MCD43D63: Daily Global Nadir-Adjusted Reflectance for MODIS Band 2 at 1km

MCD43D63 Version 6 is a daily, global satellite-derived dataset providing Nadir BRDF-Adjusted Reflectance (NBAR) for MODIS band 2. The data is produced by NASA using 16 days of Terra and Aqua MODIS observations, weighted to the ninth day, and gridded at a 30 arc-second (approximately 1km) resolution for climate modeling. This specific version was decommissioned on July 31, 2023, with users directed to the updated Version 6.1 product.

Use Cases

• Modeling surface albedo for climate simulation based on the dataset's Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) format.
• Analyzing land surface reflectance changes over time based on daily, temporally-weighted global observations.
• Removing view-angle effects from satellite imagery for consistent analysis based on the NBAR algorithm described.
• Assessing data quality for scientific applications using the band-specific quality flags mentioned in the user guide.

Strengths

• Global spatial coverage designed for climate simulation models.
• Daily temporal resolution using a 16-day observation window weighted to a central date.
• Data is produced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Limitations

• This Version 6 product has known issues, is decommissioned, and users are urged to use Version 6.1.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The description notes potential impacts from incorrect aerosol representation in upstream data, particularly over arid bright surfaces.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Produced daily using 16 days of Terra and Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data.

Time Range

Daily production, with data weighted to the ninth day of a 16-day period.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:47:06.441155; freshness should be verified as the dataset version is deprecated.

Geography

Global