MCD43D28: MODIS BRDF Isotropic Parameter for Shortwave Albedo

MCD43D28 Version 6.1 provides a single model parameter for calculating Earth's surface reflectance and albedo at a 1,000-meter resolution. This daily, global dataset is generated from 16 days of combined Terra and Aqua MODIS satellite observations, temporally weighted to the ninth day. It is one of 30 separate files designed specifically for use in global climate simulation models.

Use Cases

• Modeling surface energy balance in climate simulations based on the shortwave broadband isotropic parameter.
• Deriving land surface albedo values by combining this isotropic parameter with volumetric and geometric parameters.
• Assessing daily changes in Earth's radiative properties using the temporally weighted, 16-day composite data.
• Isolating highest-quality reflectance data for specific science applications using the band-specific quality flags.

Strengths

• Provides global coverage at a Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) scale of 30 arc seconds (1,000 meters).
• Represents Version 6.1, which includes calibration improvements for Terra and Aqua MODIS sensors.
• Data is produced daily, offering a high temporal resolution for monitoring surface changes.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low; specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided across platforms.
• Users must rely on external quality flags and guides to filter for the highest quality data, adding complexity.
• Each product file contains only one data layer, requiring multiple files for a complete BRDF parameter set.

Provenance

Source

LPCLOUD (NASA's Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center).

Collection Method

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

Time Range

Daily production; temporal coverage is not explicitly stated but is ongoing.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 according to nasa_earthdata and datagov.

Geography

Global.