MODIS/Aqua LAI/FPAR: Global Vegetation Index 8-Day Composite at 500m

The MYD15A2H Version 6.1 product from NASA's MODIS/Aqua sensor provides global Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FPAR) data. It is an 8-day composite dataset with a 500-meter pixel resolution, containing science datasets for LAI, FPAR, quality layers, and standard deviations. The data was last updated on 2026-03-12.

Use Cases

• Modeling global carbon uptake based on Fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FPAR) data.
• Monitoring vegetation health and phenology based on Leaf Area Index (LAI) time series.
• Assimilating satellite-derived biophysical parameters into Earth system models based on the 500m resolution data.
• Validating land surface models based on the provided quality layers and standard deviation information.

Strengths

• Data is produced by NASA, an authoritative source for satellite Earth observation.
• Provides two key biophysical variables (LAI and FPAR) derived from the MODIS/Aqua sensor.
• Version 6.1 includes calibration improvements such as polarization correction and RVS changes.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing via the MODIS instrument aboard the Aqua spacecraft, with an algorithm selecting the best pixel from acquisitions within an 8-day period.

Time Range

null

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:50:00.098167; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global