VNP43D66: Black-Sky Albedo for VIIRS Day/Night Band

Daily global black-sky albedo data are produced using a 16-day rolling window, temporally weighted to the ninth day. The dataset provides directional hemispherical reflectance for the VIIRS Day/Night Band at 0.7 μm, at a 30 arc-second (1,000 meter) resolution on a Climate Modeling Grid. It is part of a larger suite of albedo products covering multiple spectral bands for use in climate simulation models.

Use Cases

• Climate model parameterization based on black-sky albedo values.
• Analysis of surface reflectance anisotropy for the Day/Night Band.
• Monitoring temporal changes in land surface albedo using daily, globally-complete data.
• Validation of albedo algorithms against satellite-derived measurements.

Strengths

• Provides a specific albedo metric (black-sky) for the unique VIIRS Day/Night Band.
• Offers global coverage at a consistent 1,000-meter resolution suitable for climate models.
• Incorporates improved calibration algorithms and coefficients for the entire Suomi NPP mission, according to one source.

Limitations

• Each file contains only one data layer due to large file size.
• Known issues exist, requiring users to consult an external assessment website.
• Column names and exact data structure are not provided in the available metadata.

Provenance

Source

NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP VIIRS instrument.

Collection Method

Satellite remote sensing data processed through a BRDF/Albedo algorithm.

Time Range

Daily production, utilizing a 16-day data window.

Freshness

2026-04-09 20:44:22.602584

Geography

Global coverage on a Climate Modeling Grid.