Global Daily Near-Infrared Black Sky Albedo at 1km Resolution

Global daily black-sky albedo data for the near-infrared broadband is produced from MODIS sensors on Terra and Aqua satellites at 30 arc-second (1km) resolution. LPCLOUD generates this product for climate simulation grids, using a 16-day rolling window temporally weighted to the ninth day. The dataset is part of the MCD43D BRDF/Albedo product suite.

Use Cases

• Model radiative forcing by integrating the NIR black-sky albedo layer into climate simulation grids.
• Analyze surface reflectance dynamics using the temporally weighted daily values derived from a 16-day MODIS observation window.
• Assess albedo quality for specific science applications by applying the band-specific quality flags described in the user guide.
• Compare albedo products within the MCD43D suite, which includes 10 black-sky and 10 white-sky albedo layers for different spectral bands.

Strengths

• Provides daily global coverage at 30 arc-second (approximately 1km) spatial resolution.
• Derived from 16 days of observations from two MODIS sensors (Terra and Aqua) for robust temporal sampling.
• Includes 10 distinct black-sky albedo layers across the MODIS spectral bands within the product suite.

Limitations

• Each product file contains only one data layer, requiring multiple files for multi-band analysis.
• Known issues exist, requiring users to consult external quality assessment websites for full details.
• The temporal weighting uses a 16-day window, which may smooth or lag rapid surface reflectance changes.

Provenance

Source

LPCLOUD, using data from NASA's Terra and Aqua MODIS sensors.

Collection Method

Produced daily using a 16-day rolling window of MODIS observations, temporally weighted to the ninth day.

Freshness

Daily

Geography

Global