MCD43D36: Daily Global BRDF/Albedo Quality Data for Climate Models

Global daily data at 30 arc second (1,000 meter) resolution, produced by NASA using 16 days of Terra and Aqua MODIS observations. The MCD43D36 Version 6 product provides quality information for band 4 valid observations, temporally weighted to the ninth day of the retrieval period. This dataset was decommissioned on July 31, 2023, with users encouraged to use the Version 6.1 product.

Use Cases

• Filtering high-quality albedo retrievals based on the band-specific quality flags described in the user guide.
• Assessing observation quality over 16-day periods for climate simulation models as mentioned for the Climate Modeling Grid (CMG).
• Investigating known aerosol-related impacts on downstream products over arid bright surfaces, as noted in the description.

Strengths

• Provides global coverage at a consistent 30 arc second (1,000 meter) spatial resolution.
• Data is produced daily using observations from two satellite platforms (Terra and Aqua MODIS).
• Improvements from previous versions include better quality at high latitudes and use of a temporally weighted ninth-day estimate.

Limitations

• The dataset is a decommissioned Version 6 product with known issues; the provider urges users to avoid substantive use and wait for C6.1.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Each product file contains just one data layer, which may limit immediate analysis without combining multiple files.

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

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:23:24.835934; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global