The dataset of spectral reflectance observations was obtained by ASD (Analytical Sepctral Devices) in the Yingke oasis and Huazhaizi desert steppe foci experimental areas. Reflectance was calculated based on the equation R = (DN1/DN0)×R0, DN1 indicating DN of the targets, R0 and DN0 the reflectance and DN of the grey board. The reflectance spectra of maize and wheat canopy, the component leaf of the maize and BRDF in Yingke oasis maize field, Yingke oasis wheat field, Huazhaizi desert maize field, the transect spectrum in Huazhaizi desert No. 1 and 2 plots and Linze and Biandukou foci experimental area were measured on May 20, 24, 25, 28 and 30, Jun. 1, 4, 9, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 29 and 30, Jul. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 11, 2008. Four ASD devices were used, from Peking University (350-2500nm), Institute of Remote Sensing Applications (350-2500nm), Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (350-1065nm) and BNU respectively. The reference boards were 40%, 50% and 99%. The above spectral reflectance dataset was synchronizing with WiDAS (Wide-angle Infrared Dual-mode line/area Array Scanner), OMIS-II and various spaceborne sensors. Raw data were binary files direct from ASD (by ViewSpecPro), and pre-processed data on reflectance were in Excel format.

The dataset of airborne microwave radiometers (L&K) mission was obtained in the Biandukou flight zone on Mar. 21, 2008. The frequency of L bands was 1.4 GHz with back sight of 35 degree and dual polarization (H&V) was acquired; and the frequency of K band was 18.7 GHz at the nadir view angle without polarization. The plane took off at Zhangye airport at 8:00 (BJT) and landed at 11:40, from north to south along the scheduled lines at the altitude about 4100m (400m for the low flight) and speed about 290km/hr . The raw data include microwave radiometer (L&K) data and GPS data; the former were instantaneous non-imaging observation recorded in text, which could be converted into brightness temperatures according to the calibration coefficients (filed with raw data together), and the latter were aircraft longitude, latitude and attitude. Moreover, based on the respective real-time clock log, observations by the microwave radiometer and GPS can be integrated to offer coordinates matching for the former. Yaw, flip, and pitch motions of aircraft were ignored due to the low resolution of microwave radiometer observations. Observation information can also be rasterized, as required, after calibration and coordinates matching. L&K bands resolution (x) and footprint can be approximately estimated as x=0.3H (H is relative flight height) for L and x=0.24H for K.

The dataset of chlorophyll content observations was obtained in the Yingke oasis and Linze grassland foci experimental areas. Observation items included: (1) Chlorophyll content synchronizing with TM in Yingke oasis No. 1, 4 and 5 maize plots on May 20, 2008. (2) Chlorophyll content synchronizing with ASTER and MODIS in Linze grassland foci experimental areas on May 24, 2008. (3) Chlorophyll content synchronizing with ASTER and MODIS in Yingke oasis maize field on May 28, 2008. (4) Chlorophyll content synchronizing with WiDAS (Wide-angle Infrared Dual-mode line/area Array Scanner) in Yingke oasis maize field on May 30, 2008. (5) Chlorophyll content synchronizing with OMIS-II in Yingke oasis maize field on Jun. 16, 2008. (6) Chlorophyll content synchronizing with WiDAS (Wide-angle Infrared Dual-mode line/area Array Scanner) in Yingke oasis maize field on Jun. 29, 2008. (7) Chlorophyll content synchronizing with WiDAS (Wide-angle Infrared Dual-mode line/area Array Scanner) and TM in Yingke oasis maize field on Jul. 7, 2008. (8) Chlorophyll content synchronizing with WiDAS (Wide-angle Infrared Dual-mode line/area Array Scanner) in Yingke oasis maize field on Jul. 11, 2008.

On 25 July 2012, a Leica ALS70 airborne laser scanner boarded on the Y-12 aircraft was used to obtain the point cloud data. Leica ALS70 airborne laser scanner has unlimited numbers of returns intensities measurements including the first, second, third return intensities. The wavelength of laser light is 1064 nm. The absolute flight altitude is 5500 m with the point cloud density 1 points per square meter. Aerial LiDAR- DSM was obtained through parameter calibration, automatic classification of point cloud density and manual editing.

The dataset of ground truth measurements synchronizing with MODIS was obtained in C1, W2 and B2 of the Biandukou foci experimental area from 12:00-15:00 on Mar. 14, 2008. Observation items included: (1) the frost depth from 11:37-12:11 by the chopstick and the ruler. The soil was considered frozen when it was hard and with ice crystal. The cover type photos were archived. (2) the gravimetric soil moisture (soil samples from 0-1cm, 1-3cm, 3-5cm, 5-10cm and 10-20cm) by the microwave drying method. (3) the surface radiative temperature by the handheld infrared thermometer and the physical temperature by the thermocouple thermometer. (4) the soil roughness, which can be acquired from related dataset of other period.

The dataset of soil moisture profile observations was obtained (once every ten days) in the Pailugou watershed foci experimental area during 2007 and from May to Sep. 2008. The soil profile was the moss litter layer, 0-10cm, 10-20cm, 20-40cm, 40-60cm and 60-80cm. It was fetched by the cutting ring and was measured through oven drying. Land cover types included spruce forest located in different elevation levels of 2600m, 2700m, 2900m, 3100m and 3300m, scrub of 3300m, 3400m and 3500m, and tailo grassland of 2600m, 2700m, 2800m and 2900m. Data were archived in Excel format.

