Comparisons of normalized difference vegetation index from MODIS Terra and Aqua data in northwestern China

摘要

Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data aboard Terra satellite reflect plant growth. However due to cloud masks, there is a great need to apply Aqua data as a complement for Terra data. Therefore, the relationships between Terra-derived and Aqua-derived NDVI values are required to continued long-term monitoring of land surface properties. Here, NDVI product suites, containing the Terra 16-day, Aqua 16-day over one selected MODIS tile (1200×1200km) including a variety of vegetation cover types in Northwestern China were compared over the same time periods of 2004 and 2005. Additionally, several daily cloudless data of 2005 in the region were chosen for research. The results indicate there were subtle discrepancies between NDVI values derived from the two sensors. But there were no significant discrepancies. The results suggest that Aqua data is good complement for Terra data and available for operational product to monitor vegetation.