MODIS/Terra NDVI Phenology annual L4 500m SIN Grid

Land surface phenology is distinct from the traditional definition of phenology. The traditional definition refers to specific life cycle events using in-situ observations of individual plants or species, while the land surface phenology observed from remote sensing is aggregated information at the spatial resolution of satellite sensors.

Currently, satellite sensors with a frequent repeat cycle provides synoptic information to study land surface phenology across the landscape. Both the temporal frequency of the data and the moderate spatial resolution make this sensor well suited for studying continental/global phenology related to the timing of vegetation cycles at seasonal and interannual time scales. The MODIS time series contain occasional lower quality data, gaps from persistent clouds, cloud contamination, and other gaps.