![Average Land Surface Temperature [Day]](/images/datasets/132x66/MOD_LSTD_CLIM_M.jpg)
![Average Land Surface Temperature [Night]](/images/datasets/132x66/MOD_LSTN_CLIM_M.jpg)
![Land Surface Temperature Anomaly [Day]](/images/datasets/132x66/MOD_LSTAD_M.jpg)
![Land Surface Temperature Anomaly [Night]](/images/datasets/132x66/MOD_LSTAN_M.jpg)
![Land Surface Temperature [Day]](/images/datasets/132x66/MOD_LSTD_M.jpg)
![Land Surface Temperature [Night]](/images/datasets/132x66/MOD_LSTN_M.jpg)
Vegetation Index [NDVI] (16 day - Terra/MODIS)
About this dataset
Our lives depend upon plants and trees. They feed us and give us clothes. They absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen we need to breathe. Plants even provide many of our medicines and building materials. So when the plants and trees around us change, these changes can affect our health, our environment, and our economy. For these reasons, and more, scientists monitor plant life around the world. Today, scientists use NASA satellites to map the "greenness" of all Earth's lands. These vegetation index maps show where and how much green leaf vegetation was growing for the time period shown.
What do the colors mean?
Dark green areas show where there was a lot of green leaf growth; light greens show where there was some green leaf growth; and tan areas show little or no growth. Black means "no data."
Related Websites
Further Reading
Spring Vegetation in North America
Measuring Vegetation
New Zealand Browned By Drought
Southeastern Australia Turns Green
Alaska's Vegetation is Changing Dramatically
ATBD (Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document)
Credits
Imagery produced by the NASA Earth Observations team using data provided by the MODIS Land Science Team.
Federal Geographic Data Committee Geospatial Metadata
View the FGDC Metatdata for Vegetation Index [NDVI] (16 day - Terra/MODIS)
