MIRCCM_004: Multi-angle Satellite Cloud Mask with Dust Detection

Ongoing data collection from the MISR instrument on NASA's Terra satellite provides a radiometric camera-by-camera cloud mask product. It classifies scenes as clear or cloudy and includes a new parameter for detecting dust over the ocean, supporting atmospheric and surface studies. The data is generated by the MISR Product Generation Executable (PGE) 13 and is part of a broader suite of products monitoring aerosols, clouds, and land surface cover.

Use Cases

• Classifying clear vs. cloudy scenes for atmospheric correction in land surface studies based on the radiometric cloud mask.
• Detecting and monitoring dust plumes over ocean surfaces using the added dust indication parameter.
• Providing input for aerosol retrieval algorithms that require cloud-free conditions, as indicated by the cloud mask.
• Supporting climate model validation by offering a multi-angle perspective on cloud occurrence and type.

Strengths

• Data collection is explicitly stated as ongoing, indicating continuous temporal coverage.
• Utilizes a unique multi-angle observation system with nine cameras at specific view angles (0, 26.1, 45.6, 60.0, 70.5 degrees) across four spectral bands.
• Cross-platform presence on Data.gov and NASA Earthdata signals its importance and validation within the Earth science community.
• Version 4 includes a specific enhancement for dust detection over ocean, adding utility for aerosol studies.

Limitations

• Critical metadata such as row count, file size, and specific column names are not provided in any source.
• The license is ambiguously listed as 'other-license-specified' without details on reuse restrictions.
• Descriptions are highly repetitive across related MISR products, making it difficult to isolate unique features of this specific dataset.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Collected by the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument on the Terra satellite, processed by Product Generation Executable (PGE) 13.

Time Range

Ongoing

Freshness

2026-04-10 01:17:50.382187 (Data.gov)

Geography

Global coverage, achieved every nine days.