New anthropogenic land use estimates for the Holocene; HYDE 3.2

Abstract

Abstract. This paper presents an update and expansion of the History Database of the Global Environment (HYDE, v 3.2.000). HYDE is and internally consistent combination of updated historical population estimates and enhanced allocation algorithms with weighting maps for land use which are time-dependent. Categories include cropland, with a new distinction into irrigated and rain fed crops (other than rice) and irrigated and rain fed rice. Also grazing lands are provided, divided into more intensively used pasture and less intensively used rangeland. Population is represented by maps of total, urban, rural population and population density as well as built-up area. The period covered is 10 000 BCE to 2015 CE. We estimate that global population increased from 4.4 million people in 10 000 BCE to 7310 million in 2015 CE, resulting in a global population density increase of