Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS)

The Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data sets were generated to provide a 22-year satellite record of monthly changes in terrestrial vegetation. New features of this dataset include reduced NDVI variations arising from calibration, view geometry, volcanic aerosols, and other effects not related to actual vegetation change. In particular, NOAA-9 descending node data from September 1994 to January 1995, volcanic stratospheric aerosol correction for 1982-1984 and 1991-1994, and improved NDVI using empirical mode decomposition/reconstruction (EMD) to minimize effects of orbital drift. Global NDVI was generated to provide inputs for computing the time series of biophysical parameters contained in the International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP) Initiative II collection. NDVI is used in climate models and biogeochemical models to calculate photosynthesis, the exchange of CO2 between the atmosphere and the land surface, land-surface evapotranspiration and the absorption and release of energy by the land surface.

The GIMMS collection is available here in two projections: Albers projection with each continent a separate file, or global files in Geographic coordinates.

For further details please consult the GIMMS primary document.