Global Monthly Land Emissivity Uncertainty at 5-Kilometer Resolution

NASA's MEaSUREs program provides monthly land emissivity uncertainty data at a 0.05-degree spatial resolution. The dataset estimates total uncertainty from three independent components: algorithm, spatial, and temporal variability across 13 spectral hinge points. It was produced by LPCLOUD and last updated in 2017.

Use Cases

• Quantify algorithm uncertainty in emissivity values for specific spectral wavelengths to improve atmospheric correction models.
• Analyze spatial uncertainty patterns across latitude and longitude coordinates to assess regional data reliability.
• Model temporal uncertainty in monthly emissivity to track seasonal changes in surface properties.
• Combine total uncertainty with CAMEL quality flags to filter data points for downstream analysis.
• Validate land surface emissivity models by comparing total uncertainty layers against independent ground measurements.

Strengths

• Provides three distinct uncertainty components (algorithm, spatial, temporal) for detailed error analysis.
• Covers 13 spectral hinge points, enabling multi-spectral emissivity studies.
• Offers global coverage at a consistent 0.05-degree (~5 km) spatial resolution.

Limitations

• Data recency is limited, with a last update in 2017, potentially missing recent climate trends.
• Specific row count, file size, and sample size metrics are unavailable for assessing computational requirements.
• Corresponding emissivity values are in a separate product (CAM5K30EM), requiring data joins for full analysis.

Provenance

Source

NASA MEaSUREs program, produced by LPCLOUD.

Collection Method

Combined data from ASTER and MODIS satellite sensors using a documented algorithm.

Time Range

Monthly data; specific start and end years unknown.

Freshness

Last updated 2017-01-01; update frequency unknown.

Geography

Global land coverage.