MCD43D07: Daily Global BRDF Isotropic Parameter for MODIS Band 3

MCD43D07 Version 6 was decommissioned on July 31, 2023, with users directed to the newer Version 6.1 product. This daily dataset provides the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) isotropic parameter for MODIS band 3 at a 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) resolution, covering the entire globe. It is produced by NASA using 16 days of combined Terra and Aqua MODIS observations, temporally weighted to the ninth day for use in climate simulation models.

Use Cases

• Modeling land surface reflectance for climate simulations based on the daily, global Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) product.
• Deriving BRDF/Albedo values for MODIS band 3 using the isotropic parameter in conjunction with volumetric and geometric parameters.
• Assessing surface radiative properties over bright, arid regions, with consideration for known aerosol representation issues in Collection 6.
• Isolating high-quality data for scientific applications using the band-specific quality flags described in the user guide.

Strengths

• Daily global coverage at a consistent 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) spatial resolution.
• Produced by NASA using 16 days of observations from both Terra and Aqua MODIS satellites for improved temporal weighting.
• Designed specifically for use in global climate simulation models as a Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) product.

Limitations

• The dataset (Version 6) is officially decommissioned, with known issues impacting downstream products over arid bright surfaces.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download, including the use of extensive QA data from other products.
• Row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale processing.

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 23:44:36.772250; freshness should be verified as the Version 6 product is decommissioned.

Geography

Global