NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index)
The most widely used index for measuring vegetation health from satellite data.
NDVI calculates the difference between near-infrared (NIR) and red light reflected by plants. Healthy vegetation absorbs red light for photosynthesis and reflects NIR, producing high NDVI values (0.5–0.9). Stressed or sparse vegetation shows lower values (0.2–0.4), while bare soil and water score near or below zero.
The formula is: NDVI = (NIR - Red) / (NIR + Red). It was first described by Rouse et al. in 1974 and has become the standard for monitoring vegetation from space. Sentinel-2 satellites provide NDVI data at 10-meter resolution every 5 days.
Free NDVI Checker
Check the vegetation health of any location using satellite data. Enter coordinates or use your current location.
How Messier76 Uses This
Messier76 automatically calculates NDVI for your fields using Sentinel-2 data, providing time-series charts, health alerts, and anomaly detection to help you spot problems before they become visible.
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