Global Land Surface BRDF Parameter for MODIS Band 4 at 1km Resolution

Global land surface data provides the volumetric parameter for the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) and Albedo model for MODIS spectral band 4. This NASA LPCLOUD product is generated daily at 30 arc-second (1km) resolution, using a 16-day rolling window of observations from the Terra and Aqua satellites. The volumetric parameter, alongside isotropic and geometric parameters, enables the derivation of surface reflectance anisotropy and albedo for climate and land surface studies.

Use Cases

• Deriving land surface albedo for MODIS band 4 by combining the volumetric parameter with isotropic and geometric parameters.
• Analyzing seasonal and interannual changes in surface reflectance anisotropy for climate trend studies.
• Providing input for climate simulation models that require global, 1km-resolution land surface radiative properties.
• Assessing land cover change by monitoring variations in the BRDF volumetric parameter over time.
• Isolating highest quality data for specific science applications using the band-specific quality flags described in the user guide.

Strengths

• Provides daily global coverage at a consistent 30 arc-second (1km) Climate Modeling Grid resolution.
• Integrates data from both Terra and Aqua MODIS sensors over a 16-day window for robust temporal weighting.
• Version 6.1 incorporates specific calibration improvements, including RVS and optical crosstalk corrections.

Limitations

• Exact row count, file size, and complete column structure are not specified across the provided sources.
• Data is one of 30 separate files (MCD43D01-MCD43D30), requiring combination with other parameters for full BRDF analysis.
• Users must actively apply quality flags to isolate the highest quality 'full inversion' results for their applications.

Provenance

Source

NASA LPCLOUD, generated from Terra and Aqua MODIS satellite data.

Collection Method

Produced daily using a 16-day rolling window of MODIS observations, temporally weighted to the ninth day.

Time Range

Daily production; specific start date not provided, but version 6.1 includes calibration updates for data from 2012 onward.

Freshness

2026-03-12 23:43:33.769067

Geography

Global coverage.