This dataset contains information from global Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) vegetation indices, which are designed to provide consistent spatial and temporal comparisons of vegetation conditions. Gridded vegetation index maps depicting spatial and temporal variations in vegetation activity are derived at 16-day and monthly intervals in support of accurate seasonal and inter-annual monitoring of the Earth’s terrestrial vegetation.

There are two primary vegetation layers: the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which is referred to as the continuity index to the existing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (NOAA-AVHRR) derived NDVI; and the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), which has improved sensitivity over high biomass regions.

Files use the following naming convention: MOD13C2.AYYYYDDD.CCC.YYYYDDDHHMMSS.hdf, where AYYYYDDD = Acquisition Year and Day of Year, CCC = Collection number, and YYYYDDDHHMMSS = Production Date and Time.