VJ143D41: Local Solar Zenith Angle for Global Climate Modeling

NOAA-20 VIIRS BRDF/Albedo Local Solar Noon product VJ143D41 provides the local solar zenith angle at solar noon, derived from 16 days of data weighted to a representative ninth day. This daily, global dataset is produced at a 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) resolution on a Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) for use in climate simulations. The product is part of a suite that includes BRDF/Albedo quality, valid observations for multiple spectral bands, snow status, and uncertainty.

Use Cases

• Parameterizing solar illumination in climate models based on the local solar zenith angle layer.
• Assessing surface anisotropy and reflectance for land cover studies using the broader BRDF/Albedo product suite.
• Validating albedo retrievals by accounting for the solar geometry at the time of observation.
• Monitoring temporal changes in surface radiative properties using the daily, 16-day composite data.

Strengths

• Provides global coverage on a Climate Modeling Grid specifically designed for climate simulation models.
• Incorporates algorithm improvements from the S-NPP VIIRS V002, including better calibration, geolocation accuracy, and aerosol flag corrections.
• Is part of a multi-platform, standardized product suite (VJ143D40-VJ143D53) indicating established scientific use.

Limitations

• Key metadata such as exact file size, row count, and column names are not provided across the listed platforms.
• The dataset's large file size results in each product containing only a single data layer, requiring multiple files for a complete analysis.
• Known issues exist and require external consultation of the MODIS/VIIRS Land Quality Assessment website.

Provenance

Source

LPCLOUD / NASA EOSDIS

Collection Method

Produced daily from NOAA-20 VIIRS sensor data using a 16-day temporal composite algorithm.

Time Range

Daily production; temporal weighting to a representative ninth day within a 16-day window.

Freshness

2026-04-09 20:50:56.959063

Geography

Global