Time-series OLI predicts shrub and herbaceous cover with 62–68% variance explained.
OLI can be used to compare to retrospective TM analyses in drylands.
Including lidar with OLI significantly reduces cover and biomass uncertainty.
MABEL sensitivity thresholds are 30% vegetation cover and 1 m tall vegetation.
OLI time-series data will extend ICESat-2's applicability in drylands.