MODIS/Terra Vegetation Indices: Global 250m 16-Day Data

NASA's MOD13Q1 Version 6.1 dataset provides global vegetation indices from the Terra MODIS satellite. It offers two primary vegetation layers—Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI)—generated every 16 days at a 250-meter spatial resolution. The product also includes quality layers, four MODIS reflectance bands, and four observation layers within HDF files.

Use Cases

• Monitoring vegetation health and phenology based on NDVI and EVI time series.
• Assessing land cover change and biomass in high biomass regions using the EVI layer.
• Calibrating or validating other satellite-derived vegetation products using the provided reflectance bands.
• Conducting global or regional agricultural and drought monitoring based on 16-day composite imagery.

Strengths

• Provides a long-term continuity index via NDVI, linking to historical NOAA-AVHRR data.
• Offers improved sensitivity in high biomass regions through the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI).
• Employs a pixel-quality algorithm that selects the best available value based on low clouds, low view angle, and highest vegetation index value.
• Version 6.1 includes specific calibration corrections for Terra MODIS data from 2012 to 2017.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low; specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided across platforms.
• A license conflict exists: one source lists CC-BY-4.0, while another lists 'other-license-specified'.
• The dataset's update status is unclear; one source shows a 2026 date, which may be a placeholder or error.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing via the Terra MODIS instrument, processed into Level 3 gridded products.

Time Range

Covers at least the period 2012-2017 for which specific calibration corrections are noted.

Freshness

2026-04-10 19:56:33.632015 (from datagov, but may be a placeholder)

Geography

Global