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Description

The MOD15A2H Version 6.1 Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) combined Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FPAR) product is an 8-day composite dataset with 500 meter (m) pixel size. The algorithm chooses the “best” pixel available from all the acquisitions of the Terra sensor 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 nanometers (nm), absorbed by the green elements of a vegetation canopy.

Science Datasets (SDSs) in the Level 4 (L4) MOD15A2H product include LAI, FPAR, two quality layers, and standard deviation for LAI and FPAR. Two low resolution browse images, LAI and FPAR, are also available for each MOD15A2H granule.

Known Issues

Version Description

The following changes and improvements were implemented for inputs to the MODIS Version 6.1 LAI/FPAR data product: (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
Instruments
MODIS
Projects
TERRA
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
2000-02-18 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
C2218777082-LPCLOUD
Data State
ACTIVE
Number of Files/Granules
346968
Processing Level
4
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Leaf Area Index (LAI) ,
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 Leaf Area Index/FPAR 8-Day L4 Global 500m SIN Grid V061 [Dataset]. NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MOD15A2H.061 Date Accessed: 2026-07-02

File Naming Convention

MOD15A2H.A2025209.h35v09.061.2025218040352.hdf

The file name begins with the Product Short Name (MOD15A2H) followed by the Julian Date of Acquisition formatted as AYYYYDDD (A2025209), the Tile Identifier which is horizontal tile and vertical tile provided as hXXvYY (h35v09), the Version of the data collection (061), the Julian Date and Time of Production designated as YYYYDDDHHMMSS (2025218040352), 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
Prediction of gully erosion susceptibility through the lens of the Han, Jeongho, Guzman, Jorge A., Chu, Maria L. Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
Observed decoupling of vegetation greenness and productivity despite regional coupling patterns across the Tibetan Plateau Lv, Jinxia, Zhao, Wenwu Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Photosynthesis, Primary Production, Vegetation Productivity, RADAR IMAGERY, Terrain Elevation, Topographical Relief Maps, Digital Elevation/Terrain Model (DEM)
Seasonal variation in the dependence of avian order composition on vegetation characteristics: A case study from Heilongjiang Province, northernmost China Cai, Jiaqi, Ding, Chenyang, An, Qi, He, Yu Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI)
Spatiotemporal dynamics and driving mechanisms of grassland biomass in Wang, Shuai, Ma, Xinshan, Yue, Yan, Zhou, Tao, Yang, Zhihan, Laffitte, Benjamin, Fu, Songyu, Tang, Xiaolu Evapotranspiration, Photosynthesis, Primary Production, Latent Heat Flux, Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Land Surface Temperature, Emissivity
The impact of different watersalt gradients on the health and growth of Populus euphratica in the oases of the Taklamakan Desert's interior Li, Dinghao, Liu, Yulong, Wan, Yanbo, Shi, Qingdong Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Photosynthesis, Primary Production, Vegetation Productivity
The 2020 Heatwave Led to a Larger Enhancement in Annual Gross Primary Park, SungBin, Park, ChangEui, Kim, JinSoo, Xiao, Jingfeng, Song, EunJi, So, Damwon, Park, Sang Seo Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Photosynthesis, Primary Production, Vegetation Productivity
Strengthening Coupling Between Vegetation and Soil-Atmosphere Compound Wu, Rong, Wang, Zijun, Meng, Fangxiu, Liu, Yangyang, Shi, Haiyun Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Surface Pressure, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Surface Temperature, Humidity, Evapotranspiration, Surface Winds, Rain, Precipitation Rate, Snow, Soil Moisture/Water Content, Soil Temperature, Land Surface Temperature, Snow Water Equivalent, Runoff
Spatiotemporal variability in drivers of grassland degradation and Li, Ting, Li, Sha, Li, Pengfei, Huang, Jing, Wang, Juanle, Ochir, Altansukh, Yang, Meihuan, Wang, Tao, Shun Chan, Faith Ka Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Area Index (LAI), Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Land Surface Temperature, Emissivity, Nitrogen Dioxide, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthesis, Primary Production, Vegetation Productivity
Spatiotemporal variation and driving effects of evapotranspiration in Tang, Hengrui, Xue, Yayong, Lou, Xingchi, Ye, Entong, Xiang, Yang, Liang, Haibin Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Evapotranspiration, Latent Heat Flux
Seasonal agricultural irrigation water deficit in northern China: pattern, trend and causality Li, Xiaojie, Zhang, Yongqiang, Tian, Jing, Zhang, Xuanze, Ma, Ning Reflectance, Albedo, Anisotropy, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Leaf Characteristics, Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Land Surface Temperature, Emissivity
