The satellite-based global VH System is designed to monitor, diagnose and predict long- and short-term land environmental conditions and climate-dependent socioeconomic activities. The System is based on satellite observations of the Earth, biophysical theory of vegetation response to the environment, set of algorithms for satellite data processing, interpretation, product development, validation, calibration and applications.
Satellite observations are principally represented by the Advance Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) flown on NOAA polar-orbiting satellites. Data are global with the resolution 4 km and 7-day composite. In addition, the System is using data and products from GOES, METEOSAT, MTSAT and DMSP. VH is a product estimating vegetation health (condition) base on moisture conditions (VCI), thermal conditions (TCI) and their combination (VHI).
VH is used often to estimate crop condition and anticipated yield. If the indices are below 40 indicating different level of vegetation stress, losses of crop and pasture production might be expected; if the indices above 60 (favorable condition) plentiful production might be expected. VH is very useful for an advanced prediction of crop losses.