MCD43D21: Daily Global BRDF Geometric Parameter for MODIS Band 7 at 1km Resolution

MCD43D21 Version 6.1 is a daily global dataset containing the geometric parameter for the Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) and Albedo model for MODIS band 7. It is produced by NASA using 16 days of combined Terra and Aqua MODIS data at a 30 arc second (approximately 1,000 meter) resolution, temporally weighted to the ninth day. This Climate Modeling Grid product is intended for use in climate simulation models.

Use Cases

• Modeling surface albedo for climate simulations based on the BRDF parameters.
• Analyzing daily changes in land surface reflectance properties based on the geometric parameter for MODIS band 7.
• Integrating high-quality, full inversion BRDF results into Earth system models using the band-specific quality flags mentioned in the user guide.
• Studying long-term trends in surface radiative properties for climate research using the daily, global coverage.

Strengths

• Data is produced daily with a 16-day rolling window, providing frequent temporal coverage.
• Global coverage at a consistent 30 arc second (1,000 meter) resolution suitable for climate-scale models.
• Version 6.1 incorporates specific calibration improvements, including RVS, crosstalk, and polarization corrections as noted in the description.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and total file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for specific compute resources.
• Each product file contains just one data layer, requiring multiple file downloads for a complete parameter set.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

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

Time Range

Daily production; temporal weighting to the ninth day of a 16-day period.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:24:35.617904; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global