VegScape

VegScape provides near-real-time vegetation index (VI) products for the Conterminous United States (CONUS) by deriving NDVI, VCI, MVCI, RMVCI, and RVCI from MODIS observations for vegetation monitoring and time-series analysis.

Key Features:

• Vegetation indices: Produces NDVI, Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), Mean-referenced VCI (MVCI), Ratio to Median VCI (RMVCI), and Ratio to previous‑year VCI (RVCI).
• Data source: Uses NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) imagery obtained via the Land, Atmosphere Near-real-time Capability for EOS (LANCE) repository.
• Near-real-time latency: Generates VI products with approximately 24-hour latency post-observation.
• Temporal extent: Leverages over two decades of continuous MODIS observations for long-term geospatial time series and change detection.
• Spatial scope: Focused on coverage of the Conterminous United States (CONUS).

Scientific Applications:

• Agricultural monitoring: Enables assessment of crop health and productivity through timely VI time series.
• Natural resource conservation: Supports monitoring of vegetation condition relevant to conservation planning and management.
• Environmental modeling: Provides up-to-date vegetation inputs for models requiring temporal vegetation information.
• Earth system science: Facilitates studies of land‑cover change, ecosystem dynamics, and climate‑vegetation interactions.

Methodology:

Derives vegetation indices from MODIS imagery acquired through NASA LANCE to produce near‑real‑time VI products (≈24‑hour latency) and incorporates a multi‑decadal MODIS observation record across CONUS.