Seasonal and interannual variations of soil heterotrophic respiration and autotrophic respiration in subtropical forests of southeast China: independent process-based ... Yan, Yibo, Wang, Xiujun, Wohlfahrt, Georg, Huang, Ni Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Leaf Characteristics, Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Land Surface Temperature, Emissivity, Photosynthesis, Primary Production, Vegetation Productivity
Shifting vegetation phenology in protected areas: A response to climate Ontel, Irina, Avram, Sorin, Gheorghe, Carmen Adriana, Niculae, Mihaita Iulian, Pascu, Ionut Silviu, Rodino, Steliana Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Land Use/Land Cover Classification, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
Susceptibility to Photosynthesis Suppression From Extreme Storms Is McCormick, Erica L., Famiglietti, Caroline A., Feng, Dapeng, Michalak, Anna M., Konings, Alexandra G. Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Evapotranspiration, Latent Heat Flux
Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence Yield Holds the Potential for Behera, Subhrasita, T L, Elakkiyaa, Sarkar, Ananya, Dutta, Debsunder Land Use/Land Cover Classification, Surface Pressure, Heat Flux, Longwave Radiation, Shortwave Radiation, Surface Temperature, Humidity, Evapotranspiration, Surface Winds, Rain, Precipitation Rate, Snow, Soil Moisture/Water Content, Soil Temperature, Land Surface Temperature, Snow Water Equivalent, Runoff, Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Area Index (LAI), Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI)
Variability and uncertainty in net ecosystem carbon exchange modeling: Wang, Nannan, Yue, Zijian, Liu, Yaolin, Tong, Zhaomin, Liu, Yanfang, Lu, Yanchi, Shi, Yongge Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
Urbanization pressures on climate adaptation capacity of forest habitats Huang, Anqi, Xu, Xiyan, Jia, Gensuo Land Surface Temperature, Emissivity, Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Area Index (LAI), Population Density
Using a standardized event-based tool for drought analysis: Application to propagation predictability patterns Zeleke, Ethiopia B., Chawanda, Celray James, Melesse, Assefa M. Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Runoff, Soil Texture
Ubiquity and Causes of Soil Water Preferential Flow Across 17 Ecoregions Li, Bonan, Sprenger, Matthias, Wyatt, Briana M., Gimenez, Daniel, Hirmas, Daniel R., Ajami, Hoori, Wiekenkamp, Inge, Groh, Jannis, Nimmo, John R., Amato, Matthew T., Singh, Nitin K., Crompton, Octavia, Araki, Ryoko, Xu, Tianfang, Sullivan, Pamela L. Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Evapotranspiration, Photosynthesis, Primary Production, Latent Heat Flux, Vegetation Productivity
Vegetation structure and phenology primarily shape the spatiotemporal pattern of ecosystem respiration Zhao, Cenliang, Zhu, Wenquan Precipitation Amount, Alpine/Tundra, Biomass, Forests, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Vegetation Cover, Permafrost, NET ECOSYSTEM CO2 EXCHANGE (NEE), Soil Depth, Soil Moisture/Water Content, Soil Respiration, Gross Primary Production (gpp), Snow Depth, Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide, Surface Temperature, Land Surface Temperature, Emissivity, Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Reflectance, Anisotropy
The Speciated isoprene emission model with the MEGAN algorithm for China Xi, Shengjun, Wang, Yuhang, Yuan, Xiangyang, Feng, Zhaozhong, Zhao, Fanghe, Zhang, Yanli, Wang, Xinming Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Area Index (LAI), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Land Use/Land Cover Classification, Canopy Characteristics, Evergreen Vegetation, Crown, Deciduous Vegetation, Vegetation Cover
Underappreciated contributions of biogenic volatile organic compounds from urban green spaces to ozone pollution Wang, Haofan, Li, Yuejin, Liu, Yiming, Lu, Xiao, Zhang, Yang, Fan, Qi, Shen, Chong, Lai, Senchao, Zhou, Yan, Zhang, Tao, Yue, Dingli Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Land Use/Land Cover Classification, Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
The Widely Increasing Sensitivity of Vegetation Productivity to Wang, Longjun, Li, Peng, Peng, Ying, Ren, Peixin, Chen, Yuzhu, Zhou, Xiaolu, Yang, Zicheng, Zou, Ziying, Peng, Changhui Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Area Index (LAI), Plant Phenology, Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Photosynthesis, Primary Production, Vegetation Productivity, Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Land Use/Land Cover Classification
Trend and drivers of forest biomass change in the Greater Bay Area of China from 2000 to 2022 Li, Woheng, Xiang, Kunlun, Xie, Jing, Zhang, Haicheng Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar)
A comparison of machine learning algorithms for predicting gross primary Agarwal, Geetika, Deb Burman, Pramit Kumar, Kulkarni, Vrushali Y, Kosamkar, Pranali K Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation, Photosynthesis, Primary Production, Vegetation Productivity
Crop productivity under heat stress: a structural analysis of light use Lai, Peiyu, Marshall, Michael, Darvishzadeh, Roshanak, Nelson, Andrew Leaf Area Index (LAI), Fraction Of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fapar), Leaf Characteristics, Photosynthetically Active Radiation
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