Skip to main content

Description

The VNP13C2 VIIRS Version 1 data product was decommissioned on April 8th, 2025. Users are encouraged to use Version 2 data products, which provide better calibration and consistency for the end user. VIIRS Version 2 data products are available from both the SNPP (VNP13C2) and NOAA-20 (VJ113C2) satellites.

The NASA/NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Vegetation Indices (VNP13C2) Version 1 data product provides vegetation indices by a process of selecting the best available pixel over a monthly acquisition period at 0.05 degree (Deg) resolution. The VNP13 data products are designed after the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra and Aqua Vegetation Indices product suite to promote the continuity of the Earth Observation System (EOS) mission.

The VNP13 algorithm process produces three vegetation indices: The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), and the Enhanced Vegetation Index-2 (EVI2). NDVI is one of the longest continual remotely sensed time series observations, using both the red and near-infrared (NIR) bands. EVI is a slightly different vegetation index that is more sensitive to canopy cover, while NDVI is more sensitive to chlorophyll. EVI2 is a reformation of the standard 3-band EVI, using the red band and NIR band. This reformation addresses arising issues when comparing VIIRS EVI to other EVI models that do not include a blue band. EVI2 will eventually become the standard EVI.

Along with the three Vegetation Indices layers, this product also includes layers for the standard deviations of each Vegetation Index; NIR reflectance; three shortwave infrared (SWIR) reflectance; red, blue, and green reflectance; number of pixels, number of pixels used; pixel reliability; average sun angle, and a quality layer. Two low resolution browse images are also available for each VNP13C2 product: EVI and NDVI.

Known Issues

  • The incorrect representation of the aerosol quantities (low, average, high) in the VIIRS Land Surface Reflectance product (VNP09) may have impacted VNP13 Vegetation Index data products particularly over arid bright surfaces.
  • Corrections were implemented in 2023 with the release of the Version 2 Vegetation Index data products. Users are encouraged to use the improved Version 2 data.
  • For complete information about known issues please refer to the MODIS/VIIRS Land Quality Assessment website.

Product Summary

Platforms
Suomi-NPP
Instruments
VIIRS
Spatial Extent

N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180

Spatial Resolution
5600 Meters x 5600 Meters
Location
GLOBAL
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
CARTESIAN
Temporal Extent
2012-01-01 to 2024-04-30
Temporal Resolution
1 Month
Data Partner
Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC) ,
Land Science Investigator-led Processing System, Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory, Earth Sciences Division, Sciences and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA (NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/TISL/LandSIPS)
Concept ID
C2763377734-LPCLOUD
Data State
DEPRECATED
Number of Files/Granules
0
Processing Level
3
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Vegetation Index ,
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) ,
Plant Phenology

Citation

Citation is critically important for dataset documentation and discovery. This dataset is openly shared, without restriction, in accordance with the EOSDIS Data Use and Citation Guidance.

Copy Citation

Didan, K., & Barreto, A. (2018). VIIRS/NPP Vegetation Indices Monthly L3 Global 0.05Deg CMG V001 [Data set]. NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/VIIRS/VNP13C2.001 Date Accessed: 2026-02-13

File Naming Convention

VNP13C2.A2024092.001.2024131160146.h5

The file name begins with the Product Short Name (VNP13C2) followed by the Julian Date of Acquisition formatted as AYYYYDDD (A2024092), the Version of the data collection (001), the Julian Date and Time of Production designated as YYYYDDDHHMMSS (2024131160146), and the Data Format (h5).

Documents

Variables

The table below lists the variables contained within a single granule for this dataset. Variables often contain observed or derived geophysical measurements collected from a variety of sources, including remote sensing instruments on satellite and airborne platforms, field campaigns, in situ measurements, and model outputs. The terms variable, parameter, scientific data set, layer, and band have been used across NASA’s Earth science disciplines; however, variable is the designated nomenclature in NASA’s Common Metadata Repository (CMR). Variable metadata attributes such as Name, Description, Units, Data Type, Fill Value, Valid Range, and Scale Factor allow users to efficiently process and analyze the data. The full range of attributes may not be applicable to all variables. Additional information on variable attributes is typically available in the data, user guide, and/or other product documentation.

For questions on a specific variable, please use the Earthdata Forum.

Name Description Units Data Type Fill Value Valid Range Scale Factor
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly red reflectance Red band reflectance (600–680 nm) N/A int16 -1000 0 to 10000 10000
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly NIR reflectance Near-infrared Radiation reflectance (846–885 nm) N/A int16 -1000 0 to 10000 10000
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly #1km pix used Number of 1 km pixels used for monthly 0.05° (5,600 m) composite Number uint8 255 0 to 36 N/A
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly Avg sun zen angle Average sun zenith angle for each pixel Degree int16 -20000 0 to 18000 100
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly blue reflectance Blue band reflectance (478–498 nm) N/A int16 -1000 0 to 10000 10000
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly EVI 3 band Enhanced Vegetation Index EVI int16 -15000 -10000 to 10000 10000
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly EVI2 2 band Enhanced Vegetation Index EVI int16 -15000 -10000 to 10000 10000
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly EVI2 std dev Standard Deviation for the 2 band Enhanced Vegetation Index EVI2 int16 -15000 0 to 10000 10000
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly EVI std dev Standard Deviation for the 3 band Enhanced Vegetation Index EVI int16 -15000 0 to 10000 10000
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly green reflectance Green band reflectance (545–565 nm) N/A int16 -1000 0 to 10000 10000
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly NDVI Normalized Difference Vegetation Index NDVI int16 -15000 -10000 to 10000 10000
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly NDVI std dev Standard Deviation for the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index NDVI int16 -15000 0 to 10000 10000
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly pixel reliability Pixel usefulness using a simple rank class Rank int8 -4 0 to 11 N/A
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly SWIR1 reflectance Shortwave Infrared Radiation reflectance (1230–1250 nm) N/A int16 -1000 0 to 10000 10000
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly SWIR3 reflectance Shortwave Infrared Radiation reflectance (2225–2275 nm) N/A int16 -1000 0 to 10000 10000
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly VI Quality Bit field that assigns each pixel a Quality Assessment (QA) attribute Bit Field uint16 65535 0 to 65534 N/A
CMG 0.05 Deg monthly SWIR2 reflectance Shortwave Infrared Radiation reflectance (1580–1640 nm) N/A int16 -1000 0 to 10000 10000
You're viewing 17 of 17