We are in the process of migrating all NASA Earth science data sites into Earthdata from now until end of 2026. Not all NASA Earth science data and resources will appear here until then. Thank you for your patience as we make this transition.
Read about the Web Unification Project
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
| Dataset Sort descending | Version | Platform | Instrument | Temporal Extent | Spatial Extent | Spatial Resolution | Data Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Global Database of Field-observed Leaf Area Index in Woody Plant Species, 1932-2011 | 1 | NOT APPLICABLE | NOT APPLICABLE | 1932-01-01 to 2011-12-31 |
N: 78.42 S: -54.2 E: 175.62 W: -164.78 |
CSV | |
| ABoVE: White Spruce Photosynthetic and Leaf Traits, Alaska and New York, 2017 | 1 | FIELD SURVEYS | LICOR GAS EXCHANGE SYSTEM, SPECTRORADIOMETERS, CAMERA | 2017-06-19 to 2017-07-20 |
N: 67.9947 S: 41.4011 E: -74.0246 W: -149.754 |
CSV | |
| AfriSAR: Canopy Cover and Vertical Profile Metrics Derived from LVIS, Gabon, 2016 | 1 | 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 | 1 | 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 | |
| Arctic Vegetation Plots, Prudhoe Bay ArcSEES Road Study, Lake Colleen, Alaska, 2014 | 1 | FIELD SURVEYS, LABORATORY | CORING DEVICES, PROBES, GPS, THERMOMETERS, BALANCE | 2014-08-06 to 2014-08-13 |
N: 70.2248 S: 70.2214 E: -148.467 W: -148.474 |
CSV | |
| BOREAS Follow-On DSP-06 CASI LAI and Canopy Closure of Conifer Flux Tower Sites | 1 | PIPER NAVAJO CHIEFTAIN | CASI | 1994-02-07 to 1994-02-11 |
N: 60 S: 48 E: -90 W: -111 |
BMP | |
| BOREAS Follow-On DSP-10 Regridded FPAR and LAI Maps for 1994 | 1 | NOAA-11 | AVHRR | 1994-05-21 to 1994-09-11 |
N: 60 S: 48 E: -90 W: -111 |
BMP | |
| BOREAS RSS-04 1994 Southern Study Area Jack Pine LAI & FPAR Data | 1 | FIELD INVESTIGATION | LICOR LEAF AREA METER, LICOR QUANTUM SENSOR | 1993-08-14 to 1994-08-05 |
N: 53.99 S: 53.65 E: -104.64 W: -105.32 |
ASCII | |
| BOREAS RSS-07 LAI, Gap Fraction, and FPAR Data | 1 | FIELD INVESTIGATION | LICOR QUANTUM SENSOR, LICOR PLANT CANOPY ANALYZER | 1993-08-09 to 1994-09-17 |
N: 55.94 S: 53.63 E: -98.19 W: -106.2 |
ASCII | |
| BOREAS TF-11 SSA-Fen 1995 Leaf Area Index Data | 1 | FIELD INVESTIGATION | LICOR LEAF AREA METER | 1995-05-20 to 1995-09-29 |
N: 53.8 S: 53.8 E: -104.62 W: -104.62 |
ASCII | |
| CLM5-DART Regional Carbon Fluxes and Stocks over the Western US, 1998-2010 | 1 | MODELS | Computer | 1998-01-01 to 2010-12-31 |
N: 50.8901 S: 25.445 E: -99.375 W: -130.625 |
netCDF-3 | |
| Collected Data from The Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study, NASA, CD-ROM | 1 | FIELD SURVEYS, LANDSAT, Airplane, SATELLITES, GOES | HUMIDITY SENSORS, TEMPERATURE SENSORS, PROBES, NETS, SOIL SAMPLER, MSS, TM, CAMERAS, RADIOSONDES, RAWINSONDES, VEGETATION-1, AVHRR | 1993-01-01 to 1997-03-31 |
N: 59.98 S: 50.09 E: -93.5 W: -111 |
Shapefile | |
| ECHIDNA LIDAR Campaigns: Forest Canopy Imagery and Field Data, U.S.A., 2007-2009 | 1 | NOT APPLICABLE | NOT APPLICABLE | 2007-08-01 to 2009-08-05 |
N: 45.2148 S: 36.961 E: -68.7236 W: -119.249 |
multiple | |
| ECMWF SMST Data | 1 | ECMWF | 2025-08-01 to Present |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
