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Description

The MCD15A2H Version 6.1 Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Level 4 combined Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FPAR) product is an 8-day composite dataset with 500 meter pixel size. The algorithm chooses the best pixel available from all the acquisitions of both MODIS sensors located on NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites from within the 8-day period.

LAI is defined as the one-sided green leaf area per unit ground area in broadleaf canopies and as one-half the total needle surface area per unit ground area in coniferous canopies. FPAR is defined as the fraction of incident photosynthetically active radiation (400-700 nm) absorbed by the green elements of a vegetation canopy.

Known Issues

Version Description

The following changes and improvements were implemented for inputs to MODIS Version 6.1 LAI/FPAR data products: (1) 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, and (2) A polarization correction has been applied to the L1B Reflective Solar Bands (RSB).

Product Summary

Platforms
Terra ,
Aqua
Instruments
MODIS
Spatial Extent

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

Spatial Resolution
500 Meters x 500 Meters
Spatial Reference System(s)
MODIS Sinusoidal Tiling System
Location
GLOBAL
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
GEODETIC
Temporal Extent
2002-07-04 to Present
Temporal Resolution
8 Day
Data Partner
Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC) ,
MODIS Adaptive Processing System, Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA (NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/TISL/MODAPS)
Concept ID
C2222147000-LPCLOUD
Data State
ACTIVE
Number of Files/Granules
314676
Processing Level
4
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Photosynthetically Active Radiation ,
Leaf Area Index (LAI) ,
Leaf Characteristics ,
Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar)

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

Myneni, R., Knyazikhin, Y., & Park, T. (2021). MODIS/Terra+Aqua Leaf Area Index/FPAR 8-Day L4 Global 500m SIN Grid V061 [Data set]. NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MCD15A2H.061 Date Accessed: 2026-05-17

File Naming Convention

MCD15A2H.A2025209.h23v11.061.2025218033337.hdf

The file name begins with the Product Short Name (MCD15A2H) followed by the Julian Date of Acquisition formatted as AYYYYDDD (A2025209), the Tile Identifier which is horizontal tile and vertical tile provided as hXXvYY (h23v11), the Version of the data collection (061), the Julian Date and Time of Production designated as YYYYDDDHHMMSS (2025218033337), and the Data Format (hdf).

Documents

USER'S GUIDE

ALGORITHM THEORETICAL BASIS DOCUMENT (ATBD)

