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Description

The MCD12C1 Version 6 data product was decommissioned on July 31, 2023. Users are encouraged to use the MCD12C1 Version 6.1 data product.

The Terra and Aqua combined Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Land Cover Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) (MCD12C1) Version 6 data product provides a spatially aggregated and reprojected version of the tiled MCD12Q1 Version 6 data product. Maps of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), University of Maryland (UMD), and Leaf Area Index (LAI) classification schemes are provided at yearly intervals at 0.05 degree (5,600 meter) spatial resolution for the entire globe from 2001 to 2020. Additionally, sub-pixel proportions of each land cover class in each 0.05 degree pixel is provided along with the aggregated quality assessment information for each of the three land classification schemes.

Provided in each MCD12C1 Version 6 Hierarchical Data Format 4 (HDF4) file are layers for Majority Land Cover Type 1-3, Majority Land Cover Type 1-3 Assessment, and Majority Land Cover Type 1-3 Percent.

Known Issues

Version Description

The following changes and improvements were implemented for inputs to MODIS Version 6 land cover products: (1) Updated to include the improvements and changes made for the MCD12Q1 Version 6 data product, (2) Version 6 does not include a Majority Land Cover Type Quality Control (QC) Layer, (3) Land_Cover_Type_Percent_1, Land_Cover_Type_Percent_2, Land_Cover_Type_Percent_3 layers have up to 17 dimensions and include the sub-pixel proportions of the IGBP, UMD, and LAI classes in each 0.05 degree pixel, (4) The IGBP classification scheme legend used differs from the legend used for the MCD12Q1 Version 6 data product and can be found on page 16 of the User Guide, and (5) The data product should not be used to determine post-classification land cover change between years due to the uncertainty in the land cover labels for any one year. More information can be found on page 2 of the User Guide.

Product Summary

Platforms
Terra ,
Aqua
Instruments
MODIS
Projects
TERRA ,
Aqua
Spatial Extent

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

Spatial Resolution
5600 Meters x 5600 Meters
Spatial Reference System(s)
MODIS Climate Modeling Grid (CMG)
Location
GLOBAL
Coordinate System
CARTESIAN
Granule Spatial Representation
CARTESIAN
Temporal Extent
2001-01-01 to 2020-12-31
Temporal Resolution
1 Year
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
C2763289440-LPCLOUD
Data State
DEPRECATED
Number of Files/Granules
0
Processing Level
3
Published
Updated
Science Keywords
Land Use/Land Cover Classification

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

Friedl, M., & Sulla-Menashe, D. (2015). MCD12C1 MODIS/Terra+Aqua Land Cover Type Yearly L3 Global 0.05Deg CMG V006 [Data set]. NASA Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center. https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MCD12C1.006 Date Accessed: 2026-06-09

File Naming Convention

MCD12C1.A2003001.006.2018053185458.hdf

The file name begins with the Product Short Name (MCD12C1) followed by the Julian Date of Acquisition formatted as AYYYYDDD (A2003001), the Version of the data collection (006), the Julian Date and Time of Production designated as YYYYDDDHHMMSS (2018053185458), and the Data Format (hdf).

Documents

Publications Citing This Dataset

Filters
Title Year Author Topic
Evaluation of the performance of Suomi NPP VIIRS top of canopy vegetation indices over AERONET sites Shabanov, N., Vargas, M., Miura, T., Sei, A., Danial, A. Land Use/Land Cover Classification
Projected strengthening of Amazonian dry season by constrained climate model simulations Boisier, Juan P., Ciais, Philippe, Ducharne, Agnes, Guimberteau, Matthieu Land Use/Land Cover Classification
Smoke aerosol properties and ageing effects for northern temperate and boreal regions derived from AERONET source and age attribution Nikonovas, T., North, P. R. J., Doerr, S. H. Land Use/Land Cover Classification
Scale-dependent performance of CMIP5 earth system models in simulating terrestrial vegetation carbon Jiang, Lifen, Yan, Yaner, Hararuk, Oleksandra, Mikle, Nathaniel, Xia, Jianyang, Shi, Zheng, Tjiputra, Jerry, Wu, Tongwen, Luo, Yiqi Land Use/Land Cover Classification, Photosynthesis, Primary Production, Vegetation Productivity
The dominant role of semi-arid ecosystems in the trend and variability of the land CO2 sink Ahlstrom, Anders, Raupach, Michael R., Schurgers, Guy, Smith, Benjamin, Arneth, Almut, Jung, Martin, Reichstein, Markus, Canadell, Josep G., Friedlingstein, Pierre, Jain, Atul K., Kato, Etsushi, Poulter, Benjamin, Sitch, Stephen, Stocker, Benjamin D., Viovy, Nicolas, Wang, Ying Ping, Wiltshire, Andy, Zaehle, Sonke, Zeng, Ning Land Use/Land Cover Classification
Using multiple remote sensing perspectives to identify and attribute land surface dynamics in Central Asia 2001-2013 de Beurs, Kirsten M., Henebry, Geoffrey M., Owsley, Braden C., Sokolik, Irina Land Use/Land Cover Classification, Albedo, Anisotropy, Reflectance, Emissivity, Land Surface Temperature, Evapotranspiration, Latent Heat Flux
Automated mapping of vegetation trends with polynomials using NDVI imagery over the Sahel Jamali, Sadegh, Seaquist, Jonathan, Eklundh, Lars, Ardo, Jonas Land Use/Land Cover Classification, Canopy Characteristics, Evergreen Vegetation, Crown, Deciduous Vegetation, Leaf Characteristics, Vegetation Cover
Mapping forest biomass using remote sensing and national forest inventory in China Du, Ling, Zhou, Tao, Zou, Zhenhua, Zhao, Xiang, Huang, Kaicheng, Wu, Hao Land Use/Land Cover Classification
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