The dataset of groundwater level observations was obtained by the measuring tape in the Linze station foci experimental area. Nine wells were selected in transit zone A, B and C, group 4 in Wulidun, Heihe river in Pingchuan, gobi in Yigongcheng, Wugongli, Linze station and the weather station. The first three were observed every day from May 23 to Jul. 21 and the other 6 were from Jun. 16 to Jul. 21, 2008.

The dataset of airborne WiDAS mission was obtained in the Zhangye-Yingke-Huazhaizi flight zone on Jul. 7, 2008. Intra-band data available for general users include Level-2C data (after geometric, radiometric and atmospheric corrections), Level-1B browse image (after intra-band matching) and Level-2B browse image (after registration). The raw data, Level-1A, and data processing parameters were filed; applications would be evaluated prior to access. Data processing started in Aug. 2008 and ended in Apr. 2009, and in Nov. 2009, CCD data were reprocessed to adjust radiometric calibration. The flying time of each route was as follows: {| ! id ! flight ! relative height ! starttime ! endtime ! data size ! data state ! data quality ! ground targets |- | 1 || 3#15 || 1500m || 11:00:55 || 11:09:55 ||133 || processed; complete || good |- | 2 || 3#13 || 1500m || 11:14:40 || 11:23:45 || 136 || processed; complete || good |- | 3 || 3#11 || 1500m || 11:27:35 || 11:36:45 || 137 || processed; complete || good || the resort, Yingke weather station maize field and Yingke wheat field |- | 4 || 3#9 || 1500m || 11:40:55 || 11:50:20 || 137 || incomplete || incomplete || the wetland park, Zhangye city,Yingke weather station maize field, Yingke wheat field and Huazhaizi desert maize field |- | 5 || 3#9a || 1500m || 11:53:25 || 12:02:40 || 142 || processed; complete || good || the wetland park, Zhangye city,Yingke weather station maize field, Yingke wheat field and Huazhaizi desert maize field |- | 6 || 3#7 || 1500m || 12:07:10 || 12:16:35 || 119 || processed; complete || good |- | 7 || 3#5 || 1500m || 12:19:05 || 12:28:15 || 137 || processed; complete || good || Huazhaizi desert plot 1 |- | 8 || 3#3 || 1500m || 12:32:35 || 12:41:50 || 115 || processed; complete || good || Huazhaizi desert plot 2 |- | 9 || 3#1 || 1500m || 12:45:25 || 12:54:40 || 139 || processed; complete || good |- | 10 || 3#z1 || 1500m || 13:03:55 || 13:08:00 || 61 || processed; complete || good |- | 11 || 3#z2 || 1500m || 13:10:50 || 13:14:45 || 59 || processed; complete |}

On 25 August 2012, Leica ALS70 airborne laser scanner carried by the Harbin Y-12 aircraft was used in a LiDAR airborne optical remote sensing experiment. Leica ALS70 airborne laser scanner has unlimited numbers of returns intensities measurements including the first, second, third return intensities. The wavelength of laser light is 1064 nm. The absolute flight altitude is 5200 m with the point cloud density 1 point per square meter. Airborne LiDAR-DEM and DSM data production were obtained through parameter calibration, automatic classification of point cloud density and manual editing.

The dataset of airborne WiDAS mission was obtained in the national observatory on climatology at Zhangye-Zhangye flight zone on Jun. 29, 2008. Intra-band data available for general users include Level-2C data (after geometric, radiometric and atmospheric corrections), Level-1B browse image (after intra-band matching) and Level-2B browse image (after registration). The raw data, Level-1A, and data processing parameters were filed; applications would be evaluated prior to access. Data processing started in Aug. 2008 and ended in Apr. 2009, and in Nov. 2009, CCD data were reprocessed to adjust radiometric calibration. The flying time of each route was as follows: {| ! id ! flight ! relative height ! starttime ! endtime ! data size ! data state ! data quality ! ground targets |- | 1 || 2#5 || 1500m || 13:14:39 || 13:22:43 || 122 || processed;complete || good || National observatory on climatology at Zhangye;Gulou in Zhangye |- | 2 || 2#7 || 1500m || 13:28:23 || 13:35:31 || 108 || processed;complete || good |-　 | 3 || 2#9 || 1500m || 13:41:11 || 13:49:03 || 119 || processed;complete || good || wetland park in Zhangye |}

The dataset of position of the sampling plots and stripes was obtained in A1, A2, A3, L1, L2, L3, L4, L5 and L6 of the A'rou foci experimental area. The quadrates were changed from 4×4 into 3×3 subsites during the foci experimental period, with each one spanning a 30×30 m2 plot. The centers and corners of each subsite were collected. As for the sampling lines, samples were collected every 100 m along them from south to north. The points were named in the form of L1-1, indication No. 1 point in No. 1 line. The coordinates and elevation of each sampling point were included in the dataset in Excel format.

On 19 July 2012, Leica ALS70 airborne laser scanner carried by the Harbin Y-12 aircraft was used in a LiDAR airborne optical remote sensing experiment. Leica ALS70 airborne laser scanner has unlimited numbers of returns intensities measurements including the first, second ,third return intensities. The wavelength of laser light is 1064 nm. The relative flight altitude is 1500 m (the elevation of 2700 m) with the point cloud density 4 points per square meter. Airborne LiDAR-DEM and DSM data production were obtained through parameter calibration, automatic classification of point cloud density and manual editing.