Description
The Terra and Aqua combined Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Land Cover Dynamics (MCD12Q2) Version 6.1 data product provides global land surface phenology metrics at yearly intervals from 2001 to 2021. The MCD12Q2 Version 6.1 data product is derived from time series of the 2-band Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI2) calculated from MODIS Nadir Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF)-Adjusted Reflectance (NBAR). Vegetation phenology metrics at 500 meter spatial resolution are identified for up to two detected growing cycles per year. For pixels with more than two valid vegetation cycles, the data represent the two cycles with the largest NBAR-EVI2 amplitudes.
Provided in each MCD12Q2 Version 6.1 Hierarchical Data Format 4 (HDF4) file are layers for the total number of vegetation cycles detected for the product year, the onset of greenness, greenup midpoint, maturity, peak greenness, senescence, greendown midpoint, dormancy, EVI2 minimum, EVI2 amplitude, integrated EVI2 over a vegetation cycle, as well as overall and phenology metric-specific quality information. SDS layers may be multi-dimensional with up to two valid vegetation cycles.
For areas where the NBAR-EVI2 values are missing due to cloud cover or other reasons, the data gaps are filled with good quality NBAR-EVI2 values from the year directly preceding or following the product year.
Validation accuracy (https://landweb.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/QA_WWW/newPage.cgi?fileName=maturity) is currently still being evaluated, and a validation statement for this product will be forthcoming once the evaluation is complete.
Improvements/Changes from Previous Versions
- The Version 6.1 Level-1B (L1B) products have been improved by undergoing various calibration changes that include: changes to the response-versus-scan angle (RVS) approach that affects reflectance bands for Aqua and Terra MODIS, corrections to adjust for the optical crosstalk in Terra MODIS infrared (IR) bands, and corrections to the Terra MODIS forward look-up table (LUT) update for the period 2012 - 2017.
- A polarization correction has been applied to the L1B Reflective Solar Bands (RSB).
- The MCD12Q2 Version 6.1 product has an improved approach to snow filtering.
Resources
| Name | Format | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Download this dataset | HTML | The Application for Extracting and Exploring Analysis Ready Samples (AρρEEARS) offers a simple and efficient way to perform data access and transformation processes. | Open resource |
| Get a related visualization | HTML | Browse image for earthdata search | Open resource |
| This dataset's landing page | HTML | The LP DAAC product page provides information on Science Data Set layers and links for user guides, ATBDs, data access, tools, customer support, etc. | Open resource |
| Download this dataset | HDF | LP DAAC Data Pool provides direct access to available products via HTTPS. | Open resource |
| View documentation related to this dataset | HTML | The File Specification provides a description of the product file including Scientific Data Sets and their attributes. | Open resource |
| The dataset's project home page | HTML | The LP DAAC website provides detailed information on discovery, distribution, access, and support of land data products. | Open resource |
| View this dataset's user's guide | The technical information in the User's Guide enables users to interpret and use the data products. | Open resource | |
| View this dataset's algorithm theoretical basis document | The ATBD provides physical theory and mathematical procedures for the calculations used to produce the data products. | Open resource | |
| View this dataset's science data product validation documentation | HTML | The MCD12Q2 product is currently still being evaluated, and a validation statement for this product will be forthcoming once the evaluation is complete. | Open resource |
| View this dataset's science data product validation documentation | HTML | Further details regarding MODIS land product validation for the MCD12 data products are available from the MODIS Land Team Validation site. | Open resource |
| Use OPeNDAP to access the dataset's data | HTML | OPeNDAP provides direct access to data via HTTPS. | Open resource |
| Google Scholar search results | HTML | Search results for publications that cite this dataset by its DOI. | Open resource |
| Download this dataset | HDF | Earthdata Search allows users to search, discover, visualize, refine, and access NASA Earth Observation data. | Open resource |