MCD43D21: Daily Global BRDF Geometric Parameter for MODIS Band 7

MCD43D21 Version 6 is a daily, global dataset of the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) geometric parameter for MODIS band 7, produced by NASA. It is generated at a 30 arc second (1,000 meter) resolution using 16 days of Terra and Aqua MODIS observations, weighted to the ninth day. This product was decommissioned on July 31, 2023, and users are directed to the updated Version 6.1.

Use Cases

• Modeling surface albedo for climate simulations based on the BRDF parameters.
• Analyzing land surface radiative properties over time using the daily, global coverage.
• Integrating BRDF data into Earth system models based on the 1,000-meter Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) format.
• Assessing surface reflectance anisotropy for MODIS band 7 using the geometric parameter in conjunction with isotropic and volumetric parameters.

Strengths

• Provides a specific BRDF model parameter (geometric) for MODIS band 7, as stated in the description.
• Offers daily global coverage at a consistent 30 arc second (1,000 meter) spatial resolution.
• Data is temporally weighted to the ninth day of a 16-day observation period to improve representativeness.
• Product is designed specifically for use in climate simulation models (CMG).

Limitations

• This Version 6 product was decommissioned on July 31, 2023, due to known issues, and its use is discouraged.
• 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 (NASA)

Collection Method

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

Time Range

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:41:36.895122; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global coverage.