Land cover refers to the observed (bio)physical cover of the Earth's surface.
The main classes in the LUCAS land cover nomenclature are as follows:
| A00 | Artificial land |
| B00 | Cropland |
| C00 | Woodland |
| D00 | Shrubland |
| E00 | Grassland |
| F00 | Bareland |
| G00 | Water areas |
| H00 | Wetland |
Various biophysical categories can be distinguished:
- areas of vegetation (trees, bushes, crops, grasses, herbs);
- artificial land (buildings, roads);
- bare soil (rock, sand);
- wet areas and bodies of water (sheets of water and watercourses, wetland).
Land cover corresponds to the physical coverage of the earth’s surface.
Land cover can be observed in many ways, e.g. by field visits, aerial photographs or satellite sensors.