Using MODISTools Data
Summary
In this lab exercise, students use the MODISTools package developed by Koen Hufkens @khufkens (https://github.com/khufkens/MODISTools) to download MODIS NDVI and EVI at specific sites of interest and plot how they vary through time.
Context for Use
The materials here (R script and lab description handout for students) are intended for an upper-level undergraduate plant ecophysiology course. The lab period is 3 hrs; students can work in teams if they prefer (each running code on their own computer); write up can occur while going through the lab. Ideally, they will complete the questions in class, and be done within 2.5-3 hrs.
Description and Teaching Materials
Part I of the lab generally follows steps outlined here: https://github.com/khufkens/MODISTools and written in detail in the R script provided here. Part I guides students through downloading and plotting NDVI and EVI in base R and ggplots. An earlier lab had students play around with ggplot2, so this should be an extention of those skills.
Part II challenges students to develop an 'experiment' wherein they compare a minimum of 2 sites (or time periods) in terms of their NDVI and EVI.
Included here are: (1) RScript for Parts I and II of the lab and (2) a PDF of the lab description and expectations for write up by students
Using MODISTools Data Handout (Acrobat (PDF) 111kB Dec31 19)
Using MODISTools Data Rcode ( 4kB Dec31 19)
Teaching Notes and Tips
Examples of comparisons could be altitudinal, latitudinal, climactic, or land-use gradients, or comparing the same location at different times.
Students develop hypotheses and make predictions of expected outcomes prior to downloading the data and plotting NDVI and EVI from their sites.