USGS Released Remote Sensing Phenology Metrics

The USGS published comprehensive 2025 seasonal phenology data for the United States.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Geography

Isometric editorial illustration showing a stylized forested river valley with tiered color blocks representing vegetation seasonal metrics. — The USGS has released its 2025 remote sensing phenology dataset, providing standardized vegetation cycle data to support climate research across the United States. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) released a comprehensive set of remote sensing phenology metrics for the 2025 season. These metrics provide researchers with detailed data on the timing and intensity of vegetation growth cycles across the country.

Why it matters

These datasets allow scientists to monitor environmental changes and seasonal vegetation patterns across the nation. Providing standardized, consistent metrics is essential for analyzing long-term climate and ecological shifts.

The release includes seven data sets ranging from 1 km AVHRR resolution to 250 m eMODIS and 375 m eVIIRS metrics. The USGS recommends the C6 eMODIS data due to MODIS Terra sensor degradation observed since 2007.

The players

USGS

The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency that provides data and information about the Earth, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it.

USGS/EROS Center

The Earth Resources Observation and Science Center is a facility that manages land-based data, including satellite imagery and remote sensing information for the United States.

The details

The released metrics include critical variables such as Start of Season Time, End of Season Time, Maximum NDVI, and Time Integrated NDVI. Data is distributed through the USGS/EROS Center and users are instructed to cite the DOI https://doi.org/10.5066/P9PZTNBI for all usage.

The MODIS Terra sensor began experiencing degradation in 2007.
The released phenology metrics cover the 2025 annual season.

The Big Picture

This release follows the established update cadence of the USGS remote sensing phenology program. By providing standardized annual data, the USGS maintains the historical continuity necessary to monitor long-term shifts in continental vegetation cycles.

Access to these standardized metrics allows environmental researchers to better understand agricultural health and forest productivity. This data provides the foundational information needed for future innovations in agricultural yield modeling and land-use planning.

The takeaway

Reliable long-term satellite data is critical for understanding the health of the nation's ecosystems. Researchers can integrate these 2025 metrics into ongoing studies to track shifting seasonal vegetation trends across the United States.