Global Vegetation Map from NOAA/GVI Data, 1985-1987

A global vegetation map derived from multi-temporal NOAA/Global Vegetation Index (GVI) data collected over a three-year period from 1985 to 1987. The dataset includes eight general vegetation types, classified using a methodology based on temporal analysis of monthly vegetation activity cycles, elevation, rainfall, and temperature data. It was created by Drs. Shunji Murai and Yoshiaki Honda of the University of Tokyo to provide a tool for monitoring global vegetation change.

Use Cases

• Classifying global land cover into eight vegetation types based on the described annual vegetation index cycles.
• Monitoring historical vegetation change, particularly for agricultural applications, as mentioned in the description.
• Analyzing the relationship between vegetation patterns and climatic factors like precipitation and temperature.
• Validating or comparing modern land cover products against a historical baseline from the late 1980s.

Strengths

• Provides a global spatial coverage with a nominal resolution of 12.7 km.
• Based on three years of satellite data (1985-1987), offering a multi-temporal perspective.
• Classification integrates satellite-derived vegetation indices with georeferenced elevation, rainfall, and temperature data.

Limitations

• Last updated 1990-10-01 23:59:59.999000; freshness should be verified.
• The description notes the methodology was experimental and details are limited, which may affect reproducibility.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.

Provenance

Source

Drs. Shunji Murai and Yoshiaki Honda, Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo; data delivered to GRID.

Collection Method

Derived from NOAA/GVI data using a minimum distance classification method based on vegetation index cycles and meteorological station data.

Time Range

1985 to 1987

Freshness

Last updated 1990-10-01 23:59:59.999000

Geography

Global