2006_2009_MODIS_Phenology

This dataset supercedes the previousl MODIS Phenology datasets based on MODIS V4 data  lebelled 'Green up' and 'senescence'.

A number of coverages have been processed and extracted from the global MODIS Land Cover Dynamics datasets derived by Boston University (http://www.bu.edu/lcsc/research/land-cover-dynamics) from the NASA MOD12Q2 MODIS tiled phenology layers (https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/products/modis_products_table/mcd12q2). A detailed user guide (http://www.bu.edu/lcsc/files/2012/08/MCD12Q2_UserGuide.pdf, and http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/atbd/atbd_mod12.pdf) has been released by the Boston University team which provides detailed technical specifications and describes the methods used to calculate the layer values.

In summary, these datasets for version 5  were produced twice a year (January and June) between 2001 and early 2010. For each date, a series of parameters were calculated of which five are provided here for 2006 to 2010:  Green Up  and  Senescence , which represent the dates when new green vegetation started be detected at the beginning of a growth cycle, and when the fall in greenness stopped at the end of the cycle.

Because some areas have more than once cycle a year, two images are produced for each date:  Cycle 1  and  Cycle2 . Thus, the Cycle 1 green up image for January 2006 contains the date (expressed as days from January 1 2000) of the green up event for the first cycle occurring between the end of June 2005 and the beginning of July 2006, whilst the Cycle 2 image contains the date for the green up event of the second cycle occurring in that period.

This can be confusing, for a detailed explanation with examples please refer to the document included within this download "MODIS PHENOLOGY DATA DESCRIPTION_v2.doc".