Vegetation indices (VI) have been used since the late 1960s, with a continual evolution of new types of VI and their uses. Advances in technology for both spectral sensing platforms and analytical techniques have led to a wide array of applications for VI, ranging from evapotranspiration estimates to rangeland management. Often advances in application are facilitated by improved calibration and correction procedures for spectral data and linkage with empirical measurements from in situ studies. One of the advantages of satellite based remote sensing of VI is accessibility of information for remote locations that are difficult to get to on the ground either due to physical or political barriers. Furthermore, the continuous measurements made via satellite observation provide the opportunity for long-term analysis of vegetation and other terrestrial phenomina, which is especially useful in the context of global change. This site contains an overview of selected VI that have been developed with a focus on Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which is the VI used most often. A description and history of VI and selected applications are presented in addition to NDVI data from the Cooperative Atmospheric Exchange Study (CASES-97) and the International H2O Project 2002 (IHOP 2002).
