Skip to main content

Description

The Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission aims to characterize ecosystem structure and dynamics to enable radically improved quantification and understanding of the Earth’s carbon cycle and biodiversity. The GEDI instrument produces high resolution laser ranging observations of the 3-dimensional structure of the Earth. GEDI is attached to the International Space Station (ISS) and collects data globally between 51.6° N and 51.6° S latitudes at the highest resolution and densest sampling of any light detection and ranging (lidar) instrument in orbit to date. Each GEDI Version 3 granule encompasses one-fourth of an ISS orbit and includes georeferenced metadata to allow for spatial querying and subsetting.

The GEDI instrument was removed from the ISS and placed into storage on March 17, 2023. No data were acquired during the hibernation period from March 17, 2023, to April 24, 2024. GEDI was re-instated on the ISS and resumed operations as of April 26, 2024.

The GEDI Level 2A Geolocated Elevation and Height Metrics product (GEDI02_A) provides waveform interpretation and extracted products from each GEDI01_B received waveform, including ground elevation, canopy top height, and relative height (RH) metrics. The methodology for generating the GEDI02_A product datasets is adapted from the Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS) algorithm. The GEDI02_A product is provided in HDF5 format and has a spatial resolution (average footprint) of 25 meters.

The GEDI02_A data product contains 417 layers/variables for each of the eight beams, including ground elevation, canopy top height, relative return energy metrics (e.g., canopy vertical structure), and many other interpreted products from the return waveforms. Additional information for the layers can be found in the GEDI Level 2A Dictionary.

Known Issues

  • Data acquisition gaps: GEDI data acquisitions were suspended on December 19, 2019 (2019 Day 353) and resumed on January 8, 2020 (2020 Day 8).
  • Known Issues: Section 8 of the User Guide provides additional information on known issues.

Version Description

The following changes and improvements were implemented for GEDI Version 3 data products: (1) Improved geolocation and consistency of the elevation over the data record, (2) Introduced consistent quality flags and algorithm setting group selection variables (l2_algrunflag, BEAMXXXX/l2_algrunflag_aN, l2a_quality_flag_rel3, selected_algorithm), (3) Added l2_algrunflag and l2a_quality_flag_rel3 variables to the /BEAMXXXX/geolocation group and updated definition of selected_algorithm, (4) Added land_cover_data metrics variables (phenology_phase, phenology_year, worldcover_class) to the BEAMXXXX/land_cover_data group and corrected error in calculating leaf_off_flag, (5) Corrected errors when calculating waveform quality parameters mean_64kadjusted, rx_clipbin0, and rx_clipbin_count variables in the BEAMXXXX/rx_assess group, and (6) Removed unused algorithm setting groups (3, 4, 6) from the /BEAMXXXX/rx_processing_aN group. Additional information for the new variables can be found in the GEDI Level 2A Data Dictionary.

Product Summary

Platforms
ISS
Instruments
GEDI
Projects
GEDI
Spatial Extent

N: 54 S: -54 E: 180 W: -180

Spatial Resolution
25 Meters x 25 Meters
Location
GLOBAL LAND
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
GEODETIC
Temporal Extent
2019-04-04 to 2023-03-16 ,
2024-04-26 to Present
Temporal Resolution
Varies
Data Partner
Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC) ,
Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA (NASA/GSFC/GEDI)
Concept ID
C3974616071-LPCLOUD
Data State
ACTIVE
Number of Files/Granules
96864
Processing Level
2A
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Plant Phenology ,
Canopy Characteristics ,
Vegetation Cover ,
Lidar ,
Topography ,
Vegetation Height

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

Dubayah, R., Hofton, M., Blair, J., Armston, J., Tang, H., & Luthcke, S. (2026). GEDI L2A Elevation and Height Metrics Data Global Footprint Level V003 [Dataset]. NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/GEDI/GEDI02_A.003 Date Accessed: 2026-08-23

File Naming Convention

GEDI02_A_2024333190440_O33777_03_T03689_02_004_02_V003.h5

The file name begins with the Product Short Name (GEDI02_A), followed by the Julian Date and Time of Acquisition designated as YYYYDDDHHMMSS (2024333190440), the Orbit Number starting with the letter O (O33777), the Sub-Orbit Granule Number (03), Track Number (T03689), the Positioning and Pointing Determination System type where 00 is predict, 01 rapid, 02 and higher is final (02), the Product Generation Executables Version (004), the Granule Production Version (02), the Version Number (V003), and the Data Format (h5).