0.1 Decimal Degrees x 0.1 Decimal Degrees | netCDF-3 | |
| Global 500-m Foliage Clumping Index Data Derived from MODIS BRDF, 2006 | 1 | Terra, Aqua | MODIS | 2006-01-01 to 2006-12-31 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
GeoTIFF | |
| Global Leaf Area Index from Field Measurements, 1932-2000 | 1 | FIELD INVESTIGATION | LICOR LEAF AREA METER | 1932-01-01 to 2000-12-31 |
N: 71.3 S: -54.5 E: 172.75 W: -156.67 |
Text File | |
| Global Monthly Mean Leaf Area Index Climatology, 1981-2015 | 1 | MODELS, Terra, NOAA POES | Computer, MODIS, AVHRR | 1981-08-01 to 2015-08-31 |
N: 90 S: -90 E: 180 W: -180 |
netCDF-4 classic | |
| ISLSCP II Leaf Area Index (LAI) from Field Measurements, 1932-2000 | 1 | FIELD INVESTIGATION, NOAA-14, Terra | STEEL MEASURING TAPE, LICOR LEAF AREA METER, MODIS, AVHRR | 1932-01-01 to 2000-12-31 |
N: 71.3 S: -54.5 E: 172.75 W: -156.67 |
CSV | |
| LAI & PAR Data: Light Bar - KSU (FIFE) | 1 | FIELD INVESTIGATION | LICOR QUANTUM SENSOR | 1989-07-03 to 1989-10-31 |
N: 39.1 S: 38.98 E: -96.45 W: -96.61 |
multiple | |
| LAI (Indirect): Light Wand - KSU (FIFE) | 1 | FIELD INVESTIGATION | LICOR PLANT CANOPY ANALYZER | 1988-06-29 to 1989-10-31 |
N: 39.1 S: 38.98 E: -96.45 W: -96.61 |
multiple | |
| LBA-ECO CD-04 LAI Estimated from Photos, km 83 Tower Site, Tapajos National Forest | 1 | FIELD SURVEYS, COMPUTERS | CAMERAS | 2000-06-01 to 2003-05-30 |
N: -3.017 S: -3.017 E: -54.9707 W: -54.9707 |
multiple | |
| LBA-ECO CD-04 Leaf Area Index, km 83 Tower Site, Tapajos National Forest, Brazil | 1 | FIELD INVESTIGATION | BALANCE, DIGITIZER | 2000-09-01 to 2001-08-31 |
N: -3.017 S: -3.017 E: -54.9707 W: -54.9707 |
CSV | |
| LBA-ECO CD-09 Soil and Vegetation Characteristics, Tapajos National Forest, Brazil | 1 | LABORATORY, FIELD INVESTIGATION | SOIL MOISTURE PROBE, COLORIMETERS, CHN ANALYZERS, STEEL MEASURING TAPE, MASS SPECTROMETERS, CORING DEVICES, VISUAL OBSERVATIONS, LICOR PLANT CANOPY ANALYZER, LICOR LEAF AREA METER, PRESSURE CHAMBERS | 1999-11-01 to 1999-11-29 |
N: -2.8381 S: -4.0478 E: -54.9081 W: -55.2094 |
CSV | |
| LBA-ECO CD-15 LAI and Productivity Data, km 67, Tapajos National Forest: 2003-2004 | 1 | FIELD INVESTIGATION | LICOR PLANT CANOPY ANALYZER, BALANCE, STEEL MEASURING TAPE, DENDROMETERS | 2003-12-10 to 2004-12-03 |
N: -2.857 S: -2.857 E: -54.959 W: -54.959 |
CSV | |
| LBA-ECO LC-19 Soil and Vegetation Data for Cerrado and Forested Sites, Brazil: 2002 | 1 | FIELD INVESTIGATION | THERMOMETERS | 2002-06-10 to 2002-07-30 |
N: -2.857 S: -15.75 E: -47.6 W: -54.959 |
CSV |
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.
Join us to learn how to discover, subset, access and visualize both MODIS and VIIRS data products using a suite of user-friendly tools developed by NASA's ORNL DAAC.
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).
The MODIS Team at ORNL DAAC was awarded the national Doug D. Nebert Champion of the World award for their work developing the MODIS tool suite.
Observe changes in land surface temperature over the course of 2017, with NASA Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images.
1 MIN READ
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