MCD12Q1 Land Cover Product issue

The C61 Terra and Aqua combined MODIS Land Cover Type (MCD12Q1) data product provides global land cover types at yearly intervals from 2001-2023. The land cover data product is derived using supervised classification of MODIS Terra and Aqua reflectance data. The classification algorithm uses labeled training samples selected globally to represent land cover categories derived under the IGBP, UMD, LAI, BIOME-BGC, and PFT classification schemes. These training samples were selected to represent land classes, best suited over a certain period. However, due to lack of funding, the science team was not able to keep the training database updated over the course of the years, and some of these training sites could well have undergone changes in their land cover characteristics, especially after 2021. Hence users are urged to maintain caution while using the C61/MCD12Q1 land cover layers for 2021 and beyond. LDOPE evaluation of land cover change percentages, from one year to another year for latitudinal zones and select tiles shows that some land cover classes have undergone significant changes, e.g., grassland, shrublands, and forest types.