MODIS Daily Nadir-Adjusted Surface Reflectance for Climate Modeling

Daily global data from 2000 onward, this dataset provides Nadir BRDF-Adjusted Reflectance (NBAR) for MODIS spectral bands 1-7, produced by NASA's LPCLOUD using 16-day composites from Terra and Aqua satellites. It is designed for climate simulation models on a 0.05-degree Climate Modeling Grid. The product includes ancillary layers for quality flags, snow cover, and uncertainty to support rigorous analysis.

Use Cases

• Monitoring long-term land surface change and vegetation dynamics using the time-series of NBAR values for bands like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) precursors.
• Assessing surface albedo for climate and energy balance studies by analyzing the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF)-adjusted reflectances.
• Validating higher-resolution satellite products or model outputs using the provided quality flags and uncertainty layers to filter data.
• Studying snow cover extent and its radiative impact by integrating the NBAR data with the included snow cover ancillary layer.
• Investigating surface anisotropy and reflectance properties across different spectral bands (1-7) for phenology or land cover classification.

Strengths

• Provides daily, global coverage from 2000 to present, offering a long-term record for trend analysis.
• Includes band-specific quality flags and uncertainty layers, enabling users to isolate the highest quality 'full inversion' results.
• Applies calibration improvements in Version 6.1, including corrections for sensor response-versus-scan angle and optical crosstalk.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and a complete column list are not provided across any platform, limiting precise technical assessment.
• The data is a composite product using 16 days of input, temporally weighted to the ninth day, which may smooth rapid surface changes.
• License is listed as 'other-license-specified' without explicit details on some platforms, requiring users to investigate terms.

Provenance

Source

NASA LPCLOUD, derived from MODIS sensors on Terra and Aqua satellites.

Collection Method

Produced daily using 16 days of MODIS data, with BRDF modeling to adjust reflectances to a nadir view at local solar noon.

Time Range

2000 onward (implied by MODIS mission lifetime and version continuity).

Freshness

2026-03-12 23:26:09.512512

Geography

Global coverage on a 0.05-degree Climate Modeling Grid (approximately 5.6 km at the equator).