MODIS/Terra Vegetation Indices: Global 16-Day Composites
Updated 1mo ago
8filesBIN
Available on 2 platforms
Sign in to view source links and access this dataset
Description
This decommissioned dataset provided global, cloud-free vegetation indices every 16 days from 2000 to July 31, 2023. It contains two primary vegetation layers: the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) for continuity with historical NOAA data and the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) for improved sensitivity in high biomass regions. The data is projected on a 0.05-degree Climate Modeling Grid, with fields for VI quality assurance, reflectance, angular information, and spatial statistics.
Use Cases
Monitoring global vegetation health and phenology based on 16-day NDVI and EVI composites.
Assessing land cover change over time using the long-term, cloud-free spatial composites.
Validating and calibrating climate models with the 0.05-degree Climate Modeling Grid data.
Analyzing spatial statistics of vegetation, such as mean and standard deviation, at a global scale.
Strengths
Provides a long-term, consistent global record from 2000 to 2023, supporting time-series analysis.
Offers two complementary vegetation indices (NDVI and EVI) with documented improvements for high biomass sensitivity.
Data is provided on a standardized global grid of 3,600 by 7,200 pixels at 0.05-degree (5,600-meter) resolution.
Limitations
The dataset (Version 6) was officially decommissioned on July 31, 2023, and users are directed to use Version 6.1.
Known issues with aerosol representation in Collection 6 impacted data quality over arid, bright surfaces, though corrections were implemented in Collection 6.1.
Key metadata such as row count, specific columns, and precise temporal start date are not explicitly provided in the input sources.
Provenance
Source
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Collection Method
Satellite remote sensing from the MODIS instrument aboard the Terra spacecraft, processed into Level 3 gridded composites.
Time Range
2000 to 2023-07-31 (inferred from product lifecycle and decommission date)
Freshness
The dataset is not current; the last update noted is 2026-04-10, but it refers to a product decommissioned in 2023.
Geography
Global
This is the decommissioned MOD13C1 Version 6. Users are strongly encouraged to use the updated MOD13C1 Version 6.1 product. The license is specified as 'other-license-specified'.