MODIS Daily Global Albedo Quality Assessment Layer

MCD43D37 provides a single daily layer of valid observation quality information for MODIS band 5, derived from 16 days of Terra and Aqua satellite data. The product covers the entire globe at a 30 arc-second (approximately 1 km) resolution and is temporally weighted to the ninth day of the retrieval period. It is produced by LPCLOUD for NASA's Earthdata platform.

Use Cases

• Filtering MCD43D albedo products by applying the band 5 valid observation quality layer to isolate reliable pixels.
• Assessing temporal consistency in surface reflectance retrievals by analyzing the 16-day observation quality record for band 5.
• Improving climate model input data quality by using the band-specific quality flags to select the highest quality albedo estimates.
• Studying sensor observation patterns by examining the valid observation quality layer across different geographic regions.

Strengths

• Data is produced daily, enabling near-real-time quality assessment.
• Global coverage at 1 km resolution supports climate-scale analysis.
• Quality information is derived from 16 days of MODIS observations from two satellites (Terra and Aqua), providing a robust temporal foundation.

Limitations

• The dataset contains only one data layer (valid observation quality for band 5), limiting standalone analysis.
• Known issues exist, requiring users to consult external documentation for complete error information.
• The large file size per product may complicate data handling and storage.

Provenance

Source

LPCLOUD for NASA Earthdata.

Collection Method

Produced daily using 16 days of Terra and Aqua MODIS data.

Freshness

Daily

Geography

Global