MODIS Atmosphere FluxNet Subsets for 400 Global Tower Sites

MODIS/Terra Atmosphere FluxNet Subsetting Product provides satellite-derived atmospheric data extracted for approximately 400 global FLUXNET micrometeorological tower sites. The dataset contains around 55 science variables per site, including at-aperture radiances for 36 MODIS bands, cloud mask, and water vapor. It is produced by the Level-1 and Atmosphere Archive & Distribution System (LAADS) and was last updated in March 2026.

Use Cases

• Validating and calibrating satellite-derived atmospheric parameters against in-situ flux tower measurements.
• Analyzing spatial and temporal patterns of cloud cover and water vapor at specific ecosystem sites.
• Studying spectral radiance across 36 MODIS bands for research on surface reflectance and atmospheric composition.
• Investigating the relationship between micrometeorological fluxes and coincident MODIS atmosphere products.

Strengths

• Provides data for approximately 400 globally distributed FLUXNET sites, enabling broad ecological comparisons.
• Each site file contains around 55 distinct science data sets (SDS), offering multiple atmospheric variables.
• Data is spatially subset to 0.5 x 0.5 degree cutouts centered on flux towers, reducing processing needs for users.

Limitations

• Exact row count, file size, and complete column list are not specified across any platform.
• License information is inconsistent: one source specifies 'other-license-specified', while another lists it as null.

Provenance

Source

Level-1 and Atmosphere Archive & Distribution System (LAADS), NASA.

Collection Method

Subsets generated by locating FLUXNET sites within MODIS Level 2 granule coverage and extracting 0.5 x 0.5 degree cutouts.

Time Range

null

Freshness

2026-03-13 00:18:31.596070

Geography

Global coverage at approximately 400 FLUXNET micrometeorological tower sites.