DSCOVR EPIC VESDR: Vegetation Indices from Deep Space

Global vegetation data provides Leaf Area Index (LAI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and related biophysical parameters derived from the DSCOVR satellite's Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC). Parameters are projected on eight regional 10 km SIN grids and are available at a 65 to 110 minute temporal frequency. The dataset supports monitoring of vegetation variability and change due to climate and anthropogenic influences.

Use Cases

• Modeling climate and carbon cycles based on Fraction of absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FPAR) and Leaf Area Index (LAI).
• Monitoring diurnal vegetation changes using Sunlit Leaf Area Index (SLAI) and NDVI time series.
• Improving leaf biochemistry retrievals from remote sensing via the Directional Area Scattering Function (DASF).
• Analyzing canopy reflectance properties using the Canopy Scattering Coefficient at specific wavelengths (443, 551, 680, 779 nm).
• Characterizing land cover heterogeneity using ancillary 10 km Land Cover Type products derived from MODIS.

Strengths

• Provides a unique multi-angle observation perspective from the DSCOVR satellite's deep-space location.
• Includes a suite of advanced vegetation parameters (LAI, SLAI, FPAR, DASF, ERTI, Canopy Scattering Coefficient) derived from a Level 2 atmospheric-corrected product.
• Offers high temporal frequency data, with observations every 65 to 110 minutes.

Limitations

• Spatial resolution is coarse at 10 km, limiting analysis to regional or global scales.
• Metadata completeness is low; specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided on any platform.
• Ancillary land cover data is derived from MODIS products from 2008-2010, which may not reflect current conditions.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Generated from the upstream DSCOVR EPIC L2 MAIAC (Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction version 2) surface reflectance product.

Freshness

Last updated on 2026-04-10 according to datagov, though this appears to be a future date which may indicate a metadata error.

Geography

Global, projected on eight regional 10 km SIN grids.