MCDAODHD is a value-added, gridded aerosol optical depth (AOD) dataset derived from NASA's MODIS satellite instruments on Terra and Aqua. The Naval Research Laboratory and University of North Dakota developed this product, which applies empirical corrections and spatial averaging to Level 2 data. Data granules are produced every six hours through NASA's LANCE-MODIS system for near-real-time availability.
Use Cases
- Assimilating gridded AOD values with quantitative uncertainty estimates into atmospheric transport models.
- Validating climate model aerosol simulations against spatially averaged, bias-corrected satellite observations.
- Analyzing temporal patterns of aerosol loading using the six-hourly production cycle and +/-3 hour observation windows.
- Studying regional aerosol events with data filtered to reduce cloud contamination and outlier AOD values.
Strengths
- Provides near-real-time data with a six-hour production cycle via LANCE-MODIS.
- Includes quantitative uncertainty estimates for each AOD data point.
- Applies empirical corrections to reduce systematic biases over land and ocean.
Limitations
- Spatial resolution is coarsened from the native MODIS Level 2 product due to gridding and averaging.
- Data availability is contingent on the timely production and availability of upstream MODIS Level 2 inputs.
Provenance
- Source
- NASA LANCE-MODIS system, derived from MODIS Level 2 aerosol products.
- Collection Method
- Satellite remote sensing from MODIS instruments on Terra and Aqua satellites, processed with stringent filtering, bias correction, and spatial averaging.
- Time Range
- Available from April 2000 onward for MODIS data; near-real-time production ongoing.
- Freshness
- Updated every six hours (00:00, 06:00, 12:00, 18:00 UTC).
- Geography
- Global coverage, provided by MODIS's 2330 km viewing swath width.