MODIS/Aqua Vegetation Indices: 16-Day Global 500m Grid

The MODIS/Aqua MYD13A1 Version 6.1 product provides two primary vegetation layers—Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI)—at a 500-meter spatial resolution on a global scale. It is produced by NASA's Aqua satellite, with the algorithm selecting the best pixel value from a 16-day period based on low clouds, low view angle, and the highest NDVI/EVI value. The dataset also includes four reflectance bands and quality assurance layers, with the last update recorded on March 12, 2026.

Use Cases

• Monitor global vegetation health and phenology based on the 16-day NDVI and EVI layers.
• Assess biomass changes in high-density regions using the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) mentioned for improved sensitivity.
• Perform time-series analysis of land surface reflectance using the provided red, near-infrared, blue, and mid-infrared bands.
• Filter and quality-check satellite observations using the included quality assurance (QA) layers.

Strengths

• Provides two core vegetation indices (NDVI and EVI) at a consistent 500-meter spatial resolution.
• Includes four spectral reflectance bands and quality assurance layers for data validation.
• Version 6.1 incorporates calibration improvements, including polarization correction for reflective solar bands.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and total dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing from the Aqua MODIS instrument, with pixel selection based on low clouds, low view angle, and highest vegetation index value over a 16-day period.

Time Range

null

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:45:58.857801; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global