trees, shrubs, persistent emergents (plants), mosses, lichens, etc. The wetlands surround water that is less than 1 hectare in size, has no active channel or tide, is less than 2 meters deep, and has low salinity. This water should be included as part of the wetland.
64	Lacustrine	level 2	Wetlands surrounding open water (i.e., ponds and lakes) that are greater than 1 hectares in size and greater than 2 meters deep.
7	Open Water	level 1	Lakes, ponds, rivers and oceans. The surface of the land is continually submerged by water greater than 2 meters deep and at least one hectare in size; or continually submerged in an actively flowing channel or subtidal zone. Water should cover greater than 60% of the area, if trees and emergent plants and cover greater than 40% of the area, see wetland categories in class 6.
71	Fresh Water	level 2	Lakes, ponds, and rivers with low salinity.
72	Marine	level 2	Open ocean overlying the continental shelf or an actively flowing tidal channel.
8	Cultivated Land	level 1	The ground is covered by greater than 60% non-native cultivated species (e.g., agricultural crops, cultivated short grasses, lawns) and usually can be distinguished by the regular geometric patterns created by the lawns and fields.
81	Agriculture	level 2	Land is used for growing crops, orchards, horticulture, feeding livestock, and other agriculture.
811	Row Crop or Pasture	level 3	Examples include; corn, wheat, cow pastures, fallow fields, cultivated cranberry bogs and rice fields.
812	Orchard or Horticulture	level 3	Examples include; apple orchards, vineyards, tree nurseries.
813	Confined Livestock Feeding	level 3	These areas are found on large farms and are used for feeding beef cattle, dairy cows (with confined feedlots), hogs and poultry.
814	Other Agriculture	level 3	Examples include; corrals, and breeding and training facilities on horse farms.
82	Non-agriculture	level 2	Land is used for parks, playing fields, cemeteries, and golf courses.
821	Parks and Playing Fields	level 3	Examples include; baseball diamonds, soccer fields, play grounds, and parks.
822	Golf Courses	level 3
823	Cemeteries	level 3
824	Other Non-agriculture	level 3	Any other non-agricultural cultivated areas that do not fit into classes 821, 822 or 823 (parks and playing fields, golf courses, or cemetaries).
9	Urban	level 1	Areas developed for residential, commercial, industrial, or transportation uses. Must be greater than 40% urban land cover.
91	Residential	level 2	At least 50% of the urban land cover consists of residential property (i.e., apartments, private dwellings, etc.)
92	Commercial/Industrial	level 2	At least 50% of the urban land cover consists of commercial or industrial property (i.e., businesses, factories, warehouses, etc.)
93	Transportation	level 2	At least 50% of the urban land cover consists of transportation routes (i.e., roads, highways, railroads, airport runways).
94	Other	level 2	At least 50% of the urban land cover consists of devloped areas that do not fit into residential, commercial, or transportation categories.

