MODIS/Aqua Vegetation Indices: 16-Day Global 1km Satellite Data

The MODIS/Aqua Vegetation Indices 16-Day L3 Global 1km SIN Grid V061 product provides global vegetation index values at a 1-kilometer spatial resolution. It is produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and includes two primary vegetation layers: the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), along with reflectance bands and quality assurance layers. The algorithm selects the best available pixel from all acquisitions within a 16-day period based on low clouds, low view angle, and the highest NDVI/EVI value.

Use Cases

• Monitor global vegetation health and phenology based on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) layers.
• Assess biomass changes in high biomass regions using the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), which has improved sensitivity for such areas.
• Perform land cover and land use change analysis using the provided reflectance bands (red, near-infrared, blue, mid-infrared).
• Quality control and filtering of satellite observations using the included quality assurance (QA) layers.

Strengths

• Provides two established vegetation indices (NDVI and EVI) at a consistent 1-kilometer spatial resolution.
• Includes four reflectance bands and four observation layers alongside the primary vegetation data.
• The algorithm employs a compositing method that selects the best pixel from a 16-day period based on low clouds, low view angle, and highest vegetation index value.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Known issues exist; users are directed to an external website for complete information.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data from the Aqua MODIS instrument, processed with a specific pixel selection algorithm.

Time Range

Temporal coverage is not explicitly stated in the provided input.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 00:19:04.206061; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global coverage at a 1km spatial resolution using a sinusoidal (SIN) grid projection.