Global Land Cover Maps at 0.05 Degree Resolution

Yearly global land cover maps are provided by NASA's MODIS instruments on Terra and Aqua satellites. The dataset includes three classification schemes (IGBP, UMD, LAI) and sub-pixel proportions for each class at a 0.05-degree spatial resolution. It is a spatially aggregated version of the MCD12Q1 product produced by LPCLOUD.

Use Cases

• Analyze global vegetation change over time using the yearly 'Majority Land Cover Type' layers.
• Validate coarse-resolution climate model outputs with the 'sub-pixel proportions' of each land cover class.
• Assess classification confidence for regional studies using the 'Majority Land Cover Type Assessment' layers.
• Compare different land classification systems (IGBP, UMD, LAI) for methodological research.

Strengths

• Provides three distinct land classification schemes (IGBP, UMD, LAI) for methodological flexibility.
• Includes sub-pixel proportion data for each 0.05-degree pixel, enabling fractional cover analysis.
• Offers aggregated quality assessment information for each classification scheme.

Limitations

• Spatial resolution is coarse (0.05 degrees, ~5.6 km), limiting analysis of fine-scale land cover patterns.
• Known issues exist, as documented in the User Guide and the MODIS/VIIRS Land Quality Assessment website, requiring user review.
• Data is provided in HDF4 format, which may require specialized libraries for access and processing.

Provenance

Source

NASA MODIS instruments on Terra and Aqua satellites.

Collection Method

Spatially aggregated and reprojected from the tiled MCD12Q1 Version 6.1 product.

Time Range

Yearly intervals.

Freshness

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Geography

Global coverage.