Near Real-Time MODIS Aerosol Optical Depth Gridded Product

MODIS provides almost daily global coverage with a 2330 km viewing swath width. The Naval Research Laboratory and University of North Dakota developed this Level-3 value-added aerosol optical depth dataset, known as MCDAODHD, based on MODIS Level 2 products. Public data availability began in April 2000.

Use Cases

• Validate atmospheric model predictions using the gridded aerosol optical depth (AOD) values.
• Assimilate near real-time AOD observations into weather forecasting models for improved aerosol representation.
• Analyze spatiotemporal trends in aerosol loading by leveraging the six-hourly production cycle and global coverage.
• Reduce systematic biases in AOD estimates over land and ocean using the empirical corrections applied in this product.
• Quantify uncertainty in aerosol measurements for each AOD data point as provided in the dataset.

Strengths

• Data is produced every six hours, providing near real-time updates.
• Product includes stringent filtering to reduce outliers and eliminate cloud contamination.
• Offers quantitative estimation of uncertainty for each aerosol optical depth data point.

Limitations

• Specific row count, column details, and file size are unknown.
• The spatial resolution of the underlying MODIS data varies (250m, 500m, 1000m), which may affect granularity.
• Data availability depends on the timely provision of Level 2 inputs into the LANCE system.

Provenance

Source

NASA's MODIS instruments aboard the Terra and Aqua satellites, processed by LANCE-MODIS.

Collection Method

Developed by the Naval Research Laboratory and University of North Dakota based on MODIS Level 2 aerosol products, with enhancements including filtering, bias correction, and spatial averaging.

Time Range

Data has been made available to the public since April 2000; near real-time production continues.

Freshness

Granules are produced every six hours, timestamped at 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, and 18:00 UTC.

Geography

Almost daily global coverage due to MODIS's 2330 km viewing swath width.