MCD43D52: Daily Global White-Sky Albedo for MODIS Band 1 at 1km Resolution

Daily global white-sky albedo data for MODIS band 1, produced using 16 days of Terra and Aqua satellite observations. The dataset is generated by NASA at a 30 arc second (1,000 meter) resolution as part of the Climate Modeling Grid product suite for climate simulation models. Data are temporally weighted to the ninth day of the 16-day observation period.

Use Cases

• Parameterizing climate simulation models based on the white-sky albedo data.
• Analyzing land surface radiative properties based on the daily, globally-available albedo layer.
• Studying temporal changes in surface reflectance using the 16-day composite data weighted to a central date.
• Isolating high-quality data for scientific applications using the band-specific quality flags mentioned in the user guide.

Strengths

• Daily temporal resolution using a 16-day composite from two MODIS sensors (Terra and Aqua).
• Global spatial coverage at a consistent 1,000-meter (30 arc second) Climate Modeling Grid resolution.
• Version 6.1 includes specific calibration improvements, such as RVS approach changes and polarization correction for reflective solar bands.

Limitations

• Each product file contains just one data layer, which may require handling multiple files for a complete analysis.
• Row count and total dataset size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download or from the user guide.

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 coverage, with data temporally weighted to the ninth day of a 16-day period.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:40:24.088395

Geography

Global