VIIRS/NPP Vegetation Indices: Global 16-Day Composite

The dataset provides global vegetation indices from the Suomi NPP satellite's VIIRS sensor, composited over 16-day periods at a 1-kilometer resolution. It includes three key indices: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), and Enhanced Vegetation Index-2 (EVI2), alongside reflectance data and ancillary layers. This Version 1 product was decommissioned on April 8, 2025, and users are directed to use Version 2 for better calibration and consistency.

Use Cases

• Monitoring agricultural productivity and crop health based on NDVI and EVI layers.
• Analyzing global vegetation phenology and seasonal changes using the 16-day composite time series.
• Assessing canopy cover and chlorophyll content in forests by comparing EVI and NDVI sensitivities.
• Calibrating or comparing vegetation models using the included reflectance data from NIR, SWIR, and visible bands.

Strengths

• Provides continuity with the legacy MODIS vegetation indices product suite, supporting long-term Earth Observation System missions.
• Includes three distinct vegetation indices (NDVI, EVI, EVI2) designed for specific sensitivities to canopy cover and chlorophyll.
• Offers global coverage at a consistent 1-kilometer spatial resolution.

Limitations

• The dataset is deprecated; Version 1 was decommissioned on April 8, 2025, limiting its current utility.
• Metadata for columns, size, rows, and specific license is incomplete or conflicting across sources.
• Ancillary data layers (e.g., reflectance, angles) are described but their exact format and accessibility are unclear.

Provenance

Source

NASA/NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS)

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing, with pixels selected from a 16-day acquisition period.

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:11:50.644910

Geography

Global