(L60) Total Core Area

a_ij^c =   core area (m²) of patch ij based on specified edge depths (m).

Description

TCA equals the sum of the core areas of each patch (m²), divided by 10,000 (to convert to hectares).

Units 

Hectares

Range

TCA ≥ 0, without limit.

TCA = 0 when every location within every patch is within the specified depth-of-edge distance(s) from the patch perimeters. TCA approaches total landscape area as the specified depth-of-edge distance(s) decreases and as patch shapes are simplified.

Comments

Total core area is defined the same as core area (CORE) at the patch level (see Core Area), but here core area is aggregated (summed) over all patches.