CAM5K30UC: Monthly Land Emissivity Uncertainty at 5km Resolution

NASA's CAMEL dataset provides monthly land surface emissivity uncertainty at a 0.05-degree (~5 kilometer) resolution. The data quantifies three independent components of variability—algorithm, spatial, and temporal—for 13 spectral hinge points across each latitude-longitude point. This product is part of the MEaSUREs program and corresponds to the CAM5K30EM emissivity values.

Use Cases

• Validating land surface models using quantified algorithm, spatial, and temporal uncertainty components.
• Assessing the reliability of emissivity inputs for atmospheric correction in satellite data processing.
• Incorporating uncertainty metrics into climate trend analyses of surface properties over time.
• Cross-referencing uncertainty with quality flags for data filtering in geospatial analyses.

Strengths

• Provides three distinct, quantified uncertainty components (algorithm, spatial, temporal) for rigorous error analysis.
• Offers global coverage at a consistent 0.05-degree spatial resolution and monthly temporal resolution.
• Part of the NASA MEaSUREs program, indicating a curated, long-term data record for research environments.
• Documented by a User Guide and Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD).

Limitations

• The dataset (version .001) was decommissioned in March 2019, indicating it is outdated and users are directed to a newer version.
• Key metadata such as row count, file size, and specific license details are missing or conflicting across sources.
• The most recent update date shows a conflict (2026 vs. 2017), casting doubt on metadata freshness and accuracy.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) MEaSUREs program.

Collection Method

Derived from combined ASTER and MODIS satellite sensor data.

Time Range

Monthly time series; specific start and end dates are not provided.

Freshness

The dataset version .001 was decommissioned on March 14, 2019. Platform metadata shows conflicting last-updated dates of 2026-04 10 and 2017-01-02.

Geography

Global land coverage.