PRODUCT QUALITY ASSESSMENT

SCIENCE DATA PRODUCT VALIDATION

GENERAL DOCUMENTATION

Publications Citing This Dataset

Filters
Title Year Author Topic
A novel framework for multiple thermokarst hazards risk assessment and controlling environmental factors analysis on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Lou, Peiqing, Wu, Tonghua, Yin, Guoan, Chen, Jie, Zhu, Xiaofan, Wu, Xiaodong, Li, Ren, Yang, Sizhong Land Use/Land Cover Classification, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Photosynthesis, Primary Production, Vegetation Productivity, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Leaf Characteristics, Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), RADAR IMAGERY, Terrain Elevation, Topographical Relief Maps, Digital Elevation/Terrain Model (DEM)
A novel hybrid modelling framework for GPP estimation: Integrating a multispectral surface reflectance based Vcmax25 simulator into the process-based model Hu, Xiaolong, Shi, Liangsheng, Lin, Lin, Li, Shenji, Deng, Xianzhi, Li, Li, Bian, Jiang, Lian, Xie Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Reflectance, Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
A Comparative Analysis of Remote Sensing Soil Moisture Data-sets Fusion Methods: Novel LSTM Approach versus Widely-Used Triple Collocation Technique Zhao, Haojin, Montzka, Carsten, Vereecken, Harry, Franssen, Harrie-Jan Hendricks Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
A cost-effective method to map mangrove forest extent, composition, and condition in small islands based on Sentinel-2 data: Implications for management Casal, Gema, Tregarot, Ewan, Cornet, Cindy C., McCarthy, Tim, van der Geest, Matthijs Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
Glaciers determine the sensitivity of hydrological processes to perturbed climate in a large mountainous basin on the Tibetan Plateau Nan, Yi, Tian, Fuqiang Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI)
Forecasting dead fuel moisture content below forest canopies - A Lyell, Christopher Sean, Nattala, Usha, Keeble, Thomas, Vella, Elena M., Joshi, Rakesh Chandra, Joukhadar, Zaher, Garber, Jonathan, Mutch, Simon J, Gazzard, Tim, Duff, Tom, Sheridan, Gary Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
Exceptions to the Heterotrophic Rule: Prevalence and Drivers of Carter, Alice M., Lowman, Heili E., Blaszczak, Joanna R., Barbosa, Carolina C., DeSiervo, Melissa, Torrens, Christa L., Dunkle, Matthew R., Collins, Sarah M., Oleksy, Isabella, Katona, Leon R., Hall, Robert O. Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Photosynthesis, Primary Production, Vegetation Productivity
High Resolution (30 m) Burned Area Product Improves the Ability for Qi, Baoye, Zhang, Zhaoming, Long, Tengfei, He, Guojin, Wang, Guizhou, Peng, Yan, Xu, Zekun Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Land Use/Land Cover Classification, Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
Assessment of Landscape-Scale Fluxes of Carbon Dioxide and Methane in Delaria, Erin R., Wolfe, Glenn M., Blanock, Kaitlyn, Hannun, Reem, Thornhill, Kenneth Lee, Newman, Paul A., Lait, Leslie R., Kawa, S. Randy, Alvarez, Jessica, Blum, Spencer, CastanedaMoya, Edward, Holmes, Christopher, Lagomasino, David, Malone, Sparkle, Murphy, Dylan, Overbauer, Steven F., Pruett, Chandler, Serre, Aaron, Starr, Gregory, Szot, Robert, Troxler, Tiffany, Yannick, David, Poulter, Benjamin Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Canopy Characteristics, Vegetation Cover, Digital Elevation/Terrain Model (DEM), VIEWING GEOMETRY, Terrain Elevation, Lidar, Topography, Vegetation Height, Terrestrial Ecosystems, LIDAR WAVEFORM, Biomass, Brightness Temperature, Surface Soil Moisture
Carbon and Energy Balance in a Primary Amazonian Forest and Its Alves, Mailson P., da Silva, Rommel B. C., Silva, Claudio M. Santos e, Bezerra, Bergson G., Rego Mendes, Keila, Marinho, Larice A., Barbosa, Melahel L., Nunes, Hildo Giuseppe Garcia Caldas, Dos Santos, Jose Guilherme Martins, Neves, Theomar Trindade de Araujo Tiburtino, Santana, Raoni A., Peres, Lucas Vaz, da Silva, Alex Santos, Oliveira, Petia, Moutinho, Victor Hugo Pereira, Machado, Wilderclay B., Reis, Iolanda M. S., Seruffo, Marcos Cesar da Rocha, Gaspar, Avner Brasileiro dos Santos, Pereira, Waldeir, Brito-Costa, Gabriel Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
Boreal Forest Fire Causes Daytime Surface Warming During Summer to Helbig, M., Daw, L., Iwata, H., Rudaitis, L., Ueyama, M., Zivkovic, T. Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
Burn Severity and Post-Fire Weather Are Key to Predicting Rifai, Sami W., De Kauwe, Martin G., Gallagher, Rachael V., Cernusak, Lucas A., Meir, Patrick, Pitman, Andy J. Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Reflectance, Anisotropy, Fire Ecology, Biomass Burning, Wildfires, Fire Occurrence, Burned Area
Canopy structure regulates autumn phenology by mediating the microclimate in temperate forests Wu, Xiaoyong, Niu, Chunyue, Liu, Xiaoqiang, Hu, Tianyu, Feng, Yuhao, Zhao, Yingyi, Liu, Shuwen, Liu, Zhonghua, Dai, Guanhua, Zhang, Yao, Van Meerbeek, Koenraad, Wu, Jin, Liu, Lingli, Guo, Qinghua, Su, Yanjun Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Land Use/Land Cover Classification, Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Plant Phenology, Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI)
Asymmetric effects of diurnal warming on carbon allocation to leaves of marsh wetlands on the Tibetan Plateau Wu, Liyuan, Shen, Xiangjin, Lu, Xianguo, Jiang, Ming Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
Assimilation of carbonyl sulfide (COS) fluxes within the adjoint-based data assimilation systemNanjing University Carbon Assimilation System (NUCAS v1. 0) Zhu, Huajie, Wu, Mousong, Jiang, Fei, Vossbeck, Michael, Kaminski, Thomas, Xing, Xiuli, Wang, Jun, Ju, Weimin, Chen, Jing M. Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
Coherence of recurring fires and land use change in South America Ren, Shulin, Xu, Xiyan, Jia, Gensuo, Huang, Anqi, Ma, Wei Fire Ecology, Biomass Burning, Wildfires, Fire Occurrence, Burned Area, Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Land Use/Land Cover Classification, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Leaf Characteristics
Comparing Aggregated and Separate Models for Crowd Density Forecasting Sardinha, Iohan, Rocha, Ana Paula, Rossetti, Rosaldo J. F. Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Terrain Elevation, RADAR IMAGERY, Topographical Relief Maps
Long-term drought effects on landscape water storage and recovery under contrasting landuses Luo, Shuxin, Tetzlaff, Doerthe, Smith, Aaron, Soulsby, Chris Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Evapotranspiration, Latent Heat Flux
Leveraging browse and grazing forage estimates to optimize index-based livestock insurance Kahiu, Njoki, Anchang, J., Alulu, V., Fava, F. P., Jensen, N., Hanan, N. P. Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Biomass, Deserts, Shrubland/Scrub, Carbon, Canopy Characteristics, Leaf Area Index (LAI)
Isotope data-constrained hydrological model improves soil moisture simulation and runoff source apportionment Nan, Yi, Tian, Fuqiang Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI)
LamaH-Ice: LArge-SaMple DAta for Hydrology and Environmental Sciences for Iceland Helgason, Hordur Bragi, Nijssen, Bart Stratigraphic Sequence, Digital Elevation/Terrain Model (DEM), Soil Depth, Sediments, Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Reflectance, Land Use/Land Cover Classification
L-band microwave-retrieved fuel temperature predicts Lee, Ju Hyoung, Veraverbeke, Sander, Rogers, Brendan, Kerr, Yann H. Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
Modelling vegetation dynamics for future climates in Australian catchments: Comparison of a conceptual eco-hydrological modelling approach with a deep learning alternative Zou, Hui, Marshall, Lucy, Sharma, Ashish, Jian, Jie, Stephens, Clare, Higgins, Philippa Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
Modified Multiple Spectrum-based Vegetation Index (MMSVI): A reflectance index with high spatio-temporal generalization ability Jiao, Zhijun, Zhang, Zhimei, Zhang, Aizhu, Sun, Genyun, Wu, Lixin Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar)
Modeling present and future flows in a tailings pile at the former Le LHermite, Pierre, Jost, Anne, Plagnes, Valerie, Wang, Yifan, Blanc-Potard, Isabelle, Regnier, Damien, Descostes, Michael Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
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