MODIS NDVI: Smoothed Vegetation Index for the Conterminous US

2000-01-01 through 2015-12-31 of smoothed, gap-filled Normalized Difference Vegetation Index data covers the conterminous United States. The data streams are derived from NASA's Terra and Aqua satellite MODIS instruments using the Stennis Time Series Product Tool, which reduces cloud and bad pixel effects. This processed time series supports analysis of vegetation dynamics and plant phenology over a 16-year period.

Use Cases

• Tracking plant phenology and growing seasons based on smoothed NDVI time series.
• Monitoring vegetation health and drought impacts across the conterminous US.
• Calibrating ecological models using cloud-reduced satellite-derived vegetation indices.
• Analyzing long-term land cover change from 2000 to 2015.

Strengths

• Covers a 16-year time range (2000-2015) for longitudinal analysis.
• Data is processed to be less affected by clouds and bad pixels, improving usability.
• Combines observations from two satellite platforms (Terra MOD13Q1 and Aqua MYD13Q1).

Limitations

• Column names and data structure are unspecified across all sources, hindering precise technical understanding.
• Conflicting 'last updated' metadata (2026 vs 2015) creates uncertainty about data currency.
• Data ends in 2015, limiting analysis of recent vegetation trends.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Generated using the NASA Stennis Time Series Product Tool (TSPT) from MODIS MOD13Q1 and MYD13Q1 products.

Time Range

2000-01-01 to 2015-12-31

Freshness

Last updated dates conflict: one source reports 2026-04-10, another reports 2015-12-31.

Geography

Conterminous United States