MCD43D17: Daily Global BRDF Volumetric Parameter for MODIS Band 6 at 1km Resolution

MCD43D17 Version 6.1 provides the volumetric parameter for the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) and Albedo model for MODIS band 6. This NASA product is generated daily from 16 days of Terra and Aqua MODIS data at a 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) global resolution, temporally weighted to the ninth day. The dataset is part of a suite of 30 separate files designed for use in climate simulation models.

Use Cases

• Modeling land surface reflectance anisotropy for climate simulations based on the BRDF parameters.
• Deriving albedo values for MODIS band 6 based on the volumetric, isotropic, and geometric parameters.
• Assessing land surface changes over time based on daily global coverage at 1km resolution.
• Isolating high-quality data for specific science applications based on the band-specific quality flags mentioned in the user guide.

Strengths

• Produced daily using 16 days of data from both Terra and Aqua MODIS sensors, providing robust temporal coverage.
• Global coverage at 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) resolution on a Climate Modeling Grid (CMG).
• Version 6.1 incorporates specific calibration improvements, including RVS, crosstalk, and polarization corrections.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Each product file contains just one data layer, which may complicate multi-band analysis.

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; data are temporally weighted to the ninth day of a 16-day window.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:43:28.004634; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Entire globe.