NOAA-21 VIIRS: Global Mapped Normalized Difference Vegetation Index Data

VIIRS is a 22-band instrument on the JPSS series of polar-orbiting satellites, succeeding MODIS for Earth science data. The dataset provides Level-3 global mapped Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data, processed to version R2022.0. It is produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and was last updated in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Monitor global vegetation health and phenology based on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index.
• Model land cover change and agricultural productivity using multi-spectral data from 22 bands.
• Assimilate satellite-derived biosphere data into climate models based on global mapped coverage.
• Compare vegetation trends with predecessor MODIS data based on the VIIRS instrument's design.

Strengths

• Data originates from the VIIRS instrument, which has 22 spectral bands ranging from 412 nm to 12 nm.
• Includes 16 moderate-resolution bands (750m at nadir) and 5 image-resolution bands (375m) for detailed analysis.
• Provides a global mapped product, offering consistent spatial coverage for Earth science applications.

Limitations

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

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Data collected by the VIIRS instrument on the JPSS series of polar-orbiting satellites.

Time Range

null

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:14:12.821999; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global