VJ143D52: Global Snow Status for Climate Modeling

Global daily snow status data is derived from the NOAA-20 VIIRS instrument at a 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) resolution. The product uses a 16-day temporal composite weighted to the ninth day and is formatted on a Climate Modeling Grid (CMG). It classifies each pixel as either 'Snow-free Albedo Retrieved' or 'Snow Albedo Retrieved'.

Use Cases

• Climate model initialization based on global snow cover status.
• Analyzing snow albedo feedbacks in polar and high-latitude regions based on the pixel classification.
• Monitoring seasonal snow cover extent for hydrological studies based on daily, global data.
• Assessing surface radiative properties for energy balance models based on the BRDF/Albedo product suite.

Strengths

• Provides global coverage on a Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) suitable for climate simulations.
• Offers daily production with a consistent 30 arc-second spatial resolution.
• Incorporates algorithm improvements from the S-NPP VIIRS V002 version, including better calibration and geolocation.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low; specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided.
• The dataset relies on a 16-day composite, which may smooth rapid changes in snow cover.
• Known issues exist, requiring users to consult an external quality assessment website.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Produced daily from NOAA-20 VIIRS sensor data using a BRDF/Albedo algorithm.

Time Range

Daily production suggests coverage from the NOAA-20 mission start date onward, but a specific range is not stated.

Freshness

2026-03-12 20:03:20.792305

Geography

Global