Planet NDVI Change is the difference between Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) calculated from two PlanetScope acquisitions, a pre-event baseline and a later observation. Because each input is itself a ratio of near-infrared to red reflectance, differencing them isolates where green vegetation has changed rather than where the scene is simply brighter or darker. Negative values indicate a decrease in NDVI between the two dates, consistent with vegetation loss, defoliation, inundation, burning, or scour; positive values indicate an increase, consistent with regrowth, greening, or recovery. Values near zero indicate little change. NASA-supported access to Planet commercial satellite imagery is provided through NASA's Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program.

Planet NDVI Change can be used to map the footprint and relative severity of vegetation disturbance after a hazard, and to track recovery when later acquisitions are differenced against the same baseline. It is particularly useful for flood scour along river corridors, storm damage to canopy, and burned vegetation. Because the product compares two specific dates, differences driven by seasonality, crop harvest, irrigation, or changing illumination and atmospheric conditions between those dates can resemble hazard impacts; results should be interpreted alongside true color imagery and other observations, and the dates of both inputs should be considered when drawing conclusions.

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PlanetScope Dove and SuperDove optical satellite constellation operated by Planet Labs PBC

Approximately 3 meters

Planet Labs PBC; NASA Commercial Satellite Data Aqcuisition (CSDA) Program; NASA Disasters Program

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This work utilized data made available through the NASA Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program.

NASA, CSDA, Planet Labs, PlanetScope, Dove, SuperDove, Commercial Satellite Data, NDVI, NDVI Change, Change Detection, Vegetation, Optical