MCD43D53: MODIS White-Sky Albedo for Band 2, Daily Global 1km

MCD43D53 Version 6.1 provides daily white-sky albedo data for MODIS spectral band 2. The dataset is produced by NASA using 16 days of Terra and Aqua MODIS observations at a 30 arc second (approximately 1,000 meter) resolution, temporally weighted to the ninth day. It is a global Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) product designed for use in climate simulation models.

Use Cases

• Parameterizing land surface albedo in climate models based on the white-sky albedo (bihemispherical reflectance) data.
• Analyzing temporal trends in surface reflectance for MODIS band 2 using the daily, globally gridded product.
• Assessing the quality of albedo retrievals for specific science applications using the band-specific quality flags mentioned in the user guide.
• Comparing white-sky and black-sky albedo dynamics for studies on radiative forcing.

Strengths

• Data is produced daily using observations from two satellite platforms (Terra and Aqua MODIS).
• Global coverage at a consistent 30 arc second (1km) Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) resolution.
• 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.
• Each product file contains just one data layer, which may complicate multi-band analysis.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale statistical workflows.

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 window.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-12 23:40:12.487990; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Global