VIIRS/JPSS1 Daily Photosynthetically Active Radiation at 0.05 Degree Resolution

NOAA-20 VIIRS satellite data provides daily global measurements of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR), which is solar radiation in the 400-700 nanometer visible spectrum. The Level 3 Climate Modeling Grid product is produced by LPCLOUD at a 0.05-degree pixel resolution using the VJ118 algorithm, which employs look-up tables for aerosols and clouds. The dataset includes both 3-hourly and daily mean PAR variables.

Use Cases

• Calibrating land surface models based on incident solar radiation in the visible spectrum.
• Analyzing solar energy potential for system management based on daily PAR measurements.
• Studying the impact of aerosols and clouds on surface light availability using the algorithm's look-up table approach.

Strengths

• Provides data at a 0.05-degree pixel resolution.
• Includes both 3-hourly and daily aggregated variables for temporal analysis.
• Algorithm accounts for different aerosol and cloud loadings under varied viewing geometries.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD) is noted as forthcoming, indicating incomplete methodological documentation.

Provenance

Source

LPCLOUD, using NOAA-20 VIIRS satellite data.

Collection Method

Produced using the VJ118 algorithm, which adapts a narrowband look-up table approach.

Time Range

Daily intervals.

Freshness

Update frequency is unknown; freshness unverified.

Geography

Global.