USGS EROS Archive - Vegetation Monitoring - EROS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (eMODIS)
The EROS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (eMODIS) collection is based on the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data acquired by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Earth Observing System (EOS).
Note: The eMODIS datasets are no longer being produced after October 1st, 2022. These datasets will remain available for historic reference only. Users of this product should start using the comparable eVIIRS NDVI, and eVIIRS Global LST products.
The MODIS NDVI V6 collection uses the AQUA MODIS sensor only, the TERRA MODIS sensor is not included. We are now posting historical and expedited eMODIS composites built from Collection 6 surface reflectance data.
As a warning to users, we have noted a problem with the NDVI where occasional high NDVI spikes appear that were not present in the Collection 5 NDVI. The high NDVI spikes have been traced back to processing of daily level 2 Collection 6 surface reflectance where a minimum blue band correction leads to selecting an observation with very low red reflectance that then magnifies the NDVI. Our eMODIS code selects for high NDVI values during a composite period.
Moderate resolution remote sensing provides a means for operational monitoring communities to develop historical trend information and use near real-time deviations from temporal averages to identify areas of change. High quality, consistent and well-calibrated satellite measurements are needed to detect and monitor changes and trends, especially in vegetation patterns useful for drought, crop yield, phenology and fire potential studies.
The eMODIS collection is based on the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data acquired by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Earth Observing System (EOS). Even though MODIS data are beneficial in vegetation studies, there have been usability issues encountered with the reprojection, file format and subsetting. Therefore, eMODIS was developed to specifically address these issues.
The eMODIS suite of products includes either 7- or 10-day data composited data sets. Expedited (near real-time) production runs daily for the 7-day continental U.S. products and every five days for the 10-day products in other areas using the last interval of input. There is no expedited production over Alaska. Each data set delivers acquisition, quality and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) information at 250-meter (m) spatial resolution. Because each of the composites are created from a varying number of images, the eMODIS composites include acquisition files to identify which of the possible inputs were used to populate the final composite. The metadata accompanying the data files summarize geographic bounds, projection parameters and product contact information.
eMODIS currently produces NDVI and reflectance over the continental U.S., Alaska and Central America/Caribbean and Mexico while Africa and Central Asia production contain NDVI only.
Digital Products
The products are generated for Aqua MODIS over all areas including continental U.S. and Alaska and are projected to a regionally specific mapping grid and delivered in a compressed (zipped) GeoTIFF format.
Coverage Maps
Coverage Maps indicating the availability of eMODIS NDVI products are available for download.
Additional Information
- eMODIS Open File Report
- Land Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for Earth Observing System (EOS) (LANCE)
- Level 1 and Atmosphere Archive and Distribution System (LAADS)
- Land Validation
- Remote Sensing Phenology
- MODIS
- Terra
- Aqua
Access Data
EarthExplorer can be used to search, preview, and download eMODIS scenes. The collection is located under the Vegetation Monitoring category.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Below are other science projects associated with this product.
USGS EROS Archive - Vegetation Monitoring - eMODIS Remote Sensing Phenology
USGS EROS Archive - AVHRR Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) Composites
The EROS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (eMODIS) collection is based on the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data acquired by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Earth Observing System (EOS).
Note: The eMODIS datasets are no longer being produced after October 1st, 2022. These datasets will remain available for historic reference only. Users of this product should start using the comparable eVIIRS NDVI, and eVIIRS Global LST products.
The MODIS NDVI V6 collection uses the AQUA MODIS sensor only, the TERRA MODIS sensor is not included. We are now posting historical and expedited eMODIS composites built from Collection 6 surface reflectance data.
As a warning to users, we have noted a problem with the NDVI where occasional high NDVI spikes appear that were not present in the Collection 5 NDVI. The high NDVI spikes have been traced back to processing of daily level 2 Collection 6 surface reflectance where a minimum blue band correction leads to selecting an observation with very low red reflectance that then magnifies the NDVI. Our eMODIS code selects for high NDVI values during a composite period.
Moderate resolution remote sensing provides a means for operational monitoring communities to develop historical trend information and use near real-time deviations from temporal averages to identify areas of change. High quality, consistent and well-calibrated satellite measurements are needed to detect and monitor changes and trends, especially in vegetation patterns useful for drought, crop yield, phenology and fire potential studies.
The eMODIS collection is based on the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data acquired by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Earth Observing System (EOS). Even though MODIS data are beneficial in vegetation studies, there have been usability issues encountered with the reprojection, file format and subsetting. Therefore, eMODIS was developed to specifically address these issues.
The eMODIS suite of products includes either 7- or 10-day data composited data sets. Expedited (near real-time) production runs daily for the 7-day continental U.S. products and every five days for the 10-day products in other areas using the last interval of input. There is no expedited production over Alaska. Each data set delivers acquisition, quality and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) information at 250-meter (m) spatial resolution. Because each of the composites are created from a varying number of images, the eMODIS composites include acquisition files to identify which of the possible inputs were used to populate the final composite. The metadata accompanying the data files summarize geographic bounds, projection parameters and product contact information.
eMODIS currently produces NDVI and reflectance over the continental U.S., Alaska and Central America/Caribbean and Mexico while Africa and Central Asia production contain NDVI only.
Digital Products
The products are generated for Aqua MODIS over all areas including continental U.S. and Alaska and are projected to a regionally specific mapping grid and delivered in a compressed (zipped) GeoTIFF format.
Coverage Maps
Coverage Maps indicating the availability of eMODIS NDVI products are available for download.
Additional Information
- eMODIS Open File Report
- Land Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for Earth Observing System (EOS) (LANCE)
- Level 1 and Atmosphere Archive and Distribution System (LAADS)
- Land Validation
- Remote Sensing Phenology
- MODIS
- Terra
- Aqua
Access Data
EarthExplorer can be used to search, preview, and download eMODIS scenes. The collection is located under the Vegetation Monitoring category.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Below are other science projects associated with this product.