Documents

USER'S GUIDE

ALGORITHM THEORETICAL BASIS DOCUMENT (ATBD)

GENERAL DOCUMENTATION

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 Offset
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lats_allmodes_a10 Latitudes of all modes detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lat_highestreturn_a1 Latitude of the highest return detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lat_highestreturn_a2 Latitude of the highest return detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lat_highestreturn_a5 Latitude of the highest return detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lat_highestreturn_a10 Latitude of the highest return detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lat_lowestmode_a1 Latitude of the center of the lowest mode detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lat_lowestmode_a2 Latitude of the center of the lowest mode detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lat_lowestmode_a5 Latitude of the center of the lowest mode detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lat_lowestmode_a10 Latitude of the center of the lowest mode detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lat_lowestreturn_a1 Latitude of the lowest return detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lat_lowestreturn_a2 Latitude of the lowest return detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lat_lowestreturn_a5 Latitude of the lowest return detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lat_lowestreturn_a10 Latitude of the lowest return detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/local_beam_azimuth Azimuth of the unit pointing vector for the laser in the local ENU frame. The angle is measured from North and positive towards East. Radians float32 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/local_beam_elevation Elevation of the unit pointing vector for the laser in the local ENU frame. The angle is measured from East-North plane and positive towards Up. Radians float32 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/longitude_1gfit Longitude corresponding to the center of a single gaussian fit to the waveform Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lons_allmodes_a1 Longitudes of all modes detected using algorithmN Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lons_allmodes_a2 Longitudes of all modes detected using algorithmN Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lons_allmodes_a5 Longitudes of all modes detected using algorithmN Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lons_allmodes_a10 Longitudes of all modes detected using algorithmN Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lon_highestreturn_a1 Longitude of the highest return detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lon_highestreturn_a2 Longitude of the highest return detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lon_highestreturn_a5 Longitude of the highest return detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lon_highestreturn_a10 Longitude of the highest return detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lon_lowestmode_a1 Longitude of the center of lowest mode detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lon_lowestmode_a2 Longitude of the center of lowest mode detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lon_lowestmode_a5 Longitude of the center of lowest mode detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lon_lowestmode_a10 Longitude of the center of lowest mode detected using algorithm N Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lon_lowestreturn_a1 Longitude of lowest return detected using algorithmN Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lon_lowestreturn_a2 Longitude of lowest return detected using algorithmN Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lon_lowestreturn_a5 Longitude of lowest return detected using algorithmN Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/lon_lowestreturn_a10 Longitude of lowest return detected using algorithmN Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/num_detectedmodes_a1 Number of detected modes detected using algorithm N N/A uint8 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/num_detectedmodes_a2 Number of detected modes detected using algorithm N N/A uint8 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/num_detectedmodes_a5 Number of detected modes detected using algorithm N N/A uint8 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/num_detectedmodes_a10 Number of detected modes detected using algorithm N N/A uint8 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/partials/dRPYTdECF Analytic partials of roll, pitch, yaw and range with respect to shifts in ECF coordinates. Partials are ordered: roll/X, roll/Y, roll/Z, pitch/X, pitch/Y, pitch/Z, yaw/X, yaw/Y, yaw/Z, ranging/X, ranging/Y, ranging/Z N/A float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/partials/dRPYTdLLA Analytic partials of roll, pitch, yaw and range with respect to shifts in longitude, latitude, and altitude/height coordinates. Partials are ordered: roll/lon, roll/lat, roll/alt, pitch/lon, pitch/lat, pitch/alt, yaw/lon, yaw/lat, yaw/alt, ranging/lon, ranging/lat, ranging/alt N/A float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/partials/dRPYTdRIC Analytic partials of roll, pitch, yaw and range with respect to shifts in Radial, Intrack and Crosstrack coordinates. Partials are ordered: roll/R, roll/I, roll/C, pitch/R, pitch/I, pitch/C, yaw/R, yaw/I, yaw/C, ranging/R, ranging/I, ranging/C N/A float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/partials/YPR Euler angle Yaw, Pitch, Roll sequence from anti-GDORFI (LVLH backwards facing) to GEDI OBF Degree float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/rh_a1 Relative height metrics at 1 % intervals using algorithm N (in cm) cm int16 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/rh_a2 Relative height metrics at 1 % intervals using algorithm N (in cm) cm int16 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/rh_a5 Relative height metrics at 1 % intervals using algorithm N (in cm) cm int16 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/rh_a10 Relative height metrics at 1 % intervals using algorithm N (in cm) cm int16 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/sensitivity_a1 Maxmimum canopy cover, using algorithmN, that can be penetrated considering the SNR of the waveform N/A float32 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/sensitivity_a2 Maxmimum canopy cover, using algorithmN, that can be penetrated considering the SNR of the waveform N/A float32 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/sensitivity_a5 Maxmimum canopy cover, using algorithmN, that can be penetrated considering the SNR of the waveform N/A float32 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/sensitivity_a10 Maxmimum canopy cover, using algorithmN, that can be penetrated considering the SNR of the waveform N/A float32 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geolocation/stale_return_flag Flag from digitizer indicating the real-time pulse detection algorithm did not detect a return signal above its detection threshold within the entire 10 km search window. The pulse location of the previous shot was used to select the telemetered waveform. N/A uint8 N/A N/A N/A N/A
/BEAM0000/geophys_corr/delta_time Transmit time of the shot, measured in seconds from the master_time_epoch. By adding the offset contained within /BEAMXXXX/ancillary/master_time_epoch to delta_time, the time in GPS seconds relative to the GPS epoch can be computed. Equivalent to /BEAMXXXX/master_int+/BEAMXXXX/master_frac. Seconds float64 N/A N/A N/A N/A
You're viewing 100 of 3336