GlobCover 2009 is a global land cover map based on ENVISAT’s Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) Level 1B data acquired in full resolution mode with a spatial resolution of approximately 300 meters.
GlobCover is an ESA initiative which began in 2005 in partnership with JRC, EEA, FAO, UNEP, GOFC-GOLD and IGBP. The aim of the project was to develop a service capable of delivering global composites and land cover maps using as input observations from the 300m MERIS sensor on board the ENVISAT satellite mission. ESA makes available the land cover maps, which cover 2 periods: December 2004 – June 2006 and January – December 2009.