Skip to main content

Leaf Area Index Data Access and Tools

NASA has leaf area index datasets that help researchers characterize vegetation around Earth. Access a range of data and data tools to make the most of leaf area index data. Foe example, AppEEARS offers a simple and effective way to extract, transform, visualize, and download MODIS and VIIRS vegetation-related data products. AppEEARS allows users to subset data by defining specific point(s) or area(s) of interest, and output data can be downloaded in csv (point), GeoTIFF (area) or NetCDF4 (area) format.

Leaf Area Index Datasets

View All Datasets
Dataset Platforms Instruments Temporal Extent Location Keywords Spatial Extent Data Format
AfriSAR: Canopy Cover and Vertical Profile Metrics Derived from LVIS, Gabon, 2016 B-200 LVIS 2016-02-20 to 2016-03-08 N: 0.701451 S: -2.29171 E: 12.0133 W: 8.7276 CSV
Arctic Vegetation Plots in Flux Tower Footprints, North Slope, Alaska, 2014 FIELD SURVEYS, FIELD INVESTIGATION SOIL SAMPLER, VISUAL OBSERVATIONS 2014-07-18 to 2014-07-31 N: 71.325 S: 68.4851 E: -155.747 W: -157.414 CSV
DSCOVR EPIC Level 2 Vegetation Earth System Data Record (VESDR), Version 2 DSCOVR EPIC 2015-06-13 to Present GLOBAL HDF5
ECMWF SMST Data ECMWF 2025-08-01 to Present N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 netCDF-3
MERRA-2 tavg1_2d_lnd_Nx: 2d,1-Hourly,Time-Averaged,Single-Level,Assimilation,Land Surface Diagnostics 0.625 x 0.5 degree V5.12.4 (M2T1NXLND) at GES DISC MERRA-2 NOT APPLICABLE 1980-01-01 to Present GLOBAL N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180
MERRA-2 tavgM_2d_lnd_Nx: 2d,Monthly mean,Time-Averaged,Single-Level,Assimilation,Land Surface Diagnostics 0.625 x 0.5 degree V5.12.4 (M2TMNXLND) at GES DISC MERRA-2 NOT APPLICABLE 1980-01-01 to Present GLOBAL N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180
MERRA-2 tavgU_2d_lnd_Nx: 2d,diurnal,Time-Averaged,Single-Level,Assimilation,Land Surface Diagnostics 0.625 x 0.5 degree V5.12.4 (M2TUNXLND) at GES DISC MERRA-2 NOT APPLICABLE 1980-01-01 to Present GLOBAL N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180
MODIS-derived Aggregate, Woody and Herbaceous Leaf Area Index for Africa, 2002-2022 Terra, Aqua MODIS 2002-07-05 to 2022-07-29 AFRICA N: 20.02 S: -40.02 E: 63.8625 W: -21.2839 netCDF-4
MODIS/Terra Gap-Filled, Smoothed LAI-FPAR 8-Day L4 Global 1km SIN Grid Terra MODIS 2001-01-01 to 2017-01-01 GLOBAL N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 HDF-EOS
Shrubland Species Cover, Biometric, Carbon and Nitrogen Data, Southern Idaho, 2014 LABORATORY, FIELD INVESTIGATION, FIELD SURVEYS CARBON ANALYZERS, VISUAL OBSERVATIONS, CAMERA 2014-09-16 to 2014-10-17 N: 43.2098 S: 42.299 E: -114.689 W: -116.797 CSV
SHOWING 10 OF 11
Featured Leaf Area Index Observation Method: MODIS
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) continually collects reflectance and other data across 36 channels with global coverage every one to two days. The broad spectral range enables MODIS data to be used in studies across numerous disciplines, including vegetative health as well as changes in land cover and land use.
Learn More About MODIS
True color corrected reflectance image of Africa, Europe, and Asia from the VIIRS instrument aboard the NOAA-21 satellite

From MODIS to VIIRS: Continuing the Legacy

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) will help ensure continuity of Earth observations after the upcoming retirement of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS).

Leaf Area Index Data Tools

View All Data Tools
No Results

Frequently Asked Questions

Earthdata Forum

Our online forum provides a space for users to browse thousands of FAQs about research needs, data, and data applications. You can also submit new questions for our experts to answer.

Submit Questions to Earthdata Forumand View Expert Responses

Earthdata
Forum