Misc. Definitions	Boreal		Also called cold temperate zone has a climate with cool wet summers and cold winters lasting more than six months.
	Bryophyte		Non-flowering plants (mosses & liverworts) characterized by rhizoids rather than true roots.
	Caespitose		Arranged or combined in a thick mat or clumps, having a low stem forming a dense turf or sod, growing in clusters.
	Canopy		Uppermost layer of vegetation detected by satellite sensors.
	Classification using MUC % Cover vs. % Species Composition		The level one classification is determined by the overall canopy or ground coverage of the entire area being classified. The level two classification is determined by the percent species composition only of the dominant level one cover type. Level 3 and 4 are more specific combinations of different species and plant communities. Example: An area is comprised of 80% herbaceous vegetation (of that 45% are forbs and 55% are grasses greater than 2 meters tall), and 20% broad-leaved evergreen trees. The classification codes are as follows: MUC level 1: 4-herbaceous vegetation. It is clearly the dominant cover type, since it covers greater than 60% of the area. MUC level 2: 41. The dominant species are grasses greater than 2 meters tall (they comprise more than 50% of the dominant cover type herbaceous vegetation). MUC level 3: 411. Trees cover 20% of the area. MUC level 4: 4111. The trees are a broad-leaved evergreen species.
	Cold-deciduous		Plants that shed leaves during the cold season.
	Deciduous		Vegetation that sheds its leaves at the end of the growing period or in unfavorable conditions.
	Drip tips		Extended slender tips of tropical leaves that allow water to roll of the leaf surface.
	Drought-deciduous		Plants that shed leaves during the dry season.
	Epiphytes		Vascular epiphytes are vines growing on another plant for stem support only.
	Facultative		Organisms able to live and thrive under more than one set of conditions.
	Forb		A broad-leafed grass or herbaceous growth.
	Graminoid		Grasses and grass-like plants.
	Hectare		A surface area equal to a square of 100 meters per side; approx. 2.5 acres.
	Herbaceous		Vascular plant rooted in the ground with foliage that dies back annually. The meristem (stem growth tip) is located just above or below the ground.
	Landscaped vegetation		Landscaped yards, playing fields, cemeteries, golf courses and other cultivated vegetated areas should be classified as cultivated land (class 8) if non-native cultivated species is greater than 60% coverage. If the buildings, roads and unnatural structures (bridges, etc.) cover greater than 40% of the land, the area should be classified as urban. If wooded residential neighborhoods have greater than 40% trees covering the ground, the area would be considered forest or woodlands (see classes 0 and 1). If it is difficult to decide upon a cover type, try to determine what would be seen by the satellite. Compare similar areas with the satellite image you receive of your school's location.
	Lowland forest Submontane forest Montane forest Subalpine forest		It may be necessary to consult local resources to determine the specific level 4 classification for forest cover. Vegetation will vary depending on both the latitude and the altitude.
	Mesophytic		Growing in, or adapted to, a moderately moist environment.
	Microphyllous		Having small leaves (e.g., desert plants); having leaves with a single unbranched vein.
	Obligate		Organisms restricted to a particular condition of life (that condition is essential for survival).
	Overstory		Uppermost layer of vegetation detected by satellite sensors.
	Polar		Low precipitation distributed over the entire year. There is a short wet nightless summer and a very long, cold, dark winter.
	Sclerophyllous		Vegetation with thickened hardened foliage that is resistant to water loss (sclerophylly).
	Subpolar		Transitional between the cold temperate zone and the polar zone.
	Subtropical		From the edge of the tropical zone toward the poles, in the region of the descending air masses, which get warmer as they descend and become very dry. Rainfall is very low, and the daytime temperatures are very high because of intense solar radiation. In the winter months, however, the temperature may sink to zero at night as a result of the greater net loss of heat energy in outgoing radiation. This is the hot desert zone.
	Synusia		A layer or stratum of a community. A structural unit of a major ecological community characterized by relative uniformity of life form or of height and usually constituting a particular stratum of that community.
	Temperate		Temperate zones show greater seasonal temperature changes and can be broken down as follows: Warm temperate: scarcely any or no winter, extremely wet especially in summer. Typical temperate: (e.g., central European or coastal northeastern U.S.A) cold, short winters or a winter free of frost and with very cool summers (near the ocean). Arid temperate: large temperature contrasts between summer and winter, and little precipitation. Boreal or cold temperate: cool wet summers and cold winters lasting more than six months.
	Tropical		Lies 40 degrees to the north and south of the equator. A certain seasonal variation in the mean daily temperature is noticeable. Rainfall reaches a maximum in the summer and a dry season in the cool months. The duration of the cool season increases as the distance from the equator becomes greater, and at the same time the annual rainfall decreases.
	Understory		Layer of vegetation that grows beneath the overstory consisting of smaller trees and shrubs.
	Wet		Vegetation or environments capable of withstanding or thriving in the presence of much rain.
	Xeromorphic		Climatic conditions favorable for the development of vegetation that is adapted to, thrives in or tolerates an environment that is poor in available moisture.
	Xerophyte		A plant which is adapted to and thrives in dry conditions.

References:

A land use and land cover classification system for use with remote sensor data. J.R. Anderson, E.E. Hardy, J.T. Roach, and R.E. Witmer. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap., 1976.

Classification of wetlands and deepwater habitats of the United States. L.M. Cowardin, V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. FWS/OBS-79/31, 1979.

International classification and mapping of vegetation. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Switzerland: Unesco, 1973.

NOAA Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP): Guidance for Regional Implementation. J.E. Dobson et al. NOAA Technical Report NMFS 123, 1995.