Alaska Statewide annual maximum Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values from 1982-2003 at 8km pixel size

Maximum annual NDVI values derived from twice monthly GIMMS-NDVI data, acquired for the period of 1982-2003 were downloaded fry the University of Maryland Global Land Cover Facility (http://www.landcover.org). These data were originally maximum NDVI values for each 64km2 pixel for each 15-day composite period. By selecting the maximum NDVI during each 15-day period, non-vegetation effects such as cloud or smoke contamination, and view geometry effects are reduced. The data had been calibrated by NASA scientists to correct for orbital drift and sensor degradation from a time series of five NOAA AVHRR sensors. The data were also processed by NASA scientists to correct for atmospheric effects resulting from two major volcanic eruptions: El Chichon in 1982, Mt. Pinatubo in 1991.