VNP43D57: Black-Sky Albedo for VIIRS Band M4 (0.555 μm)

NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP VIIRS VNP43D57 provides daily black-sky albedo (BSA) for the M4 band (0.555 μm) at a 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) resolution. The product is generated using a 16-day rolling window of data, temporally weighted to the ninth day, and is formatted on a global Climate Modeling Grid (CMG). This single-layer dataset is part of a larger suite of BRDF and albedo products designed for climate simulation models.

Use Cases

• Modeling surface-atmosphere energy interactions based on directional hemispherical reflectance (black-sky albedo).
• Analyzing temporal changes in land surface reflectance at the green wavelength (0.555 μm).
• Integrating albedo data into global climate simulation models using the Climate Modeling Grid (CMG) format.
• Cross-referencing albedo values with other VIIRS bands and the Day/Night Band (DNB) for comprehensive surface property studies.

Strengths

• Provides daily, global coverage at a consistent 1,000-meter resolution.
• Data incorporates improved calibration and geolocation algorithms for the entire Suomi NPP mission.
• Product is part of a standardized, multi-band suite (VNP43D54-VNP43D79) specifically designed for climate modeling.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low: specific column names, row counts, and file sizes are not provided by any source.
• Each daily file contains only a single data layer, which may require combining multiple files for multi-band analysis.
• Known data quality issues exist, though details require consulting an external website.

Provenance

Source

NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP satellite, Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data processed using a BRDF/Albedo algorithm; methodology detailed in the VNP43MA3 ATBD.

Time Range

Covers the operational period of the Suomi NPP mission; data is produced daily.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-09 (from nasa_earthdata and datagov).

Geography

Global coverage on a Climate Modeling Grid (CMG).