MODIS/Aqua Vegetation Indices: 16-Day Global 1km Grid
Updated 2mo ago
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Description
MYD13A2 Version 6 is a decommissioned NASA MODIS/Aqua product providing global vegetation indices at 1-kilometer spatial resolution. It offers two primary vegetation layers: the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for continuity with NOAA-AVHRR data and the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) for improved sensitivity in high biomass regions. The dataset includes quality assurance layers, four surface reflectance bands (red, near-infrared, blue, mid-infrared), and four observation layers, with pixels selected based on low cloud cover, low view angle, and highest index value over a 16-day period.
Use Cases
Monitoring agricultural productivity and crop health based on NDVI/EVI time series.
Assessing vegetation biomass and greenness in forested regions using the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI).
Tracking seasonal phenology and drought impacts from the 16-day composite global imagery.
Performing continuity analysis with historical NOAA-AVHRR NDVI records.
Strengths
Provides two established vegetation indices (NDVI and EVI) with complementary sensitivities.
Includes multiple ancillary data layers such as surface reflectance bands and quality assurance flags.
Employs a pixel selection algorithm to provide the best available observation every 16 days.
Limitations
The dataset (Version 6) was officially decommissioned on July 31, 2023, with users directed to Version 6.1.
Known data quality issues include unexpected missing data in annual cycles, incorrect 'NoData' flags, spikes in NDVI values, and misassigned VI Usefulness bits.
Aerosol representation errors in Collection 6 surface reflectance products impacted index accuracy over arid, bright surfaces.
Provenance
Source
NASA/MODIS Aqua satellite, processed by LPCLOUD.
Collection Method
Satellite remote sensing, with pixels composited from all acquisitions over a 16-day period based on quality criteria.
Freshness
Last updated metadata indicates 2026-04-10, but the core product version is deprecated.
Geography
Global coverage at 1km spatial resolution in a sinusoidal grid projection.
This specific version (V006) is deprecated. Users are strongly encouraged to use the updated MYD13A2 Version 6.1 product. The license is listed as 'other-license-specified' but details are not provided in the input.