VIP07 Vegetation Indices: Global 30-Year NDVI and EVI2 Time Series

1981 to 2014, this dataset provides a consistent, multi-sensor record of vegetation indices for global land surface analysis. It combines AVHRR data from 1981-1999 with MODIS data from 2000-2014, producing 7-day composites at a 0.05-degree spatial resolution. The product includes NDVI and EVI2 indices, quality assurance flags, surface reflectance inputs, and viewing geometry across 12 science datasets.

Use Cases

• Tracking seasonal vegetation life cycles (phenology) based on NDVI and EVI2 time series.
• Assessing biophysical properties of the land surface using Visible/Near Infrared (VNIR) reflectance data.
• Monitoring long-term environmental changes and biotic responses using a gap-filled 30-year record.
• Validating or calibrating other vegetation models with pixel reliability and quality assurance flags.
• Analyzing spatial patterns of vegetation health at a global 5600-meter resolution.

Strengths

• Provides a continuous, harmonized time series spanning over 30 years (1981-2014).
• Contains 12 science datasets, including two key vegetation indices (NDVI, EVI2), quality assurance, reflectance data, and viewing geometry.
• Gaps in daily data are filled using long-term mean records, indicated in the Pixel Reliability SDS.
• Cross-platform presence (Data.gov, NASA Earthdata) signals its importance and official provenance.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is medium; specific column names and dataset size/row counts are not provided.
• Blue and Middle Infrared (MIR) surface reflectance data are only available for the MODIS era (2000-2014).
• There is a conflict in reported last updated dates: one source lists 2026-04-09, another lists 2014-12-31.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) MEaSUREs program.

Collection Method

Created using Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)/Terra MOD09 surface reflectance data.

Time Range

1981 - 2014

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:19:12.952006 (from Data.gov, though this date may be anomalous)

Geography

Global