MAC06S0 provides a narrow-swath subset of MODIS/Aqua cloud data, aligned within ±5 km of the CloudSat satellite track. The dataset contains cloud optical and physical parameters derived from infrared, visible, and near-infrared radiances. It was produced by NASA's GES DISC and last updated in February 2018.
Use Cases
- Analyze cloud optical thickness and effective particle radius derived from MODIS visible radiances.
- Compare cloud top temperature and height derived from MODIS infrared channel radiances.
- Study cloud phase classification (ice vs. water, opaque vs. non-opaque) using near-infrared solar reflected radiance.
- Validate CloudSat radar observations with co-located MODIS cloud fraction and effective emissivity data.
Strengths
- Data is subset to a narrow swath (±5 km) along CloudSat's track, facilitating direct cross-sensor comparison.
- Parameters are derived from multiple spectral bands (infrared, visible, near-infrared) for comprehensive cloud characterization.
Limitations
- The dataset's last update was in 2018, indicating it may not include recent observations.
- Specific row counts, file sizes, and detailed column schema are unknown.
Provenance
- Source
- NASA's Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC)
- Collection Method
- Remotely sensed data from the MODIS/Aqua instrument, subset and processed along the CloudSat field of view.
- Time Range
- null
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Global coverage along CloudSat satellite track.