Daily Global Solar Zenith Angle for Albedo Retrievals at 1km Resolution

Daily global data at 30 arc second (1km) resolution provides the local solar zenith angle at noon for albedo retrievals. The product is generated by LPCLOUD using 16 days of MODIS data from Terra and Aqua satellites, temporally weighted to the ninth day.

Use Cases

• Validate albedo model outputs by comparing simulated solar zenith angles against the MCD43D32 layer.
• Filter albedo retrievals using the band-specific quality flags described in the User Guide to isolate high-quality full inversion results.
• Analyze temporal trends in solar illumination geometry for climate studies using the daily, globally-covered data.
• Assess spatial variability of solar noon conditions across the Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) for energy balance research.

Strengths

• Provides daily global coverage at 30 arc second (1km) spatial resolution.
• Data is temporally weighted using a 16-day MODIS observation window for stable retrievals.
• Designed specifically for use in climate simulation models as a CMG product.

Limitations

• Each product file contains only one data layer, limiting multi-variable analysis within a single file.
• Known issues exist, requiring users to consult external MODIS/VIIRS Land Quality Assessment resources.
• The large file size per product may complicate data handling and storage.

Provenance

Source

LPCLOUD using Terra and Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data.

Collection Method

Produced daily using 16 days of MODIS data, temporally weighted to the ninth day.

Freshness

Daily

Geography

Global