MCD43D11: BRDF Volumetric Parameter for MODIS Band 4

MCD43D11 Version 6 is a decommissioned NASA MODIS product providing the volumetric model parameter for Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) and Albedo calculations for MODIS band 4. It is a daily, global Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) product at 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) resolution, generated using 16 days of data from the Terra and Aqua satellites. The volumetric parameter, alongside isotropic and geometric parameters, is used to derive surface reflectance and albedo values for climate simulation models.

Use Cases

• Modeling surface albedo for climate simulations based on the global Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) coverage.
• Deriving BRDF-corrected surface reflectance for MODIS band 4 using the volumetric parameter in conjunction with isotropic and geometric parameters.
• Analyzing temporal changes in land surface anisotropy using daily data products weighted over a 16-day window.
• Assessing surface radiative properties over arid, bright surfaces, with consideration of known aerosol representation issues in the C6 product.

Strengths

• Provides global coverage at a consistent 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) resolution suitable for climate models.
• Offers daily temporal resolution, synthesized from 16 days of Terra and Aqua MODIS observations.
• Is part of a well-documented, multi-parameter MODIS BRDF/Albedo product suite (MCD43D01 through MCD43D30).

Limitations

• The Version 6 product was decommissioned on July 31, 2023, with users directed to Version 6.1, indicating this specific version is obsolete.
• Known issues in the C6 surface reflectance inputs, particularly over arid bright surfaces, may impact data quality; the provider advises avoiding substantive use.
• Column names and dataset size metadata (rows, file size) are not provided in the available sources.

Provenance

Source

NASA/MODIS data processed by LPCLOUD.

Collection Method

Produced daily from 16 days of Terra and Aqua MODIS surface reflectance data, temporally weighted to the ninth day.

Freshness

2026-04-10 00:11:47.364005

Geography

Global