MetOp-B AVHRR Daily Global Surface Reflectance at 0.05 Degree Resolution

Surface reflectance data is derived from the MetOp-B satellite's Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensor. The dataset provides daily, atmospherically corrected surface reflectance for three spectral bands, along with quality flags, solar/view angles, and thermal data, gridded to a 0.05-degree global climate modeling grid. It is produced by the Long-Term Data Record (LTDR) project and distributed by LAADS.

Use Cases

• Calculate daily Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) using atmospherically corrected surface reflectance from bands 1 and 2 to monitor vegetation health.
• Model land surface energy balance by integrating surface reflectance data with provided thermal bands 3, 4, and 5.
• Analyze bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) effects on reflectance using the solar zenith, view zenith, and relative azimuth angle fields.
• Apply data quality flags to filter pixels for generating consistent, long-term climate data records (CDRs) from the AVHRR time series.
• Derive experimental Leaf Area Index (LAI) and fraction of absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fPAR) products from the surface reflectance thematic CDR.

Strengths

• Data is atmospherically and BRDF-corrected, enhancing comparability for time-series analysis.
• Product bridges data from eight distinct AVHRR missions, facilitating a long-term record.
• Includes ancillary data layers such as quality flags and viewing angles to support rigorous analysis.

Limitations

• Specific temporal coverage, row count, and spatial resolution beyond the 0.05-degree grid are not detailed in the provided description.
• LAI/fPAR product is described as experimental, indicating potential variability in validation and maturity.
• Data format is HDF4, which may require specific libraries or tools for access and processing compared to more common formats.

Provenance

Source

Long-Term Data Record (LTDR) project, utilizing data from the MetOp-B AVHRR sensor.

Collection Method

Generated from the GIMMS Advanced Processing System (GAPS) BRDF-corrected Surface Reflectance product (AVH01C1).

Time Range

Part of a long-term record bridging multiple satellite missions; exact date range for MetOp-B is not specified.

Freshness

Daily product generation; specific last update date is unknown.

Geography

Global coverage on a 0.05-degree climate modeling grid (CMG).