VIP30: Global Vegetation Indices from AVHRR and MODIS

Global monthly composites of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and modified Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI2) from 1981 to 2014. The dataset merges data from AVHRR sensors (1981-1999) and MODIS/Terra (2000-2014) at a 0.05-degree spatial resolution. It includes 12 Science Datasets per file, containing the calculated indices, quality assurance flags, input surface reflectance, and viewing geometry.

Use Cases

• Tracking seasonal vegetation phenology based on NDVI and EVI2 time series.
• Assessing long-term changes in global vegetation biophysical properties using a 30+ year record.
• Filling temporal data gaps in satellite records using long-term mean values indicated in the Pixel Reliability layer.
• Comparing vegetation response across sensor eras (AVHRR vs. MODIS) using harmonized indices.

Strengths

• Provides a consistent, multi-decade time series spanning over 30 years from 1981 to 2014.
• Integrates data from two major sensor families (AVHRR and MODIS) into a harmonized product.
• Includes gap-filling using long-term mean records, with fill status indicated in a quality layer.

Limitations

• Blue and Middle Infrared surface reflectance data are only available for the MODIS era (2000-2014), not the full time series.
• Metadata conflicts exist: one source lists a last update in 2026, while another indicates the data end in 2014, suggesting potential staleness.
• Specific column names and dataset size (rows, file size) are not provided in the available metadata.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) MEaSUREs program.

Collection Method

Created from AVHRR N07, N09, N11, N14 datasets and MODIS/Terra MOD09 surface reflectance data.

Time Range

1981 to 2014

Freshness

2026-04-09 (from one source, conflicting with another indicating 2014-12-31).

Geography

Global