MCD43D17: Daily Global BRDF Volumetric Parameter for MODIS Band 6

Daily global data for the volumetric parameter used to derive Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) and Albedo values for MODIS satellite band 6. The dataset is produced by NASA using 16 days of Terra and Aqua MODIS observations, weighted to the ninth day, at a 30 arc second (approximately 1,000 meter) resolution. It was decommissioned on July 31, 2023, with users directed to the updated Version 6.1 product.

Use Cases

• Modeling surface reflectance anisotropy for MODIS band 6 based on the volumetric BRDF parameter.
• Deriving daily albedo values for climate models based on the three BRDF model parameters (isotropic, volumetric, geometric).
• Assessing land surface radiative properties over bright, arid regions, with caution for known aerosol representation issues in Collection 6.
• Incorporating high-latitude observations into BRDF/Albedo models, leveraging improvements from using all available data.

Strengths

• Global coverage at a consistent 30 arc second (1,000 meter) Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) resolution.
• Daily temporal production using a 16-day observation window weighted to a central date.
• Produced by NASA using data from the Terra and Aqua MODIS instruments, a standard source for land surface monitoring.

Limitations

• This Version 6 product was officially decommissioned on July 31, 2023, due to known issues, particularly concerning aerosol representation over bright surfaces.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

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

Time Range

Daily production, temporally weighted to the ninth day of a 16-day period.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:42:36.451798; freshness should be verified as the dataset is decommissioned.

Geography

Global