The CYCLOPES algorithms have been fitted to a real time application. For that, the gaussian weighting function used to normalize VEGETATION data is changed. For CYCLOPES project, the maximum weight is put on observations acquired during the central 10-day period of the synthesis. For VGT4AFRICA, the maximum weight is given to the most recent observations of the synthesis period.
The validation of CYCLOPES products has shown that FCover is underestimated for the densest vegetation. This bias has been corrected by changing the retreival algorithm. Now, it relies on an empirical relationship with the NDVI, previously established over Africa. An analysis revealed that this relationship generated some artificial spatial discontinuities due to the threshold applied to the minimum of NDVI value for a given pixel. The relationship has been modified to avoid such artefacts.
Details on the algorithm are available on the VGT4AFRICA User Manual.

The processing line have been delivered to VITO which, since the end of November 2007, generates a FCover product every 10 days and disseminates it to the Africa users of VGT4AFRICA project through the EUMETCAST network.